In early March, EASTCONN’s Capitol Theater Arts Academy (CTAA) will present a fully staged performance of Disney’s Aladdin Jr., a student musical, at EASTCONN’s Capitol Theater, 896 Main St., in Willimantic.
The public is invited to performances on Thurs., Fri. and Sat., March 1, 2 and 3, 2012, at 7 p.m. A matinee will also be performed on Sat., March 3, at 2 p.m.
Leading roles in Disney’s Aladdin Jr. will be played by Kevin Kissane, 16, from Willimantic, as Aladdin; Maria Sousa, 17, from Mansfield, as Jasmine; Pheylin Prue, 17, from Columbia, as Jafar; Elle Schaffhauser, 16, from Storrs, as The Genie; Alexis Clavette, 17, from Stafford Springs, as The Sultan; and Miranda Rios, 14, from Willimantic, as Iago.
“I am looking forward to adding costumes and sets and sharing our hard work with the community,” said Maria Souza, who plays Jasmine, during a recent rehearsal.
Madison Adams, 10, of Mansfield, student performer in Disney’s Aladdin Jr., said, “I like CTAA because its fun. I get to do all my favorite things like acting, singing and dancing. This is my first big lead and I am excited and nervous about it.”
This year, EASTCONN’s CTAA Musical Theater Program has enrolled 25 students, ages 7-17, from 14 towns, including Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, North Windham, Somers, Stafford, Stafford Springs, Storrs, Tolland and Willimantic. Students have worked together on Disney’s Aladdin Jr. since September. The show is directed by Shane Kegler, with musical direction by Kasia Popovic and choreography by Rachel Roccoberton. Costumes are designed by Jeanette Drake and Miriam Drew and sets by Christopher Hoyt.
Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is a stage adaptation of the 1992 Academy Award-winning Disney film, Aladdin. The CTAA production includes songs from the film’s original score, including “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me,” “Arabian Nights,” “Prince Ali” and “One Jump.” To learn more about Disney’s Aladdin Jr. musical, visit www.mtishows.com.
Regular tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children under 12. Call EASTCONN’s Capitol Theater Box Office at 860-465-5636, weekdays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Capitol Theater Box Office opens 45 minutes before show time for walk-up ticket sales.
CTAA serves northeastern Connecticut residents, ages 4 and up. Classes are taught by some of Connecticut’s finest arts professionals, who help students explore the arts through dance, theater, cartooning, creative writing and individual music lessons. Classes are offered in fall, spring and summer sessions at the Art Deco-era Capitol Theater, which houses the CTAA program. For information about CTAA or its Summer Session programming, including the Summer Musical Theater Program, call CTAA Coordinator Rachel Roccoberton Griffin at 860-465-5636 x1023 or e-mail her at rgriffin@eastconn.org. Visit www.eastconn.org/ctaa to learn more.
CTAA is an arts education outreach program of EASTCONN, a public, non-profit regional educational service agency that has been serving the education needs of northeastern Connecticut’s schools and communities since 1980.Visit www.eastconn.org.