performing arts | Poulsbo & Beyond

” Songs For A New World”

Directed by local students Billy Buhl, Cherisse Martinelli, and Jessica Rothwell, the CSTOCK Black Box production of “Songs For A New World” features teens and young adults ages 13-20.

The cast of Young Adults includes Cory Hudson, Zander Martin, Ryan McLaughlin, Colton Myers, Matthew Usher, Katharine Beddoe, Julie Fedorko, Chelsea Natseway, Jessica Nelson, Melissa Shafer, Allison Verhofstadt, Amy Whelan, and Rebecca Young.

Yours Truly previewed the show last week and I was literally blown away by the caliber of vocal talents. These kids have ‘skills!’

Says the Author of this gripping revue:

“It’s about one moment. It’s about hitting the wall and having to make a choice, or take a stand, or turn around and go back.”

Jason Robert Brown (composer-lyricist of the critical smash “Parade” and ‘The Last 5 Years”) has had the whole theatre community talking about his blend of savvy showmanship and exciting contemporary sound for years, starting with this revue.

Brown transports his audience from the deck of a 1492 Spanish sailing ship to a ledge 57 stories above Fifth Avenue to meet a startling array of characters ranging from a young man who has determined that basket-ball is his ticket out of the ghetto to a woman whose dream of marrying rich nabs her the man of her dreams and a soulless marriage. These are the stories and characters of today, the songs for a new world.

Songs For A New World is sponsored in part by

For more show information and tickets, GO HERE.

The current CSTOCK (Central Stage of County Kitsap) production of Meredith Wilson’s ‘Music Man’ is a perfect example of why I’m such a HUGE fan of Live Theater and the value it offers to our community here in Kitsap County WA.

Granted, being involved in a local production is a big time commitment and requires a lot of work. Most of CSTOCK’s shows are large cast musicals, like ’Music Man’ with nearly 50 cast members! Add to that the production crew, costuming, set construction, orchestra musicians, parents/volunteers, etc., and you’ve got the population of a small town! River City, Iowa, to be exact!

What’s so exciting to watch is how everyone works so hard and diligently together, combining their individual talents and abilities, to create and perform as a seamless ensemble.

This is no easy task, especially given the wide range of ages represented among the cast, coordinating all the various elements of the production, and the challenging logistical constraints of performing in a very small theater space.

What I personally find so rewarding is the positive affect our community theater has on our member’s self-worth and esteem, especially for the youth. It’s thrilling to observe a kid gain a greater sense of personal confidence and develop improved social skills. They also learn the valued lesson of hard work, and the satisfying reward of applause.

During the course of intense rehearsals, camaraderie and friendships are fostered among the cast and crew. Many of our shows have enlisted the talents of entire families, providing them with a safe and enjoyable environment to spend quality time together.

CSTOCK community theater offers its audience a muchly needed escape from the everyday worries and cares of life. A show magically transports you to another time, another place, where you become wonderfully lost within the story.

‘Music Man’ runs for 3 more weekends. Fridays and Saturdays the show starts at 7:30pm. On Sundays, curtain opens at 6pm. Purchase your tickets on-line now because all three shows this past weekend were nearly sold out!

And, allow me to encourage you to invest in community theater and become involved in CSTOCK, as either an active volunteer/participant, or simply as a regular audience member.

Thanks for your helpful support!

For more information on how you can plug-in, go to www.cstock.org

Other Kitsap County Community Theaters:

Jewel Box Theater in Poulsbo

Western WA Center for the Arts (WWCA) in Port Orchard

Bremerton Community Theater (BCT)

Bainbridge Performing Arts

Kitsap Children’s Musical Theater

The Forest Theater on Seabeck Hwy.

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