AUBURN - From the early days of Shakespeare's open air Globe Theatre in London to New York City's summer festivals in Central Park, theatrical productions performed outdoors in the elements have been a long standing tradition.
Each summer, the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre's Summer Tour brings a little bit of that tradition to parks and community centers throughout central New York.
On Monday morning, the troupe, consisting of Kara Minute, Michael Antico, Joe Pine and Ben Hart, stopped at Casey Park for a performance of “The Emperor's New Clothes,” based on the Hans Christen Andersen fairy tale.
Antico said that each summer, producing director Ed Sayles chooses pieces that have a broad appeal.
“Usually we do something that has a little bit of humor for everyone young and old,” Antico said. “Like in this, there is some word play that younger kids might not get, but they can still laugh at the broader physical comedy. It has that kind of appeal for everybody.”
With Antico as the Emperor and Minute as the princess and Hart and Pine as the swindlers, the show hits on a variety of comedic tones.
The four performers only had a brief six days to get the show together before taking it on the road.
Antico said that Casey Park marked the sixth performance.
“It has been pretty well received,” Antico said. “We've even had a few rain shows and people stayed; they have really wanted to see the show.”
Monday morning's performance drew a large crowd to the hillside performance area at Casey Park.
Among those watching was Holly Brandstetter, of Auburn, with her two daughters, Jasmine, 2, and Noel, 1.
“I thought it would be something nice to get out of the house,” Brandstetter said. “I've never seen them (her daughters) sit still for so long. I think they really loved it.”
The show also drew staff and students from a transitional summer education program that just began at Casey Park for a six-week session.
“I think it is really nice they are doing something like this for the kids,” said Peg Tabone, an aide in the program. “This is our first day and it is a nice way to start and get the kids out and enjoy this beautiful day.”
Students Jared Haviland, 8, and Luke Lukowski, 7, found the performance hilarious.
“It was really funny,” Lukowski said. “Especially the part where he (Antico) gets the bucket stuck on his foot. It was really funny.”
And it is this kind of entertainment that the performers hope their audiences are able to get.
“The biggest thing,” Antico said, “in this day and age of videogames and TV, the big thing is just to get kids out and show them a little bit of theater and what it is like and hope they have some fun.”
Performance schedule
€ July 17, 11 a.m. - Trolley Park, Weedsport
€ July 21, 10 a.m. - Owasco Library Playground, Owasco
€ July 21, 6:30 p.m. - Hoopes Park, Auburn
€ July 25, 2 p.m. - Clifford Park, Auburn
€ July 28, 11 a.m. - Town of Genoa United Church, Genoa
On Monday morning, the troupe, consisting of Kara Minute, Michael Antico, Joe Pine and Ben Hart, stopped at Casey Park for a performance of “The Emperor's New Clothes,” based on the Hans Christen Andersen fairy tale.
Antico said that each summer, producing director Ed Sayles chooses pieces that have a broad appeal.
“Usually we do something that has a little bit of humor for everyone young and old,” Antico said. “Like in this, there is some word play that younger kids might not get, but they can still laugh at the broader physical comedy. It has that kind of appeal for everybody.”
With Antico as the Emperor and Minute as the princess and Hart and Pine as the swindlers, the show hits on a variety of comedic tones.
The four performers only had a brief six days to get the show together before taking it on the road.
Antico said that Casey Park marked the sixth performance.
“It has been pretty well received,” Antico said. “We've even had a few rain shows and people stayed; they have really wanted to see the show.”
Monday morning's performance drew a large crowd to the hillside performance area at Casey Park.
Among those watching was Holly Brandstetter, of Auburn, with her two daughters, Jasmine, 2, and Noel, 1.
“I thought it would be something nice to get out of the house,” Brandstetter said. “I've never seen them (her daughters) sit still for so long. I think they really loved it.”
The show also drew staff and students from a transitional summer education program that just began at Casey Park for a six-week session.
“I think it is really nice they are doing something like this for the kids,” said Peg Tabone, an aide in the program. “This is our first day and it is a nice way to start and get the kids out and enjoy this beautiful day.”
Students Jared Haviland, 8, and Luke Lukowski, 7, found the performance hilarious.
“It was really funny,” Lukowski said. “Especially the part where he (Antico) gets the bucket stuck on his foot. It was really funny.”
And it is this kind of entertainment that the performers hope their audiences are able to get.
“The biggest thing,” Antico said, “in this day and age of videogames and TV, the big thing is just to get kids out and show them a little bit of theater and what it is like and hope they have some fun.”
Performance schedule
€ July 17, 11 a.m. - Trolley Park, Weedsport
€ July 21, 10 a.m. - Owasco Library Playground, Owasco
€ July 21, 6:30 p.m. - Hoopes Park, Auburn
€ July 25, 2 p.m. - Clifford Park, Auburn
€ July 28, 11 a.m. - Town of Genoa United Church, Genoa
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