THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408100150
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: AHOSKIE LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
THE BIG BAD WOLF displays his humbler side when he is honored as Best Villain in the ``The Granny Awards,'' a children's theater production Aug. 18 and 19 at The Gallery Theater.
The play is about a showbiz retiree who honors fairy tale characters who have given memorable performances.
There should be plenty of those in ``The Granny Awards'' and the second production on the double-bill, ``Entertainment - Now and Then,'' a musical history of radio and television from the early 1900s to modern times.
The presentations are the culmination of a month-long children's theater workshop.
``We had about 60 kids this year,'' said Lottie Lassiter, the Gallery's executive director. ``We've had a steady increase the last few years. That number includes teens working backstage, learning lights, sound, set design.''
The theater group has been spending its summers working with children for 28 years.
``We missed only one year,'' Lassiter said. ``That was 1987. That was due to construction.''
This year's directors, theater veterans Tommy Kiff and Marilyn Brantley, are presenting musicals with taped accompaniment.
``We have singing, dancing and acting,'' Brantley said. ``The theme of both plays is that the performers are working in front of a studio audience, doing a television show.''
Krishna Gelot, 14, and her brother, Shyan, 13, have been Gallery summertime performers for seven years.
``It's fun and you meet new friends,'' Krishna said. ``And it's a way of getting out of the house.''
That is a fairly popular reason, as is camaraderie.
``I like getting away from the house,'' said Celeste Smith, 9, who is in the Gallery workshop with her brothers Daniel, 13, Jason, 12, and Jonathan, 10.
``It's our first year, but we'll do it next year,'' Daniel said. ``You meet a lot of people. You get a chance to be funny without getting in trouble.''
For Taylor Lies, 10, it is a chance to star, as she handles the title role in ``The Granny Awards.''
Her favorite thing about acting is ``figuring out how to do things.
``Granny is old fashioned, and I like collecting old things,'' said Taylor, who would like to be a director some day ``because I like bossing people around.''
This year, Kiff and Brantley have that job.
``The kids work hard,'' Brantley said. ``They really want to learn.'' MEMO: The Gallery Theater presents two summer children's theater
productions, ``The Granny Awards'' and ``Entertainment - Mow and Then,''
at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 19. Adult tickets are $5 in advance, $6 at the
door. Tickets for school-age children are $3.50 in advance, $4 at the
door. They are available at the box office, Chamber of Commerce or from
any cast member.
For information call (919) 332-2976.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos by FRANK ROBERTS
Shyam Gelot, above left, Kenneth Brown and Krishna Gelot break into
song in ``Entertainment - Now and Then.'' At right, Jeremy Spivey,
Shannon Brantley and Taylor Lies act out ``Cinerella.''
by CNB