THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 20, 1995 TAG: 9507200043
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TERESA ANNAS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
THE IDEA came to Tina Wellington in a dream - to stage a summer children's festival at the Virginia Beach Pavilion.
She talked it up with fellow members of her city marketing team at the Pavilion. Everyone liked the idea, so they began seeking top talent. Today, the five-event series begins with shows by Bob Brown Puppets of ``Peter and the Wolf,'' featuring life-sized marionettes.
The festival - called the Youth Enrichment Series, or YES! - continues Friday with Ki Theater, a Washington, D.C., troupe that blends fanciful stories with music on hammered dulcimer and other instruments.
Shows featuring folk tales and traditional music, African culture and a new musical version of ``The Wizard of Oz'' are scheduled through July 28.
Wellington, a production technician for the city, began pushing her idea for the city to stage events at the Pavilion in 1989. But the budget system, requiring all jobs be put out for bid, was not appropriate for performing arts.
A newly formed marketing team, however, was able to obtain city seed money that did not require the bidding process. The team considered various series featuring concerts and lectures. Nothing seemed quite right, until Wellington had her dream.
A summer series for children appeared to fill a gap, she said.
``We were aiming for preschool through fifth grade and their families,'' she said. The team booked a wide range of performing arts, choosing groups that had not been seen often in this area, she said.
Each group has a proven track record, she said.
``I just want people to know they can show their kids theater without having to rent a tuxedo,'' Wellington said, ``and that theater can be fun.''
The schedule
Bob Brown Puppets performs at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today. The Arlington-based troupe has performed for ``Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood'' and at the Kennedy Center.
The first half of the show is the classic tale of ``Peter and the Wolf'' featuring life-sized marionettes and human actors. The second half features marionette skits written to musical excerpts. In one, abstract marionettes based on Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome move to the theme from ``Star Wars.''
Ki Theater performs ``Magic Words'' on Friday at 10 a.m., and 2 p.m., Julie Portman tells stories while partner Paul Reisler, a director of the musical group Trapezoid, plays instruments ranging from hammered dulcimer to synthesizer.
Lime Kiln Arts of Lexington performs ``Munci Meg'' on Monday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The show is a musical adaptation of an Appalachian folk tale about a girl who uses her wits to conquer a witch and a giant in order to win her prince. Jack Herrick, a Broadway veteran and member of the Red Clay Ramblers, helped write ``Munci Meg.''
A Charlottesville couple, Donna Graham Dacosta and Mohamed Dacosta, present drumming and dances from various cultures next Thursday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The duo offer dances intended for celebrations, rites of passage, harvesting, and courtship from regions including Guinea, Mali and Senegal.
``The Wizard of Oz'' will be staged at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. July 28. Produced by American Family Theater, Inc., of Philadelphia, this ``Wizard'' will follow the yellow brick road to a different tune.
The story is the same, just not the songs, Wellington said. Instead of ``Somewhere Over the Rainbow,'' hear Auntie Em belt out ``Soup's On - Come and Get It!''
While the other shows last about an hour, ``Wizard'' is a 90-minute outing. The troupe has performed at the Pavilion, Wellington said, and is very popular.
Just for fun, Wellington will show classic cartoons before the first three shows. For ``Munci Meg,'' audiences will be warmed up with ``The Wabbit Who Came to Supper,'' starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.
``Lime Kiln is so excited,'' she said. ``They can't wait to see their cartoon.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
The Bob Brown Puppets will stage ``Peter and the Wolf'' today at the
Virginia Beach Pavilion.
``The Wizard of Oz'' - with new music - will be offered at 2 and 7
p.m. July 28 at the Pavilion.
Graphic
FESTIVAL FACTS
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
by CNB