More Opportunities to Grow for Young Actors!

If you and your kids, ages 4-14, are looking for ways for them to have fun and grow as actors this summer - look no further! Chaya Glass, an acting coach for MCT's 2011 production of The Boy Friend, is holding Drama Camps June through August at Brighton School in Edmonds. Whether you're looking for a day long adventure or a week full of action, Brighton's Summer Drama Camps are the place to be for young actors.

For more information, or to sign up, contact Chaya at ChayaGlass@msn.com

See below for all of the fantastic options available to you this summer!

The Many Faces of Shel Silverstein, June 16th, 2011

Time: 9am-3pm Grades: 3-8 Price: $75*

We will spend the day bringing the poems and music of Shel Silverstein to life. Using drama excercises and creative thinking we will dive into the wacky world where Shel Silverstein's characters reside.

Brighton's Glee Club, June 17th, 2011

Time: 9am-3pm Grades: 3-8 Price: $75*

5-6-7-8! Sing and dance your way to the Drama Room for a day of show choir. We'll learn a dance routine and sing a song from a popular Broadway Musical. This class will be fun, energetic and suitable for young performers of all skill levels and backgrounds. We will end the day with a performance for friends and family. Get your dancing shoes on and get ready to sing in Brighton's Glee Club!


*Sign up for both single day sessions for only $125!

Story Trunk, July 5th-8th, 2011

Time: 9am-12pm Ages: 4-6 years Price: $140**

Arggghh Matey! Come aboard the Story Trunk ship as we sail away on an adventure. Ever day we will explore a book with a seaworthy voyage and sue our imagination to look into the Story Trunk for the buried treasure.

Story Trunk, July 5th-8th, 2011

Time: 12:30pm-3:30pm Ages: 4-6 years Price: $140**

Howdy Drama Campers! Strap on your boots and join us as we ride out to the Wild West with the Story Trunk. We will wrangle books with some cowboy and cowgirl adventures. Using creative drama to activate our imaginiations and maybe even lasso the moon!


**Sign up for both half-day sessions for only $200!

Play It! Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, August 1st-5th, 2011

Time: 9am-3pm Grades: 3-8 Price: $250

Lilly is very excited about her Purple Plastic Purse, and we are very excited to do a play about it! In just one week we will put together a production of "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" by Kevin Henkes. Students will creat a set, props and costumes for the production they will put on for friends and family at the end of the week.

Story Trunk, August 22nd-26th, 2011

Time: 9am-12pm Ages: 4-6 years Price: $175***

3-2-1...BLAST OFF! This week we will get our space gear on and travel around the universe as we explore some stories that are out of this world! Using our imaginations we may travel to Saturn or Neptune...who knows what the Story Trunk will have in store?!

Story Trunk, August 22nd-26th, 2011

Time: 12:30pm-3:30pm Ages: 4-6 years Price: $175***

Come rock your socks off with the Story Trunk this week as we follow some stories about music and even make some music of our own. Ever day we will go into the Story Trunk and find clues for our musical adventure. Using our creative minds we will dance along to our own melodies.


***Sign up for both half-day sessions for only $250!

It's Opening Night!

Tonight's opening performance by the Eclairs Cast kicks off at 7:00pm!
Get your tickets at the door.

Additional performances are:

Friday, March 25th @ 7:00PM
Saturday, March 26th @2:00PM* & @7:00PM*
Sunday, March 27th @12:30PM & @5:00PM*
*ASL Interpreted

Every star shines in ‘The Boy Friend'

Madrona theater produces more than upbeat musicals

By Lauren Thompson
Enterprise writer
(See original source)

In the Mountlake Terrace High School auditorium on a Thursday afternoon, a chorus line of elementary school girls dance in line to a 1920s tune. Dozens of students fill the red theater seats.

Behind the auditorium, more students walk through the locker-lined hallways, some wearing dance shoes and others holding scripts.

A piano tinkles in the background. For now, it's filling in for the live pit orchestra that will play during the Madrona Children's Theater's performance of “The Boy Friend,” a musical and romantic romp set in the 1920s French Riviera. Performances are March 24-28.

Tonight, from soon after school's out until 9 p.m., it's rehearsal – for one half of the 84 actors in “The Boy Friend,” at least. At MCT, every child who tries out gets a part; this year, that means there's two full casts. All the actors are fourth- through eighth-graders at Madrona K-8 School in Edmonds.

“We find places (for everyone), expand parts if we need to, add parts, customize it to make it fit,” says Mark Press, who is the show's music director along with his wife, Nancy.

This is just one of the things that sets MCT apart from an ordinary school play.

MCT is an almost-completely volunteer organization run by the parents group of Madrona K-8, says Brandis Roundy, a Madrona parent who is producing 'The Boy Friend.' “(At MCT), they find the kids' talent – if there are better dancers, they highlight that, if there are better singers, they highlight that,” described Roundy.

Director Ted Jaquith agrees: “It gives kids the opportunity to have a real theater experience.”

“We like to think we surround the kids with professionalism at all levels. We harness their talents and energy,” Press added, later.

Just a little school play

Press has been helping with MCT plays for almost 20 years, which is about how long the theater program has been around. “It started as a little school play,” he describes. Now, it's an annual, large-scale musical production. Press and others attribute its growth to two main things: professionalism and a community of volunteers.

Behind the scenes, parent volunteers run almost everything – building sets, doing makeup, making costumes, feeding the cast. “Our parents are amazing,” says Roundy. In addition, there is a lot of “volunteer expertise,” says Press. (Only a few, more specific roles are paid positions.)

For example, choreographer Carissa Meisner Smit is also currently directing “Nunsense” at Driftwood Players in Edmonds. Other volunteers include the Seattle Opera, Seattle Pacific University and more.

Coming back for more

This level of professionalism and community also entices Madrona alumni to come back and volunteer.

At rehearsal, entire families of siblings stand in the hallway talking about their fond memories of their days in MCT productions. Dani Langlie, a senior at Meadowdale, and her freshman twin sisters Malena and Sydeny joined siblings Corinne and Lily Jaquith, the director's daughters and Edmonds-Woodway freshman and senior, respectively.

Elspeth Nolen, 27, who acted in the very first MCT production, is also back, working as the director's assistant. “(MCT) does so much for kids,” says Lily Jaquith. Nolen agrees. “It really gives kids more,” she says, noting that MCT has higher production value than a lot of high school programs she's seen.

The alumni roles are diverse: some help with makeup or music, others are stage managing. But their attitude toward MCT is the same. “It's such a great community,” says Dani Langlie, and the rest concur. They all agree that they were a part of something special – and now they're back.

Over-the-top awesome

In the halls, blue bags with each actor's name and “The Boy Friend” written in bold font are scattered among backpacks and lunch pails.

Talking to the actors themselves shows why MCT even exists – they are excited. Nicole Roundy, a seventh-grader and daughter of Brandis, is in her third Madrona play. “I think it's fun to be somebody else and go crazy with it,” she says. This year she plays Hortense the maid – next year, she says, her role will be even bigger. Being on stage, she says, is “a big adrenaline rush that keeps going.”

“I'm not myself (onstage); I get really into my character,” adds fellow seventh-grader Olivia Teno, who plays Lady Brockhurst. They, along with seventh-grader Katja Jacobs, all talk of their love of theatre and desire to continue in it after graduation.

“It's totally over-the-top awesome,” says Teno. She and Roundy give a goofy thumbs up in excitement.

The best part

And this genuine excitement, according to Ted Jaquith, is the best part. He begins to tear up as he talks about “seeing kids that couldn't get one foot in front of the other singing and dancing the front of hundreds of people.”

“It's a chance to shine for everyone,” he says.

Hearing-impaired students in the spotlight at Madrona

By Lauren Thompson
Enterprise writer
(See the original source)

One of the hallmarks of the Madrona Children’s Theatre is that every student gets a chance to perform.

In their upcoming production of “The Boy Friend,” this includes seven deaf or hearing-impaired students taking the stage. “This creates wonderful opportunities; (it makes the musical) more accessible to as many as possible,” said music director Mark Press.

One person helping make this possible is Casey Johnson Pasqua, an Edmonds-Woodway ninth-grader and alumna of MCT. Johnson Pasqua, who herself is deaf, assists the director with coaching the hearing-impaired actors. “It’s a different experience to communicate with my hands and not my voice,” she said. “I use hands to express myself.” Talking to Johnson Pasqua, it’s clear she uses more than just her hands – her face lights up and speaks volumes in expression as she signs.

Johnson Pasqua and others spoke of the heightened awareness and extra levels of communication having hard of hearing actors brings to a play. “You’re really showing more of a connection between the actor and community,” said Johnson Pasqua. “When you have two actors signing, it’s like a triangle with the audience… there is more communication, (which) highlights the relationship.”

“It makes it a really intentional interaction,” said fellow MCT alumna and director’s assistant Elspeth Nolen.

In addition, “It’s really pretty to see the signing of the songs,” said Meadowdale senior Dani Langlie. “It really highlights the visual.”Everyone agreed that having Pasqua Johnson there was essential in allowing the hard of hearing shine on stage. “She’s fantastic,” said Nolen. “She actually causes kids to become better actors.”

Director Ted Jaquith agreed: “(Casey) puts so much effort into making other kids look great.”

The Boy Friend Costume Parade

Every year we spend a Saturday in March trying on the hundreds of costumes involved in the production of an authentic musical. Countless hours go into designing the costumes to outfit two full casts of 40+ students each!
Check out the photos from this year's Costume Parade to see what the amazing Erika Larimer and her team have designed for The Boy Friend!

The Making of The Boy Friend! A Photo Story

It takes months of hard work by the 80+ students, the Creative Team, and the dozens of parent volunteers to make a full scale musical reality, each and every year.

Check out some photos below of this year's cast and crew hard at work!

All pictured are listed from left to right


Ted Jaquith - Director


Dani Langlie - Director's Apprentice
Cassidy - Lord Brockhurst, Crepes Cast
Mark Press - Music Director
Carissa Meisner Smit - Choreographer
Diane Jamieson - Assistant Director & Stage Manager


Dani Langlie - Director's Apprentice
Ted Jaquith - Director


Lily Jaquith - Assistant Stage Manager
Aaron Wheeler - Props Assistant


Elizabeth Short - Sign Language Support
Jon Woods - Performance Interpreter
Casey Johnson Pasqua - ASL Coach


Diane Jamieson - Assistant Director & Stage Manager
Dani Langlie - Director's Apprentice
Lily Jaquith - Assistant Stage Manager


Duncan - Tony, Éclairs Cast
Ted Jaquith - Director



Liz - Bobby, Crepes Cast



Crepes & Éclairs Casts

Stepping Out: MCT presents 'The Boy Friend'

Published on
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

To view the original article seen in the Edmonds Beacon, click here.

The Madrona Children’s Theatre (MCT), in cooperation with Madrona K-8 school in the Edmonds School District, is producing its 18th musical – The Boy Friend – the Broadway show that turned Julie Andrews into an overnight sensation. The cast is comprised of 84 Madrona students in two casts (Éclairs cast and Crepes cast).

The setting is The French Riviera, where Polly, an English heiress attending Mme. Dubonnet's Finishing School, falls in love with Tony, a delivery boy.

Recalling her father's warning to beware fortune seekers, she poses as a working girl, unaware Tony is in fact the missing nephew of the wealthy Lord Brockhurst.

Things get complicated with the unexpected arrival in Nice of Polly's parents and Lord and Lady Brockhurst - but not to worry, a happy ending is in store for all.

MCT productions are performed by 4th-8th graders; all who audition get to participate.

This year the Éclairs cast includes seven deaf and hard of hearing students who play a variety of characters. When a deaf actor is signing there will be voicing by one of the hearing actors.

High school student and MCT alumni, Casey Johnson Pasqua, who is deaf herself has returned to assist with the process of translating the English into American Sign Language for both the deaf and hearing actors.

Performances are Thursday, March 24 at 7 p.m. (Éclairs cast); Friday, March 25 at 7 p.m. (Crepes cast); Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m. and 7 (both Éclairs cast); Sunday, March 27, at 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. (both Crepes cast).

Performances are at Mountlake Terrace High School
21801 44th Avenue West, Mountlake Terrace.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students.