New York City is teeming with opportunities to take children to the theater. Some are big, expensive-but-fabulous Broadway fare; some are small, intimate, low-tech, high-imagination affairs. There are touring companies, and theaters that import shows from around the world. And now, we have the brand-new Manhattan Children’s Theatre (MCT). “A sort of Off-Broadway for kids,” says executive director Laura Stevens. For Stevens and artistic director Bruce Merrill, this means affordable, high quality, compelling theater utilizing the talents of New York City-based actors, directors, composers, writers, and technical crews.
The paint is drying on the newly refurbished loft space in the heart of TriBeCa. Carpeted bleacher-like seating can accommodate up to 100 people in the gallery style theater. The seating is movable, allowing for flexibility in the configuration of the seats and stage area. Lighting and sound crews, though not a part of the action on the stage, will be visible to the audience — giving theatergoers a feeling of being “within” the production.
The season opener is the classic Rikki, Tikki, Tavi, by Rudyard Kipling. A tale of heroism (Rikki Tikki Tavi saves a family from a snake), it seems a fitting story to bring to the downtown area. While the play has its darker moments, Merrill assures that audiences will be swept up in the traditional Indian music and dance. The fight scenes are stylized, tempered with dance, and may be reminiscent to movie-going adults of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
“I’ve been involved with children’s theater for most of my adult life,” says Merrill, who was recently awarded the Off-Off Broadway Award of Excellence for his work as director of children’s theatre for Vital Children’s Theatre here in Manhattan. Laura Stevens founded Vital Theatre Company in 1999. After developing a youth outreach program, as well as Vital Children’s Theatre, she met Merrill and the seeds of MCT began to form. Unwanted jaded feelings about the New York theater scene had crept into Stevens’ mind. But after a production at Vital she witnessed “the kids walking out after the show with their eyes wide like they just discovered a cure for cancer.” In these moments, she felt she reclaimed “the essence of theater.” Her enthusiasm rekindled, she teamed up with Merrill to concentrate on children’s theater. Private donations from people who had seen performances at Vital began to flow in, and MCT was up and running. With a passion for serving the community and “giving back”, Stevens hopes to keep ticket prices low. At $10 for children and $12 for adults, this is a show biz bargain.
While Stevens and Merrill plan to offer new work in future seasons, this year’s productions remain true to their focus on classical literature. After Rikki, Tikki, Tavi, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen will be playing through the holiday season. Aesop’s Fables and Alice in Wonderland will follow.
Integrating the theatrical experience into children’s lives is one of Stevens’ objectives. Devoted to New York City’s Arts in Education program, MCT will offer matinees during school hours, as well as shows on weekends and evenings. Utilizing the expertise of Natalie Epstein, arts coordinator for Community School District 26, educational resource guides will be available to elementary and middle school teachers. Epstein is a parent who was inspired to work with MCT after sitting in the audience at one of the Vital Children’s Theatre productions. She will be overseeing not only the resource guides, but also educational activities and ideas for parents attending with their families.
MCT’s key audience is youngsters between the ages of 3 and 12. However, as Bruce Merrill points out, “the shows never talk down to kids”. Merrill expects the plays “will entertain everyone there”, adults as well as older siblings. In other words, it may be difficult to coax a teenager to a theater for children, but they will probably leave smiling. Stevens and Merrill are confident they can set their sights high without losing the little ones. In Merrill’s experience: “However high we set the bar, children always rise to it.”
Manhattan Children’s Theatre is located at 380 Broadway (4th floor), two blocks below Canal Street. The facility is handicap-accessible.
Performance Schedule:
• Rikki, Tikki, Tavi, by Rudyard Kipling
Oct. 5-Nov. 24
• The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Andersen
Dec. 7-Jan. 5, 2003
• Aesop’s Fables
Jan.18-Mar. 9
• Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
Mar. 22-May 11
All shows are suitable for ages 2 and up. For more info, call (212) 252-2840.
