#Mac-Haydn Children&039;s Theatre

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Children's Theatre Production of "Martin & Meelo" Has World Premiere at the Mac-Haydn Theatre

Children’s Theatre Production of “Martin & Meelo” Has World Premiere at the Mac-Haydn Theatre

Our amazing children’s theatre production of Martin & Meelo, makes its world premiere at the Mac-Haydn Theatre tomorrow! From the creator of last season’s hit Wendy’s Shadow, this zany new musical runs August 2-3, 9-10 & 16-17. All performances begin at 10:30am. Two unlikely friends from two unlikely worlds must face their fears for the greater good of human and monster kind alike. This heartfelt…

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Jane of the Jungle Opens at Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre

Jane of the Jungle Opens at Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre

Spend the Heatwave with Jane at the Mac-Haydn Theatre.  It’s going to be a hot few days. Lucky for you our Jungle has A/C! We continue our wildly popular Children’s Theatre season today with Jane of the Jungle, running July 19-20 and July 26-27. All performances are at 10:30am so bring the kids along and take a break from the heatwave. Middle school is looming for Jane and so is the big party…

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by Gail M. Burns

This weekend the Mac-Haydn is doing something it has almost never done in 50 years of presenting professional musical theatre – it is offering a world premiere of a new work. Wendy’s Shadow, an original work with book, music, and lyrics by Mac-Haydn Music Director David Maglione, with additional material by Tomas Ruiz, is making its debut as a part of the Children’s Theatre line-up on August 3 and running Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30 am until August 18.

“Having the Mac-Haydn develop and present new musicals is something I really want to work on in the coming years,” said Artistic Director John Saunders. “We presented an evening of work In Development late last season which featured songs from Wendy’s Shadow and another musical David is working on. Our associate Producer Monica Wemitt and I went down to New Jersey to see a full workshop production this past spring, and I immediately asked David if he could create a one-hour version for our season.”

Saunders is directing the show, which also marks the Mac-Haydn’s first production of any version of the Peter Pan story. Sebastiani Romagnolo is choreographing, and Mainstage favorites Kelly Gabrielle Murphy as Wendy, Jayke Workman as Peter, and Gabe Belyeu as Captain Hook head a cast of fifteen. Jeff Little has orchestrated Maglione’s score, which will be performed by a four-piece band under Maglione’s baton.

Maglione has been working on the show on and off for about five years now. “It started when I was working on a production of the 1954 musical version of Peter Pan, the version we all associate with Mary Martin. I wrote a new song to replace “Never Never Land.” I had never written a musical before and didn’t really consider myself a composer, but when I played this song and talked with friends and colleagues about it, they were all immediately on board. There is a real timelessness to the story.”

Over the years Maglione and Ruiz have collaborated with a number of artists, notably Jason Cannon of Florida Studio Theatre, who worked dramaturgically on the book early in the process. “So many people have touched this project and impacted my life,” Maglione mused. “I’m really at the end of this five-year process.”

In his second season as Music Director at the Mac-Haydn, Maglione is the full time Music Director at the School of Visual and Performing Arts at Montclair High School, as well as a pianist at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is currently writing music and lyrics for a new musical entitled The Only Way Out…, which will receive a staged reading at Open Bar Theatricals in the fall of 2018.

In Wendy’s Shadow we meet Wendy as an orphan, adopted by the Darling family. She is unsure of her place in the family and in the world, but the Darling brothers, John (Troy Lingelback) and Michael, (Charlie Munday) have already been to Neverland and they are eager to introduce Wendy to Peter and the Lost Boys. Even strong-willed Tinker Bell (Jonah Hale) comes around and embraces Wendy as part of the gang, and gets to redeem herself for her selfish feelings as the show progresses.

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“The show really focuses on Wendy’s experience with these friends she meets. This girl who feels alone and invisible is nurtured into a young adult through living this story which lets her find her shadow and find out who she is,” Maglione explained. “The title came before we started to write the show, but as the shape of the story has changed the title rings true more and more. Wendy’s Shadow has been our anchor.

“Sometimes Peter Pan feels like a boys’ story and this show has more girl power,” Saunders noted. I like that it evens the playing field in Neverland and in the Nursery.” To that end some traditionally male characters will be played by women, as women, notably Smee, the lovable nonconformist pirate, who will be played by Maggie Eley.

Saunders and Maglione promise that Captain Hook and his pirate band will not be too scary for little ones, but that there will be plenty to entertain children and adults alike. “Fifity percent of the audience for our children’s shows are adults,” Saunders acknowledged. “One of the reasons brands like Disney and Pixar and The Muppets are so successful is that they offer entertainment on a variety of different levels for folks at different stages in life.”

Wendy’s Shadow, with book, music, and lyrics by Mac-Haydn Music Director David Maglione, with additional material by Tomas Ruiz, directed by John Saunders and choreographed by Sebastiani Romagnolo, will be performed August 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th, 17th & 18th at 10:30 am at the Mac-Haydn Theatre, 1925 NY Route 203 in Chatham, NY. Tickets are just $12. Call 518-392-9292 or click here

Mac-Haydn Theatre Presents World Premiere of “Wendy’s Shadow” by Gail M. Burns This weekend the Mac-Haydn is doing something it has almost never done in 50 years of presenting professional musical theatre – it is offering a world premiere of a new work.

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"The Pied Piper" Opens at the Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre

“The Pied Piper” Opens at the Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre

Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre presents The Pied Piper July 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th at 10:30am Fun for the whole family in this fresh, innovative and hilarious take on a beloved classic tale. Come hear The Pied Piper! The rats are taking over Hamelin, and nobody, including the greedy mayor (Zachary Swartout) knows what to do. Just when things can’t get any worse, who should turn up but the Pied…

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Stewart's Grant Helps Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre Offer Free Tickets for Children of Military and Veterans

Stewart’s Grant Helps Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre Offer Free Tickets for Children of Military and Veterans

CHATHAM, NY — Thanks to a grant from Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match, The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre is once again able to offer free tickets for this summer’s shows to children of veterans as well as military personnel currently serving.

The Mac-Haydn Theatre‘s professional resident company, along with young area thespians, perform child friendly musicals for audiences of all ages.

“The Real…

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Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre Opens with "The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood"

Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre Opens with “The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood”

CHATHAM, NY — The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre season opens with “The Real Story of Little Red Riding Hood” running June 29-30, July 6-7, & 13-14.  This version of the classic tale flips the script on Little Red and tells the story from the Wolf’s perspective.

Everyone has listened to the immortal yarn of Little Red Riding Hood and a hungry wolf.  But it’s rare we get a chance to hear the…

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Mac-Haydn Theatre Auditions for 2018 Season

Mac-Haydn Theatre Auditions for 2018 Season

CHATHAM, NY — The Mac-Haydn Theatre here will hold auditions for the upcoming season on Saturday, April 14.  Adults and youngsters are needed for shows throughout the summer.  The try-outs will be held at the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School on Woodbridge Ave. in Chatham, NY. Children and teens through age 15 will be seen from 9 a.m. to 12 noon; sign-up will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 11…

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"The Wizard of Oz" Up Next at The Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre

“The Wizard of Oz” Up Next at The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre

CHATHAM, NY– Follow Dorothy and Toto as they are swirled by a tornado into a magical land in The Wizard of Oz at The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre, August 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.  The two are surrounded by mysterious characters and breathtaking challenges as they try to find their way back to Kansas in this exciting musical version of the beloved L. Frank Baum tale. The Cowardly Lion, Tin…

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"Hi, Ho Robin Hood" Brings Adventure to The Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre

“Hi, Ho Robin Hood” Brings Adventure to The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre

CHATHAM, NY — The exciting adventures of a band of merry men in old England come to The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre stage with Hi, Ho Robin Hood, July 21, 22, 28 and 29. Robin Hood and his men roam Sherwood Forest, robbing the rich to help the poor people of Nottingham.  Prince John, who is ruling while King Richard The Lion-Hearted is on a crusade, is taxing people right out of their homes! …

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CHATHAM, NY — Thanks to a grant from Stewart’s Shops Holiday Match, The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre is once again able to offer free tickets for this summer’s shows to children of military personnel currently serving and veterans.

The shows are musicals performed by Mac-Haydn’s professional company and young area thespians.  The Trials of Alice In Wonderland runs through July 15.  The show revisits places and fanciful characters Alice encountered, as she defends herself for ‘growing and changing’.  Hi Ho Robin Hood will take youngsters to merry old England and the rogues of Sherwood Forest as they rob from the rich to help the poor people wicked Prince John is turning out of their homes.  A bit of romance, a dash of derring-do and of course songs and laughter are part of the action, July 21, 22, 28 and 29.

The Wizard of Oz brings Dorothy, The Cowardly Lion, Tin Woodsman and Scarecrow to the stage in the classic story of their hunt for courage, a heart, some brains and the way home.  Meet all of them, the Wicked and Good Witches and more August 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19.

Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre shows are Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30.  Those ordering the free tickets must mention that at the time of the order, and bring service identification when picking up the tickets.  Tickets are $10.00 for children of all ages.  Season subscriptions are still available, group discounts are available.  Call 518-392-9292 or visit machaydntheatre.org for information and reservations.

Stewart’s Grant Funds Free Tickets for Military & Veteran’s Children to the Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre CHATHAM, NY -- Thanks to a grant from Stewart's Shops Holiday Match, The Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre…

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"The Trials of Alice in Wonderland" Opens Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre Season

“The Trials of Alice in Wonderland” Opens Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre Season

CHATHAM, NY — The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre here opens for the season on June 30 through July 15 with The Trials of Alice in Wonderland.  This update takes the girl who fell down a rabbit hole to brand-new adventures as she is on trial for daring to grow and change. The fanciful creatures she met in the original story are all trying to help, including the Cheshire Cat who guides Alice as she…

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Three Exciting Adventures Comprise Mac-Haydn Children's Theatre Season

Three Exciting Adventures Comprise Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre Season

CHATHAM, NY — Adventures in Wonderland, Sherwood Forest and Oz await youngsters in three musicals at The Mac-Haydn Children’s Theatre this summer. The first show is The Trials of Alice In Wonderland. In this new telling of the fanciful tale Alice is on trial for daring to grow and change. With the Cheshire Cat as a guide, she revisits Wonderland to gather evidence of her innocence. The Mad…