THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 31, 1995 TAG: 9503290145
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
THE PLAY'S THE thing, and Chesapeake theater fans can choose between an innovative high school play or an evening of musical children's adventures.
Clubhouse Kids on stage - You've seen them on television. Now see the Clubhouse Kids live on stage tonight at the Oscar F. Smith High School auditorium, 1994 Tiger Drive, off Great Bridge Boulevard.
The Chesapeake-based Clubhouse Kids of Hampton Roads will present two 45-minute inspirational musical comedies, ``All's Fair In War and Love'' and ``What's Easter Got to Do with Eggs?'' The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Clubhouse Kids productions are the brainchild of Chesapeake resident Yvonne Rice, who wrote several musical comedies based on the real life adventures of her two sons David and Glen Cummings when they were growing up in Florida.
Nowadays Rice is assisted by her grown-up son, David Cummings, who acts as Clubhouse Kids Productions' co-producer/writer/performer. Cummings and Rice teach television/-stage acting and musical performance to area children as well as produce television programs and stage shows based on the adventures of the Cummings brothers.
Living in Florida, Rice was a single mother of two rambunctious boys who built a clubhouse in their yard. The club attracted all of the children in the neighborhood, Rice said.
``Everything they said was precious to me, so I wrote it all down,'' she said.
Using these real-life situations and dialogue, Rice wrote several Clubhouse Kids shows which have been broadcast on Florida public television and stage. After Rice moved to Chesapeake from Florida, she made several Clubhouse Kids shows in Chesapeake that aired on WAVY-TV10.
Rice said the Friday production will feature 50 youngsters from all over South Hampton Roads. Twelve of the 50 kids hail from Chesapeake. They are: Lauren Bodner, Natalie Brown, Heidi Brown, Ann Cogliandro, Erin McCusker, Jamie Monahan, Elizabeth Morris, Joshua Singer, Rosalyn Singer, Dani Solomon, Johnathan Stutzman, Nathaniel Stutzman and Gabriel Driver.
``All's Fair In War and Love'' retells the time when the Cummings brothers and their cohorts ``declared'' war on the school bully and his boys. Rice said she was finally able to defuse the situation by having all parties engage in a water balloon battle.
``We've done this production on stage many times since 1980,'' Rice said. ``It's a real crowd-pleaser.''
The second half of the evening, ``What's Easter Got to Do with Eggs,'' tells of the time the Clubhouse Kids were getting ready to hunt for Easter eggs and stage an egg fight. It also talks about a little boy who is confused about the message of Easter.
``It's priceless,'' Rice said. ``We show Easter as seen through the eyes of a small child..''
Both productions will feature original songs and dialogue composed by Rice.
Tickets to the Clubhouse Kids of Hampton Roads production of ``All's Fair In War and Love'' and ``What's Easter Got to Do with Eggs?'' can be purchased by calling 420-9497 and picked up at its office. General seating tickets are $8 adults and $4 for children under 12. Advance reserved seating tickets are $10 and $5, after 7 p.m., they'll sell for $11 and $6.
Radio drama - Radio on stage?
That's this weekend's fare at Great Bridge High School when its Drama Department presents John Olive's play ``Voice of the Prairie'' tonight and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Directed by Ed Jacob, Great Bridge High's award winning and innovative drama teacher, the production is the story of two young runaways, Davey and Frankie, as told over the radio.
Jacob said the play's action takes place in various locales in 1895 and 1923, jumping back and forth.
``It is the story of love, adventure and the `magic of ether,' '' Jacob said. ``This play is a challenge for any theater group with its tapestry of times and events which quickly shift and often overlap. The audience will be on an enjoyable ride over the airways and through theatrical space.''
The cast features Scott Barlow, Brian Breshears, Trey Clarkson, Clarissa Dominguez, Katie Dudash, Kera McGehee, Carrie Newell, Brant Powell, Erin Presley, Russ Staggs, James Stringer and Jennifer VanNice.
The student stage crew includes assistant director Kristen Fournier and stage manager Carey Price, along with Angela Jones on sound, Cathryn Holden on costumes and Melissa Bailey on lights.
Tickets to the 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows, which can be purchased at the school office or at the door, are $5 for the general public and $3 for senior citizens. ILLUSTRATION: Brant Powell plays Davey in Great Bridge High's production of
``Voice of the Prairie.''
by CNB