Looking to enjoy children’s theatre and spark your family’s creativity at the same time? Head over to the Orpheum for the newly launched Saturday Series. The first show in the series VOICE POWER! takes place this Saturday, September 29th, at 10 a.m. The special Saturday morning performances are geared toward entertaining and engaging families with both pre- and post-show activities.
Memphis Parent reached out to Jennifer McGrath, The Orpheum Theatre Group’s vice president of education to find out about the Saturday Series.
Memphis Parent (MP): What was the idea behind starting the series?
Jennifer McGrath: There were a variety of factors but essentially the shift to Saturday came from feedback from the community. Many families said weeknights simply were not ideal for them. Saturday mornings were consistently mentioned as time that families are looking to fill, so we listened and took action. Hopefully it is a more family friendly day and we can now engage with families both before and after the performance.
MP: You have directed the first show in the series, VOICE POWER! What is special about this performance?
McGrath: It is a show that I worked on with a longtime collaborator of mine – actor/poet/activist Darian Dauchan. It explores the ways you can use your voice both literally through things like humming, beatboxing, singing, and also through a larger message about the importance of your voice and how crucial it is for people to speak up. It illustrates how speaking your truth and using your voice can make a positive change and can be an excellent form of expression. This high-energy participatory performance uses poetry, spoken word, rhyming, and live on-the-spot looping.
MP: Do all shows have a Memphis connection and why?
McGrath: We hope to feature a local community partner at each show in the series to highlight the things happening in the Memphis community. We want people who come to the Series to not only see and learn something new onstage, but also amongst themselves as Memphians. We want to help build bridges and share ideas amongst everyone in Memphis.
MP: Memphis student Vince Boberski wrote the winning/title story for the October show. How does the partnership between Story Pirates and Story Love enhance the show?
McGrath: We are so excited to have Vince’s Stuck in the Stone Age story come to life here in Memphis and we take great pride in the fact that he has put Memphis on the map.
The Story Love engagement is something that the Story Pirates do regularly. They are committed to inspiring young authors all over the world and they make sure that everyone who submits a story or idea to them gets a personal response. By engaging the community to assist in those responses, we are not only fostering cross cultural idea sharing but hopefully inspiring more young writers to share their ideas and stories. I think this enhances the show by allowing young people to see that their ideas and stories matter, and it helps them learn how to support one another and build community through the creative arts.
MP: Hattiloo Theatre’s founder Ekundayo Bandele spoke on the topic "Raising your Cultural Quotient (CQ)" at this year’s TEDx Memphis. I believe this new series will help families immerse in the arts. How do the special engagement activities enrich the family experience?
McGrath: It is proven that when young people have a direct connection to the work they are seeing onstage, it resonates with them in a deeper way. Whether that means learning the techniques used in the show or talking to a cast member or creating a piece of art in response to the show, when we are able to physically engage, we can go deeper into the experience. When we provide opportunities to engage on multiple levels, it shows a young person that opportunities are endless and hopefully inspires them to continue on in the arts in whatever way most appeals to them.
We also live in a world that is so fast paced and individually driven. By creating the time and space for families to come together amongst themselves and with other families in the community we are giving them quality time to strengthen their bonds and learn from one another, cultivating empathy and ultimately love.
Saturday Series Fall Schedule
All shows take place at Halloran Centre @ The Orpheum at 10 a.m. Pre-show activities begin at 9 a.m. Tickets are $15/person. Box Office: 525-3000. Click on the show links for special engagement activities.
VOICE POWER! - Saturday, September 29. Darian Dauchan takes youngsters on a vocal odyssey through rhymes, beat-boxing, live looping, and acapella melodies in search of the power of the voice!
Story Pirates - Stuck in the Stone Age and Other Stories- Saturday, October 27. Story Pirates celebrates students' creative writing from coast to coast in a sketch comedy performed by professional improvisers and musicians.
Infinitus- Saturday, November 17. This beatboxing string trio includes violist Anthony Cheung, cellist Alex Cheung, and violinist John “Adidam” Littlejohn. Performance features classical music, original jazz/hip-hop arrangements and compositions.
Go to The Orpheum Saturday Series for a complete schedule of the shows.