This week on Excursions, a live performance from the young, talented stars of the new Yellow Springs Kids’ Playhouse production Alice, Although. Niki Dakota also sits down with the production’s director, AnnMarie Saunders, and Ara Beal, artistic director of YSKP.
Alice, Although is an original historical musical written by Jill Summerville, with music by James Johnston. It tells the story of Alice Roosevelt Longworth, the eldest daughter of president Theodore Roosevelt. In her early life, Alice became known as the “princess of Washington,” with a reputation for her both her glamor and her rebelliousness. As she grew older, her connections in the nation’s capital, including her marriage to Cincinnati congressman Nicholas Longworth III, gave her so much influence over lawmakers that they began calling her “the other Washington Monument.”
Alice will be played by several actors, each representing her at a different age. All of the Alices, however, will remain onstage throughout the show. “It’s almost like a Greek chorus,” Saunders explains. “They support what the main actor is doing, they give advice, they give commentary to the audience…they serve as sort of watchers.”
The July 1st performance will be the Arts for All version of the show, specifically designed for children on the Autism spectrum. “I like to talk about it as a ‘come as you are and be as you are in the space with us’ type of performance,” says Beal. Changes include a more relaxed atmosphere, fewer loud sound effects, and special educators serving as docents for kids and families.
Of course, no historical musical produced in 2016 can escape the influence of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Hamilton. “There’s even a rap battle in there, so Hamilton fans will get a taste of that” notes Saunders.
YSKP will perform Alice, Although from June 23-26, and again June 30-July 3. All performances take place at the Antioch Amphitheater, 910 Corry Street, in Yellow Springs. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for students and seniors.
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