The Gifford Family Theatre, in residence at Le Moyne College's Coyne Center for the Performing Arts, is Central New York's premier theatre for young audiences. In the belief that the arts are crucial to the development of children and their subsequent participation in our community, the Gifford Family Theatre is committed to providing professional theatre to children and families, with affordable public performances and school matinees.
The Gifford Family Theatre's mission is to enrich, empower and entertain young audiences through the creation of innovative theatre of the highest caliber. GFT regards the cultural education of young people as a priority and respects them as discerning audiences who deserve quality work that upholds artistic and aesthetic integrity while embracing current educational curricula.
For tickets to any Gifford Family Theatre production, please call 315.445.4200.
UPCOMING!
SUMMER YOUTH THEATRE
JUNE 29 THROUGH JULY 17
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
PERFORMANCES
Wednesday, July 15 @ 7 pm
Thursday, July 16 @ 12:00 noon & 7 pm
For the ninth straight year, GFT offers a three-week workshop program for students who want to discover the fundamentals-- and fun-- of theatre. From auditions to casting, from rehearsal to performance, young participants will immerse themselves in the world of the actor, under the supervision of professional actors and directors. Each day of the program will focus on a different aspect of the actor's craft, taught by program staff as well as invited guest artists who will share their theatrical specialties. Past workshop topics have included: make-up, voice, juggling, stage combat, masks, stage movement, improvisation, dance and musical theatre. With the support of Le Moyne's technical staff, plays will be readied for production, going from page to stage for an exciting three-performance run!
SYT Program Staff
Steve Braddock, Program Director
Steve is the GFT Artistic Director as well as an instructor in Le Moyne College's Department of Theatre Arts. He has directed over 50 productions for and with young people, including Mother Hicks, FEVER 1793, The Great Gilly Hopkins, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, the SALTY Award-winning GO, DOG. GO!, and most recently, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!
Susan Barbour, Director/Teacher
Susan is an instructor at Le Moyne College. For the Gifford Family Theatre, she has appeared as Mrs. Ogilvie and others in FEVER 1793, Mom in New Kid, Mrs. Jewls in Sideways Stories from Wayside School, and Judge Prudence in The True Story of the Three Little Pigs.
Beth Schmidt, Director/Teacher
Beth is a Le Moyne graduate who has worked professionally as as a scenic and lighting designer, actor, director, stage manager, scenic artist and stage manager. For GFT, she has designed sets for Devon's Hurt, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, Alexander Who's Not, Not, Not, Not, Not, Not Going to Move! and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! She has perfromed as Viola in Twelfth Night and Miss Nelson/Viola Swamp in Miss Nelson is Missing!
Deb Swerman, Director/Teacher
Deb has been with GFT's SUmmer Youth Theatre since its inception. She is teaches at Syracuse University, directs for Oswego High School and is an accomplished actor and director.
Jon Wilson, Director/Teacher
Jon is the Artistic Director of Appleseed Productions, a Syracuse-area community theatre company, where he also directs, designs and performs. Returning to GFT for his sixth summer, he has also performed for GFT (Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse), and many other area theatres.
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For information or application materials, contact Steve at 315-445-4230
RECENTLY ON THE MAIN STAGE!
THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS!
BOOK & LYRICS BY ROBERT KAUZLARIC
MUSIC BY PAUL GILVARY & WILLIAM RUSH
ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK BY JON SCIESZKA & LANE SMITH
CAST
ALEXANDER T. WOLF...............DAVID WITANOWSKI
LILLIAN MAGILL..............ALISHA ESPINOSA
THE HONORABLE PRUDENCE...............SUSAN BARBOUR
JULIA, THE PROSECUTOR................MARISSA ROBERTS
MAX/MARTHA/BILLY......................TERRY LACASSE
ROCKY/ACCOMPANIST.................ALEX GHERARDI
WITH:
FIONA CUNNINGHAM, LIAM CUNNINGHAM, JO D'ALOISIO, MAYA DWYER,
BRIDGET DUGAN, JESSICA GHERARDI, MARY NICKSON, NICK ZIOBRO
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR....................STEVE BRADDOCK
MUSIC DIRECTOR..............LIZ LUTTINGER
CHOREOGRAPHER.................SHANNON TOMPKINS
STAGE MANAGER...................KARI WERTZ
SCENIC DESIGN...................BETH SCHMIDT
COSTUME DESIGN......................SHIRLEY BLAKELEY
A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OUR PATRONS, BENEFACTORS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS!
FROM PAGE TO STAGE: Illuminating Young Minds
A BENEFIT FOR THE GIFFORD FAMILY THEATRE
WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
Saturday January 17, 2009
Guests of the event enjoyed a special semi-staged reading of short stories by best-selling authors Bruce Coville & Tamora Pierce, and an excerpt from Laurie Halse Anderson's CHAINS,
featuring Gifford Family Theatre alumni at 8 pm
Bruce and Tamora performed with the actors!
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM BACK
ON OUR STAGE AGAIN SOON!
Proceeds from the evening support GFT's educational programming!