Crane Acting Troupe Proudly Presents THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE March 21, 22, and 23, 2013 - 7:30 pm Ichabod Crane High School Auditorium
	Thoroughly Modern Millie is a high spirited musical romp that has all of New York dancing the Charleston. This 1920's musical took Broadway by storm winning the Tony Award for BEST MUSICAL. Students in grades 7 through 12 comprise the cast of The Crane Acting Troupe's upcoming production of this high paced musical. "Millie" is filled with flappers, dashing leading men, and a dragon-lady of a villainess that the audience will love to hate. The cast has been rehearsing the many dance numbers eagerly since the cast list was posted. Students are enjoying the opportunity to act, dance and sing and realizing how much work and commitment is necessary to be accomplished in all three. We are very pleased to be producing a musical this year. For Friday night theatre goers, there will be a Speakeasy Dinner pre-show in the High School cafeteria, catered by Chris's Café in Valatie. Tickets for Thoroughly Modern Millie may be purchased Monday through Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the High School lobby. Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults. Dinner tickets are $10 per person plus the purchase of a Friday theatre ticket.
	MAKE SOME NOISE TAP WORKSHOPS
	Students participated in a “Make Some Noise” four-day tap workshop offered to students in grades seven through 12 during September 2012. The workshops were for students who wanted to learn tap or who already loved this style of dance and wanted to improve his or her skills. The first two sessions offered the beginner’s basics as an introduction to this energetic style of dance. The second two sessions focused on the more intricate steps in the tap vocabulary and provided an intense experience covering more material in the dance style. Many of the students participating in the Crane Acting Troupe’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie attended the “Make Some Noise” tap workshops, which were offered by Choreographer Deborah Anthony.
	2012 Production OUR TOWN by Thorton Wilder Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24 7:30 pm Ichabod Crane High School Auditorium
	Scene set for Crane Acting Troupe's production of Our Town.		The cast of Our Town was comprised of High School Acting Troupe members in grades 9 through 12. The cast experienced the period manners and customs of a small New England town at the turn of the century. Our Town takes place in 1901 but it's message is relevant to any generation. Mr. Wilder urges us to seize each day and appreciate the wonder of each passing moment. How appropriate to the tumultuous lives we live in the 21st Century. - Gail Nadeem Helfer, Director
	Students shown rehearsing their scenes in Our Town are from left to right:  Sue Naramore, Michael Webb, Carolyn Farley, Michael Youngblood, Chris Benfield, Meaghan Hennessy, Susanne Hogan, and Josh Davis.
	To view photos from previous productions of Crane Acting Troupe, click here...
	About the Crane Acting Troupe The Crane Acting Troupe was organized after two successful seasons of summer musical productions at Ichabod Crane.  The Troupe is a self-supporting co-curricular activity open to students in grades 7 through 12 under the advisement of music and theatre teacher Gail Nadeem Helfer.   Each year students in the Acting Troupe have the opportunity to attend workshops on auditioning skills, costuming, make-up, and stage crafts.  Members of the Crane Acting Troupe are not only performers, but also technical staff and crew members interested in the many tasks associated with theatre, both onstage and backstage.  The first musical produced by the summer theatre group was Oklahoma! in 1994.  The cast size was approximately 40 students with limited crew assistance.  Over the years, cast and crew membership has increased.  The 1996 production, South Pacific, included 45 students, teachers and administrators; 50 members produced Grease in 1997; involvement jumped to 65 in Guys and Dolls in 1998; 65 students and adults were in Oklahoma! in 1999; and in 2000, the production of Wizard of Oz utilized a cast of more than 75, including 30 second grade students. Cinderella was presented in 2001 through the efforts of a cast of 60 with a technical crew of 30.  The Acting Troupe performed Hello Dolly to sold-out performances and featured more than 80 people, including 16 seniors, 3 administrators, 2 faculty members and 3 alumni. Other productions include Beauty and the Beast in 2005, Fiddler on the Roof in 2006, 42nd Street in 2007, Anything Goes in 2008, and Grease in 2009. Community assistance is welcome and has been growing over the years, which provides an opportunity for the expertise of adults to be shared with the students.The International Theatre Festival has nominated the Crane Acting Troupe to represent New York State at the Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland at the summer competition in 2003.  Seniors have received the New York State Theatre Education Association's 'Certificates of Excellence' in theatre.  Several seniors have served as interns at the New York State Theatre Institute.  Alumni of the Crane Acting Troupe have continued their studies in theatre, musical theatre, dance, arts administration, stage management, technical theatre, and scenic design.  Recent graduates of these programs have obtained employment as scenic painter for the Barter Theatre, stage manager for a national tour of Ragtime, stage manager for the Goodspeed Opera House, and ensemble member in the national tour of Ragtime. For more information, contact Gail Helfer, Ichabod Crane Central School, 2910 Route 9, Valatie, NY 12184; (518) 758-7575. (Page updated on February 22, 2013) ___________________________________________________________ District Home | Performing Arts Dept. | Previous Crane Acting Troupe Productions Web site designed and formatted by Ichabod Crane Central School Copyright ©1996 - 2013 by Ichabod Crane Central School  - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED