TADA!'s Odd Day Rain Hosts Talkback May 15

The award winning TADA! Youth Theater (Janine Nina Trevens, founder/Executive & Artistic Director) will host the post show talkback entitled Technology: How much is too much? (or not enough?) following the Sunday, May 15th 4PM production of Odd Day Rain.

Odd Day Rain is written by Janine Nina Trevens and Deirdre Broderick with music and lyrics by Deirdre Broderick. The show is directed by Janine Nina Trevens, choreographed by Joanna Greer, and Jim Colleran is the musical director.

Odd Day Rain is an energized blend of rock/pop/mod-opera-bringing new multi-media, futuristic and cutting-edge elements to the organization's repertoire. Conceived and written by Artistic Director Janine Nina Trevens, with co-book, music and lyrics by Deirdre Broderick, the hour-long musical introduces us to a community of "outside" kids who live entirely without technology and a girl who lives totally through her virtual computer world two girls from these very different worlds meet and become friends. As the story unfolds, we learn how to control technology, and how technology can control us if left unguarded. Through the girls' journey, our young audiences will experience the power of human connection, for one has learned to "feel"- through not a machine, but her senses and heart.

Through Nina's over 26 years of working with children, she has observed that they are increasingly caught up in their technology: computer games, social networks, texting, e-mails, cell phones and television. As a result, people have less time for direct personal contact. And certainly adults aren't immune to this seductive world of technology either-shutting down and avoiding life, rather than living. Watching kids and adults with their phones or computers almost as another limb solidified that the Odd Day Rain idea was right for TADA!. Nina and Deirdre take a fresh look at this theme that has been examined in many different genres, through an unusual format-a musical written for children to both perform in and enjoy as audience members. What better way to examine the dynamics of contemporary culture than in a piece that reaches children and youth who are the arbiters of pop culture and the future of our world? Odd Day Rain is recommended for ages 5 - 105.

Cast includes the following Members of TADA!'s Resident Youth Ensemble Program: Allie Korbey (Brooklyn, age 15), Amanda Jean (Brooklyn, age 10), Amiri Taylor (Brooklyn, age 16), Anthony Raddi (New Jersey, age 12), Ariana Sepulveda (Warwick, age 16), Austin Tipograph (Manhattan, age 15), Brielle Raddi (New Jersey, age 14), Ceanna Bryant (Manhattan, age 12), Chinue Ellis (Brooklyn, age 13), Christina Franklin (Brooklyn, age 17), Gabby Gross(Brooklyn, age 15), Jacob Roger-Gordon (Manhattan, age 12), Josiah Fluker-McInnis (Brooklyn, age 11), Maddie Rubin (Manhattan, age 11), Martin Lewis (Staten Island, age 15), Meaghan Turner (Manhattan, age 16), Nikki Zivkovic (Queens, age 12), Ondine Atwell-Hudson (Manhattan, age 12), Rah Taylor (Brooklyn, age 16), Romello Rodriguez (Bronx, age 14), Sammy Pohly (Manhattan, age 10), Sawyer Smith (Manhattan, age 11), Simone Singletary (Brooklyn, age 13), Sofia Fusco (Manhattan, age 10), Tamia McDaniel (Queens, age 12), Thomas Vaethroeder (Brooklyn, age 10), Tristan Hickey (Manhattan, age 13), Victoria Cotton (Queens, age 13).

ABOUT TADA! PRODUCTIONS:
TADA!'s original productions employ professional directors, choreographers and designers who work with a multi-ethnic cast of NYC children (ages 8-18) who are members of the TADA! Resident Youth Ensemble. TADA!'s productions lauded by critics around the country including The Los Angeles Times who praised, "Colleran's songs ring out, and Greer's jazzy dances electrify;"and Theateronline.com who said, "Fresh, updated...will surely delight the entire family." Some of TADA!'s Alum are: Kerry Washington, Josh Peck, Christina Vidal, Mizuo Peck, Jordan Peele and Ricki Lake.

ABOUT TADA! YOUTH THEATER:
For over 25 years, the Drama Desk Award-winning TADA! Youth Theater has produced original musicals performed by kids ages 8-18 for family audiences. TADA! makes theater accessible through classes, school residencies and a free youth development program for the most talented kids in the area. TADA! believes in giving every child the chance to explore and perform musical theater together in an artistic, educational, supportive and professional environment.

ODD DAY RAIN

April 15-May 22, 2011
Book by Janine Nina Trevens; Book, Music & Lyrics by Deirdre Broderick
Director: Janine Nina Trevens; Choreographer: Joanna Greer; Musical Director: Jim Colleran

Post Show Talk Back; Sunday May 15 following the 4PM show

Performances Schedule: Saturday and Sunday at 2PM & 4PM
Added shows: Wednesday, May 18 at 10AM & 12PM; Friday, May 20 at 7PM
Post-show discussion about children and technology after 4PM show on May 15.
No shows on April 23, 24 and May 8.

TADA! Theater is located at 15 West 28th St.
Second Floor (between Broadway and 5th Ave), NYC
Regular tickets: Adults $25, Children $15
Limited cheap tickets: Adults $20, Children $8. First come, first serve.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tadatheater.com or
Through the Box Office at (212) 252-1619 x 128.

Running time is 60 minutes; recommended for ages 5 to 105.
For more information, please visit www.tadatheater.com or call (212) 252-1619 x128

PANELISTS:
Casey Miller (www.socialmediaforkids.com) has specialized in local grassroots and community-based nonprofit work and international development for over ten years. Her experience includes fundraising, project management, coalition building and event planning for nonprofit and academic organizations throughout New York City. In addition to her work with Social Media for Kids, Casey currently serves as part-time Sustainability Coordinator for Brooklyn College, and consults on youth, education and arts-related projects throughout Brooklyn and NYC. Casey's international experience ranges from researching immigration in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to a position with the UNDP's Equator Initiative, to providing office support, research and event planning for the Africa Grantmakers' Affinity Group. She served as Program Officer for Grantmaking in West Africa at American Jewish World Service, where she managed grants in support of non-governmental and community-based organizations engaged in grassroots community development and human rights work in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Liberia and The Gambia. Casey earned her BA in Liberal Arts from Bennington College (Bennington, VT) in 1996 and a MA in International Affairs from New School University (New York, NY) in 2005. She has a Certificate in Design, Monitoring and Evaluation for Peacebuilding and Conflict Sensitive Development from the School of International Service, American University (Washington, DC). She is a member of the American Evaluation Association, the Freelancer's Union, and the Association of Women in Development (AWID).

Lori Evans, PhD (www.aboutourkids.org) is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, an acclaimed behavioral psychologist, Director of Training of our Psychology program, and Deputy Director of the Faculty Group Practice. She provides clinical services to children and families and provides consultation services to many of the top schools and professionals in the New York-metropolitan area. Dr. Evans also coordinated the "Treatment of Adolescent Suicide Attempters" study at the CSC. Dr. Evans has been published in Infant Behavior and Development and Child Development. Dr. Evans earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from St. John's University. She completed an internship in Clinical Psychology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Schneider Children's Hospital. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Eastern Psychological Association, and the New York State Psychological Association.

Monica Vila's (www.theonlinemom.com) career spans two decades of 3-dimensional consumer marketing that has allowed hundreds of clients to create strong brand connections with key demographics. For the last 15 years she has focused on consumer technology and is passionate about creating tech savvy communities - empowering families to make good decisions about their use of technology. Monica was previously PTA President at her daughter's elementary school and is an active advocate of parents embracing technology by understanding both its benefits and risks.

Also at TADA!
WEEK-LONG MUSICAL THEATER SUMMER CAMPS (Ages 6-9 and 9-14)
Create a mini-musical in just 5 days! Monday-Friday (9:30am-2:30pm, $425)

Also, check out www.tadatheater.com for more details regarding:
TADA!'s annual Online Auction (April 15 - May 16)

TADA!'s Family Dance-a-thon on Saturday, June 5, 2011