Harms and Kelso To Be Honored at NCT's 13th Annual Grand Day Event

Karla Cooper Kelso and Harriet Harms, longtime performing arts sign language intepreters at Nashville Children's Theatre (NCT), will be honored as the theater holds its 13th Annual Grand Day on Saturday, November 12. On this unique day, guests can enjoy a performance of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! and a grand carnival.

Grand Day begins with an 11 a.m. performance of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Immediately after the show families can treat themselves to lunch and challenge one another with an assortment of carnival games and activities. Carnival activities are pay-as-you-go, and guests can purchase carnival tickets on site during the event, or with a show ticket in advance. Guests are welcome to be involved in as much of the day as they wish.

Show ticket: $12/child, $19/adult; carnival tickets: $1 each or $30 for an all access wristband which can be bought on site during the event; and the All Access Pass: $40/person (includes one show ticket and one wristband for unlimited food and carnival activities) Buying the All Access Pass offers a savings over the individual ticket and the individual wristband.

VIP packages are available and can be obtained through Cam West at (615) 252-4661. Proceeds from Grand Day support NCT's belief that a cultural heritage is the right of all children, and its commitment to serving the youth of Middle Tennessee regardless of physical, developmental or financial  challenges.

Beginning after the performance, the Grand Day carnival is open to the public and offers a variety of fun and  food, including, but not limited to: Loving Touch Petting Zoo; Dance Party with the cast of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!; Bounce House and games; with food and drinks from: Las Paletas, CiCi's Pizza, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Bongo Java, Chick-fil-A and more. All carnival games, events and food will require carnival tickets or an all access wristband.

Honoree Harriet Harms holds a B.A. in History/Theatre and has studied Historical English Architecture and Theatre Production at the University of London. After studying American Sign Language and Deaf Culture at Gallaudet University, she received her interpreter training at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Because mime is an important part of signing, she has studied with Marcel Marceau, Barnard Bragg, Patrick Graybill and Gill Eastman. As a freelance interpreter has worked with NCT, TPAC, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Pull-Tight Players and in community interpreting  situations. She has interpreted for such notable people as Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Hal Holbrook, Reba McEntire, Christopher Reeve and Santa Claus. Harms received the Distinguished Service Award and Certificate of Appreciation from the Nashville Chapter - Tennessee Association of the Deaf. She lives in her pre-civil war home in Franklin.

Honoree Karla Kelso received her interpreter training from Gallaudet Regional Center in St. Augustine, Florida. She also holds an A.S. in Computer Accounting and a B.S. in Business Information Systems. She started interpreting in 1987 and, after extensive training, began theatrical interpreting in 1993. Her first interpreted play at NCT was ...and the Tide Shall Cover the Earth  followed by The Ransom of Red Chief during NCT's 1993-94 season. From that point on, she began interpreting all of the NCT's plays partnered with Harriet Harms. If asked which play was her favorite, she would have to say it was the one she was currently working on. Her favorite part of interpreting shows at NCT was being able to see the faces of the children during the plays and watching their transformation as they became engaged in the show. Her home is in Nashville with her husband of 32 years.

For more information, please visit www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org or call (615) 254-9103.