Original Members Andrew Martin and Serena Rosario-Stanley Return To TADA! 7/10

By: Jun. 17, 2009
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2009 Drama Desk Award Winning, TADA! Youth Ensemble (Janine Nina Trevens, Founder/ Executive and Artistic Director; Amy Fiore, Managing Director; Joanna Greer Associate Artistic Director) celebrates 25 years of original family entertainment and is happy and proud to welcome back two of its original cast members. Andrew Martin and Serena Rosario-Stanley, starred in the very first TADA! musical, Little House of Cookies and will join the current cast on stage playing the adult roles. The Little House Of Cookies has a book by Janine Nina Trevens, music and lyrics by Joel Gelpe, directed by Janine Nina Trevens, choreography by Joanna Greer and musical direction by Jim Colleran. The Little House Of Cookies will open on Friday, July 10 and will run through August 1st at TADA! Theater (15 West 28th St.)

An adaptation of Eleanor Clymer's The Tiny Little House, The Little House Of Cookies follows some neighborhood kids as they come up with the idea to use an abandoned house as a 'boys-only' clubhouse. But this house has a different plan; when they try to enter, the door becomes too small for them. However, Jane and Alice have no problem turning the house into a homemade cookie shop. That is, until the mean old landlord arrives to collect rent.

Talented cast includes: BROOKLYN: Jonathan Bach (Brooklyn, Age 12), Christina Franklin (Brooklyn, Age 15), Miriam "Claire" Jones (Brooklyn, Age 12), Jacob Ross (Brooklyn, Age 12), Amiri Taylor (Brooklyn , Age 14), Austin Zambito-Valente (Brooklyn, Age 11).BRONX: Isabel Vera (Bronx, Age 13). MANHATTAN: Ceanna Bryant (Manhattan, Age 11), Kristin Callahan (Manhattan, Age 11), Danikha Catada (Manhattan, Age 13), Maeve Cavadini (Manhattan, Age 17), Taylor Jones (Manhattan, Age, 11), Georgia O'Leary (Manhattan, Age 10), Logan Riley Bruner (Manhattan, Age 12), KyLee Savage (Manhattan, Age 10), Jennifer Wais (Manhattan, Age 15). QUEENS: Victoria Cotton (Astoria, Age 12), Priscilla Estevez (Jamaica Estates, Age 9), Lindsey Estevez (Jamaica Estates, Age 14), Taylor Hogan (Floral Park, Age 16), Niles Jordan (Cambria Heights, Age 14). NEW JERSEY: Natalia Amaya (Hillside, Age 13), Jordan Alston-Harmon (Hackensack, Age 14), Brielle Raddi (Cedar Grove, Age 12).NEW ROCHELLE: Martine Bowman (New Rochelle, Age 10).

In 25 years, TADA! has become one of the most well respected youth theaters in New York as well as the country. TADA! offers FREE advance training in singing, acting and dancing to those who are accepted into their youth ensemble as well as weekly classes, week-long camps for the next generation of performers and residencies in schools throughout the area. TADA! Youth Theater was recently recognized by the New York Drama Desk committee (the only youth theater ever recognized by the committee) with a Special Award for "providing an invaluable contribution to the future of the theater" - the first time a youth theater has ever received this honor. The company makes outstanding training and experience accessible and affordable to young people and mounts productions remarkable for their quality and professionalism." This prestigious award follows TADA!'s national recognition from the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as it was selected to receive the Coming Up Taller Award presented by Barbara Bush last November.

The Little House Of Cookies

(Opening July 10th - August 1st)

Playing schedule: Tuesday-Friday at 12noon and 2PM; Saturdays at 2PM and 4PM. TADA! Theater, is located at 15 West 28th St., Second Floor (btwn Broadway and 5th Ave), NYC

Easily accessible by all mass transit

Tickets: Adults $20, Children $8.

Group and birthday party packages available.

Premium tickets support TADA! Theater while enjoying a show and include reserved seating for adults and guaranteed front-row bench seats for children.

Premium tickets: Adults $25, Children $15.

ANDREW MARTIN (The Landlord) got his professional start on stage in TADA!'s premiere production of The Little House Of Cookies in the summer of 1984, in which he created the role of Carl. Since then he has continuously appeared on stages throughout New York City and toured the Northeast in summer stock, as well as such films as Dead Poets Society, Heaven Help Us, Money Train, Last Exit To Brooklyn and To Wong Foo... His cabaret act Open To Criticism was nominated for a 1994 MAC Award, and as a standup comedian and impressionist he has appeared in every major comedy club in the New York area. Since 2001, he has also been a proud founding member of the critically-acclaimed sketch comedy troupe The Mistake. As a writer for the last two decades, Andrew has published articles in Back Stage and New England Entertainment Digest among many others. He most recently completed the book "Scene Stealers: The Supporting Actors And Actresses No One Could Ever Forget," as well as the screenplay Exit Laughing, a biography about 1960s comedy star Allan Sherman, written in collaboration with Corbin Ross.

Serena Rosario-Stanley (Mrs. O'Brien) is ecstatic to be back at TADA! for her 2nd production of LHOC. She played the role of Jane in the 1st ever production - 25 years ago! Since then, she has worked as a production assistant and casting director for film and television, and is now a 9-5er in the medical education field. Although she has not considered herself a "performer" in quite some time, she jumped at the chance to return to TADA! LHOC is her third favorite production behind her kids, Tati and EJ.

HISTORY OF TADA! Youth Theater: In 1984, TADA! co-founders Janine Nina Trevens and Linda Reiff produced the company's first shows with a budget of $1,500 and lots of support from friends and family. Since its founding, TADA! has become the leading producer of professional-quality youth theater and renowned Arts Education programs in New York City. Today, TADA!'s budget is over $1.8 million and the organization has reached more than 500,000 children and families annually through its main-stage musical Theater Productions, arts education and youth development programs.

In order to ensure access for children and families from all backgrounds, TADA! offers a subsidized ticket program for main-stage shows; subsidized arts education programs in public schools in low-income communities in all five boroughs; a free training/youth development program for NYC kids ages 8-18; and scholarships for on-site classes. The children TADA! serves, the audience, and the staff fully represent the diversity and vitality of New York City.

Creative artists (composers, writers and Ensemble members) who developed their trade at TADA! include: Josh Peck (The Wackness, Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh" and Drillbit Taylor), Kerry Washington (Lakeview Terrace, I Think I Love My Wife, The Last King of Scotland), Mizuo Peck (Night at the Museum), Ricki Lake (Charm School, The Business of Being Born, "Ricki Lake" show), Jeanine Tesori (Shrek, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Jordan Peele (MadTV), Eric Rockwell (The Musical of Musicals: The Musical), Winnie Holzman (Wicked), and Jason Robert Brown (Parade, 13).

MISSION: TADA! Youth Theater provides young people of different backgrounds the opportunity to explore and perform theater together in an educational, supportive and professional environment, while developing self-esteem, teamwork, and positive communication skills. Since its founding in 1984, TADA! has been a leading producer of renowned Arts Education programs, as well as professional-quality youth theater performed by its unique ensemble company of NYC kids ages 8-18.

Significant Achievements: TADA! and its co-founder, Executive and Artistic Director Janine Nina Trevens, have received many honors and awards including American Alliance for Theater Education's 2002 Anne Flagg Multicultural Award; Family Circle Magazine's 1st Annual Halo Award; Parenting Magazine's 10th Anniversary Ten Parenting Leaders and selection as a semifinalist for the 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 Coming Up Taller Award by the President's Committee on The Arts and The Humanities, the NEA and NEH, which they won in 2008. TADA!'s Resident Youth Ensemble recently won five National Youth Theater Awards, which honor outstanding work in youth theater and will receive a Special 2009 Drama Desk Award.

 



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