New Britain Youth Theater Stages Original Comedy, THE GNOME

What do a lemon tree, a dank closet, and a nine-headed dragon have in common? All three are important to the plot of New Britain Youth Theater's new original comedy The Gnome!

Based on a lesser known fairy tale by The Brothers Grimm and adapted by Matthew Austin and Anthony DePoto, The Gnome includes three princesses, three knights, a nine-headed dragon, a king and queen, a jester, and a gnome named Gnathan who causes hilarious mischief for them all! Austin and DePoto, who also wrote NBYT's Unlocked and Penny and the Pirates, have packed the script with comedy styles from vaudeville to slapstick to improv, and allusions to comedy legends from The Three Stooges to Monty Python. The play stars nineteen children ages 6 through 12 from throughout Connecticut, and it is appropriate for audiences of all ages.

The Gnome will be performed at Holmes Elementary School, a community space located at 2150 Stanley Street in New Britain. Performances are Friday, April 20 at 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 21, at 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, April 22 at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $13 for adults and $11 for children, students, and seniors. Tickets may be reserved by calling New Britain Youth Theater at 860-515-8115 or may be purchased online at www.nbyt.org.

The theater also has ongoing registration for spring and summer programs. Spring classes offered included introductory and intermediate acting, improv, and a new program funded by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain for children of all physical, intellectual, and emotional abilities. Summer programming includes a production of Willy Wonka Jr for ages 5 through 16. More information about these and other programs may be obtained at the company's website (www.nbyt.org), by calling 860-515-8115, or by emailing info@nbyt.org.

About New Britain Youth Theater

Founded in 2010 and selected as Connecticut's Best Children's Theater by Connecticut Magazine in 2017, New Britain Youth Theater is a professionally-run community and educational theater for children and teens. NBYT produces a season of performances by and for children and young adults, provides educational programming to schools in and around New Britain, and offers drama classes and individual coaching and lessons. The theater reaches children and their families in Greater New Britain, Greater Hartford, the Farmington Valley, and throughout Connecticut. NBYT programs include "Kids on Stage!" productions, the NBYT Teen Company, Stage Performance classes, in-school and after-school arts-integrated and arts-enrichment programming, community outreach programs, and more. NBYT is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young adults by encouraging creative thinking and collaborative teamwork, fostering self-confidence and self-esteem, and developing social, emotional, and academic skills through involvement in high-quality, low-cost programs in the performing arts. NBYT operates its programs in schools and community spaces throughout Greater New Britain, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

To post a comment, you must register and login.