The Sapphire Comb: Oct 30, Nov 2, 4, 6

River, River, Spirit of the Water,
Rushing, Rushing, Sing to me your daughter

Widener University’s FreshBaked Theatre Company present The Sapphire Comb on Sunday October 30 at 2:00 pm in Widener University’s Alumni Auditorium. Matinees for local schools and homeschooling groups (by advance reservation) take place Weds November 2 at 10:00 am and Friday November 4 at 1:00 pm. Suggested donation of $1 per person will benefit Bernardine Center Food Pantry in Chester. A special performance will take place Sunday November 6 at 3:00 pm at Darlington Arts Center in Boothwyn, PA. The play is for ages 6 and up. Running time is 50 minutes.

The Sapphire Comb is an original tale by Moses Goldberg, one of America's master playwrights for young audiences. Eleven-year-old Hannah waves her "magic" sapphire comb, a remembrance from her mother, over the water each day while chanting and dancing to commune with the River Spirit and defeat the mighty River Dragon. In a fit of anger, her ferryman father throws Hannah's sapphire comb into the river, insisting that she quit her “foolish games” and help him. When Hannah and her friend Corwin discover a mysterious woman in the river, the three pull her to safety. The ghostly River Woman holds secrets of the river's needs as well as clues to Hannah's mother's disappearance eight years before. As the spring flooding season threatens the riverside farms, the village begins the annual process of sandbagging. “The river has been good to you,” proclaims River Woman. “Why do you fight her with these bags of earth?” She knows that the river MUST change, that it must flood regularly in order to replenish the soil and to prevent an angry flood later. She is able to convince Hannah, Corwin and Hannah's father to stop sandbagging. As the floods rise and recede, Hannah's sapphire comb is found on the bank, and the puzzle of her mother's disappearance is completed with a bittersweet reunion.

Moses Goldberg, one of America’s master playwrights for young audiences, voices the continuing struggle for balance and survival between humankind and the earth’s natural forces. Creative movement, puppets, and music help bring the mysterious tale to life. It is presented by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing Company, Woodstock, IL.

The Sapphire Comb features Widener University students: Christina Delva of Chester; Brett Hudson of Glen Mills; Kristen Kendall of Munster, Indiana; Chara Kramer of Mount Laurel, NJ; and Viraga Perera of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Also featured is Ruby Knipe of Wilmington, DE. It is directed by Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale with technical direction by Daniel Castagna.

FreshBaked Theatre Company promotes Widener University’s mission of civic outreach with quality drama for children and families in the greater Chester area. The ensemble strives to produce thought-provoking plays that challenge both young and adult audiences.

For reservations or for more information, please email director Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale at ljcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu

Actors/Crew needed for Fall 2011 production: "The Sapphire Comb"

Widener Theatre for Young Audiences - The FreshBaked Theatre Company -- is looking for enhusiastic actors, dancers, and technical assistants for its Fall production: The Sapphire Comb. It will be performed for local elementary schools during the first week in November. Please come to our information meeting. We will answer your questions and read from the script.

MEETING: Thursday September 1
3:30-4:45 pm
University Center Room A (in the Atrium).

A young girl named Hannah waves her magic sapphire comb, a remembrance from her mother, while singing and dancing to commune with the River Spirit. In a fit of anger, her ferryman father throws Hannah's sapphire comb into the river. When Hannah and her friend Corwin discover a mysterious woman in the river, they pull her to safety. The River Woman holds secrets of the river's needs as well as clues to Hannah s mother s disappearance eight years before. Dance, movement, puppets, and music will help bring the story to life. Approximate running time: 45-50 min.

Our mission is to produce inventive drama for young audiences in the local Chester community. All proceeds benefit local food pantries.

MORE INFO: Contact director Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale at ljcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu

TREASURE ISLAND - April 10 & 15, 2011

The magic of Treasure Island comes from the way the entire audience creates the storm at sea, a mosquito-infested jungle and a treasure cave filled with eerie ghosts. Audience members join Long John Silver's treacherous pirate gang and Captain Smollet's crew and join in rollicking pirate songs. The crew also team up with the fearsome Ben Bulba to help defeat Red the Pirate Queen. The audience then decide whether to hang Long John or let him sail away. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic adventure story (running time: 45 minutes)

April 10 @ 2:00 PM
April 15 @ 1:00 PM

SUGGESTED DONATION: $1-2 per personAll proceeds benefit Bernardine Center Food Pantry

Legend of the Trouble Dolls Nov 10 & 12

by Kathy Schultz Miller

World Culture Play for Young Audiences! In the mountains of Guatemala the native peoples share an ancient legend with their children. Before sleeping, the child must tell her doll her trouble and while she sleeps, the doll will solve the problem. Teresa, a young village girl, has one very BIG trouble – the fiery volcano god, Fuego, whose rumbles echo across the mountains. Can her Trouble Dolls help defeat him and rescue her brother, Paco?? Grades K-5. Running time: 40 minutes

Weds November 10 @ 9:15 am
Friday November 12 @ 1:00 pm

SUGGESTED ADMISSION*: $1
(benefits Bernardine Center Food Pantry)
*please consider being more generous if you can!

Alumni Auditorium

Widener University

Reservations Required: 610-499-4341; ljcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu

A Midsummer Night's Dream: April 16, 17, 21 & 22

Adapted by Gillette Elvgren, Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy is brought to life especially for young audiences. In this rollicking version, four members of a traveling theatre troupe wake up one morning to discover that they have been abandoned by the other members of their company. That evening they are required to perform A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM before the local Squire, and have to madly re-invent the play so that it can be done with just four actors. The rehearsal which follows reveals not only the heart of Shakespeare's play, but the machinations of play-making itself. Young audiences will delight at the mischievous antics of the fairy Puck, whose mis-applied love potions wreak mayhem on the mortals who cross his path. Audience participation will ensure a fun and fabulous time for actors and audience alike.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream features Widener University students Amy Faith Naylor of Berlin, NJ; Lizet Negrete of Passaic, NJ; Jon Thomson of Bensalem; and Alexander Webster of Philadelphia. It is directed by Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale with technical direction by Daniel Castagna.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe Nov 8 & 15

adapted by Le Clanche Du Rand

directed by Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale

FreshBaked Theatre Company of Widener University present The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Sunday November 8 and 15 at 2:00 pm in Widener University’s Alumni Auditorium on the main campus in Chester. Matinees for local schools take place November 10 at 9:30 am and November 11 at 1:00 pm by reservation only. Suggested donation of $1 per person will benefit Bernardine Center Food Pantry in Chester. The play is best suited for ages five and up and families. Running time is 40-45 minutes.

Adapted by South African playwright Le Clanché du Rand, this creative and energetic two-actor stage production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has toured extensively in the United States and Canada and was selected as the only children’s play to be performed at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Based on the literary classic by C.S. Lewis, this touring show transports audience members to the magical land of Narnia using the simplest of props, compelling narration, and the power of imagination. The life and death struggle for control of the Kingdom of Narnia and the triumph of good over evil has enthralled audiences of all ages.

The story begins when eight-year-old Lucy discovers a magic wardrobe in her uncle’s home and upon stepping inside she finds herself in a strange new land called Narnia. Lucy meets a faun named Mr. Tumnus and learns about the evil White Witch who rules the land. Lucy’s siblings don’t believe her story about the wardrobe. Then, her youngest brother Edmund follows Lucy into the wardrobe one day and ends up in Narnia. There, he meets the White Witch and is fooled into believing that the Witch is good. Eventually, the children discover that Tumnus has been captured by the White Witch. Guided by the inhabitants of the forest, the children seek out a lion named Aslan who can help them save both Tumnus and Edmund from the wrath of the White Witch.

MORE INFO: ljcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu

TOMATO PLANT GIRL Apr 2-5, 2009

Almost 700 students from four Chester elementary schools saw the production.

Audiences contributed over $360 dollars for Bernardine Center Food Pantry.