New Kid

New Kid
 

By Dennis Foon

In-House Performances: November 30 - December 1, 2018

A children’s theatre production, titled New Kid, is touring local schools, and tackling tough topics like bullying, immigration, and racism. Created by playwright, Dennis Foon, New Kid is proving to be an unexpected, engaging, and effective way of opening the dialogue between students and teachers about these important social issues.

The story centers around Nick, a young boy from a country called “Homeland” who moves to Alaska with his family. Nick struggles with his fears of a new culture and being in a place where he is unable to communicate in the language of his fellow students. His frustration is portrayed using a clever theatrical approach: Nick and his family speak English, while all the Alaskans speak gibberish.

The tour is performing for ten elementary schools, holding a corporate-sponsored community event in Denali, having a special performance for the local Anchorage homeschool community, and then a final two-day only performance for the general public in the UAA Harper Studio Theatre.

The entire cast and crew of New Kid are UAA students, and with a demanding touring schedule it can prove to be a balancing act. But for these student actors, technicians, and designers it has been worth it. Gaining real-life experience preparing for a touring production, is giving them a taste of the challenges and rewards of this kind of work.

Performance run time: 1 hr.

Performances held at the UAA Harper Studio Theatre, 3700 Alumni Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508

 

  • Cast

    Jarett Hardy, Joshuah Rutten (swing) as Nick
    Alexandra McCall as Mench
    Ben Hagensieker as Mug 
    Emani Secret, Bao Her (swing) as Mother

    Ben Hagensieker (Mug) is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration and dance minor. Most of his time is spent with some kind of schoolwork or production, but occasional

    Jarett Hardy (Nick) is in his first semester at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration. A freshman at the age of 20, he has spent lots of time in the theatre world. Some of this favorite shows include: Mary Poppins (Michael Banks) - Palmer High School, Les Miserable (Jean Valjean) and Pirates of Penzance (Frederic) - Seims Theater Productions, and King Island Christmas - Valley Performing Arts. He hopes to eventually go into musical theatre, and has a tendency to burst out in song on occasions. He hopes you enjoy the show! Jarett will be performing next at The Glenn Massay Theater in Newsies, The Broadway Musical (January, 2019)

    Bao Her (Swing, Mother) is a sophomore at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration and dance minor. Her family immigrated from Thailand in 2005. As an immigrant, she is very proud to be following her dreams. Other UAA credits include: Earthquake ’64 (Sue and Pam), Dance In Performance 2017, New Dances 2018 and Dance Performance 2018. You can also find Bao behind the scenes as light board operator on Radium Girls and as costume construction crew and scenic construction crew on Playhouse Creatures. In her spare time she likes to choreograph dance, sing, and film short vibe videos. Look for her next in Dance Performance (Spring, 2019).

    Alexandra McCall (Mench) is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration. Her other university credits include Radium Girls (Grace Fryer), Earthquake ‘64 (Carin), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (Suzanne), and Twelfth Night (Viola) among others. In 2016, Alexandra took part in the university’s first Theatre for Young Audience Tour, “The Bully Project,” in which a small group of students staged two 10-minute plays for a few elementary school classrooms. Alexandra is so grateful to be involved with this year’s fully realized (and fully fun) tour. Alexandra will be performing next on UAA’s Mainstage as Lysistrata in Lysistrata (March, 2019).

    Joshuah Rutten (Swing, Nick) is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration. UAA credits include: Picasso at Lapin Agile (Schmendiman), Earthquake ’64 (Michael), and an abridged version of The Odd Couple (Oscar). When not performing, Joshuah dedicates his time to the community as a judge for the Pokemon Trading Card Game and works on other projects such as knitting, board game development, and hosting game shows at anime conventions around the country. You can find Joshuah next in San Antonio, Texas where he will be pursuing his dream of being a game show host.

    Emani Secret (Mother) is a sophomore at UAA majoring Social Work with a minor in Psychology. She moved to Anchorage three years ago with her family from Miami, FL. She has enjoyed her time in Alaska immensely, especially the summers. In her free time she enjoys hiking, fishing, and helping out with theater and film productions in any way she can. She has been in Woyzeck (Proprietor of the booth, Margaret, First Apprentice, A woman) and is currently on tour with the cast of New Kid. She would like to thank everyone who has been a part of her theatrical journey. 

  • Creative

    Director, Nova Cunningham
    Production Manager, Daniel J. Anteau
    Company Manager, James Kendall
    Scenic Designer, Myranda Bailey
    Costume Designer, Kayla Amalia Gonzalez
    Costume Design Advisor, Colleen Alexis Metzger
    Lighting Designer, Daniel J. Anteau
    Sound Designer, Krisha-Nicole Manuel
    Scenic Design Advisor/Technical Director, Daniel Glen Carlgren
    Assistant Stage Manager, Addie George
    Fight Choreographer, Ty Hewitt

    Nova Cunningham (Director) holds a Bachelor of Music degree, with an emphasis in music education and vocal performance), from Ohio Northern University, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre, with an emphasis in musical theatre, from San Diego State University. She has made a career performing live theatre. Her favorite roles include Maria in Lend Me a Tenor, Betty Rizzo in Grease, Aldonza in Man of La Mancha, Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her role as Bunny Byron in Babes in Arms landed her a recording contract with Hugh Martin and Mickey Rooney. She has served as Producing Artistic Director for several regional theatres. She manages Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre in Denali National Park for Aramark.

    Daniel Anteau (Production Stage Manager, Lighting Designer) received a B.A. from the University of Alaska Anchorage and his M.F.A. in Lighting Design from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In his academic career he has taught for the University of Alaska Anchorage as term technical director/lighting designer and The University of Hawaii as Assistant professor in Lighting Design and Technical Director. After returning to the University of Alaska Anchorage He now serves as Professor in design and Production Manager. Daniel is also the academic advisor for the design and technical students, manages the light shop as well as sound, projections, and special effects. Professionally, Daniel’s Lighting Designs have been seen across Alaska & Hawaii, to New York City, and internationally to Africa. In Hawaii, Daniel continues to stay active as Lighting Designer working with Manoa Valley Theatre on their summer production.

    James Kendall (Company Manager) is a filmmaker broadening his skill set studying theatre. He is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration and a French minor. He hopes to graduate in the Fall of 2019. He’s excited to gain more experience in stage management as the Company and Tour Manager for New Kid, learning how to take a production on the road. His prior credits include stage management and lighting design on New Dances 2018 for UAA and Lungs for Cazart Productions. He’s worked as the master electrician and assistant stage manager on several other shows at UAA and was an assistant stage manager on A Christmas Carol for Perseverance Theatre this past December. James will be on stage for UAA’s next production, Lysistrata (March, 2019).

    Myranda Bailey (Scenic Designer) is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a technical concentration. She is excited to present New Kid as her first set design. Other UAA credits include Playhouse Creatures and Radium Girls as the Scenic Artist and Picasso at Lapin Agile as the master carpenter. On the rare occasions when Myranda isn’t working on a production she spends her time with her large dog and reading books. Myranda’s next project will be scenic artist for UAA’s production of Lysistrata (March, 2019).

    Kayla Amalia Gonzalez (Costume Designer) is a junior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a performance concentration who has learned to love the technical side as well. She was originally a social work major who took theatre classes for fun, but upon moving to Alaska and attending UAA, decided to commit completely to the art and change her major. Her first production at UAA was wardrobe crew for Working. Since then she has worked on wardrobe for several other shows produced at UAA. New Kid is her first costume design. She has had an amazing learning experience working with the cast and crew through the production of the show.

    Colleen Alexis Metzger is a costume designer and technician whose work has taken her across the country. She has worked for the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico, the Glimmerglass Opera in New York, The Barter Theatre in Virginia, Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, Chautauqua Opera in New York, Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Portland Stage Company in Maine, and most recently, Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts.

    Krisha-Nicole Manuel (Sound Designer) is a senior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a concentration in technical design. She has designed sound in most of the recent shows such as Playhouse Creatures and Rain and Zoe Save the World, and also designed lights for New Dances 2018. She has an affinity for art, technology, videography, and gaming, and hopes to show her creativity in one or all of these fields someday. Krisha’s sound design can be enjoyed once again for UAA’s production of Lysistrata (March, 2019).

    Daniel Glen Carlgren is currently the faculty scenic designer, projection designer, and technical director at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He received his BFA from Southern Oregon University in 2001 and his MFA from University of Oregon in 2012. Daniel’s recent credits include scenic and projection design, and technical direction for 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Night of the Iguana, SPAMalot, Twelfth Night, and many others. Daniel has also worked on the automation for Julie Taymor’s Grendal and Wagner’s Ring Cycle for the Los Angeles Opera and Disney’s Aladdin at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington. Daniel has worked as a scenery, staging and rigging specialist in the entertainment industry for many years.

    Addie George (Assistant Stage Manager) is a junior at UAA majoring in Theatre with a technical concentration. In the past four years she has been apart of over 20 productions in various roles from directing Clue with Alaska Fine Arts Academy, stage managing Singing in the Rain Jr. with Alaska Theatre of Youth to acting in The Burning with TBA. Addie’s next project will be stage managing Frozen (Spring, 2019).

    Ty Hewitt has worked as an actor, director, teacher and fight choreographer all around the country. He has directed Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Eurydice at UAA and The Tempest and Distracted at First City Players. Acting credits include Young Scrooge in Perseverance Theatre’s A Christmas Carol in Anchorage, Buried Child and Tongues (Profile Theatre), The Scene (Portland Playhouse), On The Table (Sojourn Theatre) and deCOMPOSITION (Seattle/NYC). New York: Opus D’Amour (Theatre Lab), Babel Tower (Round Table Ensemble), and Twelfth Night (Aquila Theatre, Lincoln Center). Ty has a BFA from Southern Oregon University and an MFA from UMKC.

  • Crew

    Scenic Artist, Meghan Stanford
    Scene Shop Assistants, Myranda Bailey, Paitton Reid, Meghan Stanford
    Scenic Construction Crew, Students enrolled in THR A243/A295/A495
    Props Master, Kaeli Meno
    Scenic Artist, Kaie Promish
    Scene Shop Assistants, Brighton Coggins, Hannah Coyne, Lydia Thomas

    HOUSE
    Communications & Graphic Design: Asia Bauzon
    House Manager: Mike Vanni
    Box Office: Lawrence Wynn

  • Production Photos
     
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
    New Kid, University of Alaska Anchorage, Department of Theatre and Dance, 2018
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Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois. Originally produced by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and developed with a commissioning grant from The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Project.