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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY STAGES
TWO NEW CHILDREN’S PRODUCTIONS AS PART OF ITS
‘THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES’ PROGRAM
“Cinderella, Cinderella” and “The Velveteen Rabbit” will be staged at 560 Grand Boulevard
Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC), the non-profit professional theater company based in Miramar Beach, Florida, continues to outreach to youth with its Theatre for Young Audiences program as part of the company’s 2016-2017 season.
“ECTC is dedicated to finding new and different ways to serve our community, and especially the children of our community. Larger cities offer children cultural educational opportunities that we do not have many of here on the Emerald Coast. We at ECTC want to change that and are dedicated to creating opportunities for our children to be engaged and inspired through the theatrical arts,” said ECTC producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher.
Since its inception in 2012, ECTC has offered Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) through partnerships with Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, The Village of Baytowne Wharf, and HarborWalk Village. TYA is theatre performances specifically designed for the children of our community.
“Our world is one of electronic distraction. Theater provides our children with an unplugged experience where they are in the presence of artists creating relatable, real world art right in front of them,” Fisher says.
To further make his case, Fisher points to a study by researchers in the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, which found that “field trips to live theater enhance literary knowledge, tolerance and empathy among students.”
This year ECTC will stage two productions as part of its TYA program. Both productions will be open to the public and staged at ECTC’s new home theater space located at 560 Grand Boulevard in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in Miramar Beach, Florida.
“Cinderella, Cinderella”
Feb. 18, 25 and March 4, 9:30 a.m.
As the action begins in this participation theater version of the old favorite fairy tale, small groups of children come to the statge to help Cinderella clean the stepmother’s house before the terrible family returns. The children then help an absentminded Fairy Godmother get Cinderella dressed and ready for the ball; create the wild ride to the castle and provide a distraught King Ferdinand and a sorrowful prince with a queen; and ladies and gentlemen to dance with at the ball.
“The Velveteen Rabbit”
April 1 and 8, 9:30 a.m.
This is interactive version of the classic children’s story of how toys become real. The characters of Old Horse, Boy, Mother, Jack-in-the-Box, Tin Soldier, Velveteen Rabbit, Doctor and Fairy all come to life children in this heartwarming play.
Additional performances will be staged for local students in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay country schools as well.
Tickets are $10. Children (2 and under) are free. To purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation or learn more about becoming a part of Theatre for Young Audiences, visit emeraldcoasttheatre.org or call (850) 684-0323.
Educators may book field trip shows by emailing erin@emeraldcoasttheatre.org. Field trip shows will be staged at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 17, 24, and March 3 at 10 for "Cinderella, Cinderella," and March 31, April 7 and April 14 for "The Velveteen Rabbit."
These ECTC productions are made possible by the generous support of season sponsors Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, the St. Joe Community Foundation, Howard Hospitality and Culture Builds Florida. Major support provided by season sponsors Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and Isidro Dunbar Modern Interiors.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ARTWORK
Follow this link for representative images and art for Theatre for Young Audiences.
ABOUT EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY
Emerald Coast Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults.
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