Good News

BACT had a big week!  We received a challenge grant from the East Bay Community Foundation to create a new musical for young audiences AND we received a grant from the Clorox Company Foundation to tour shows to Oakland public and charter schools.  The challenge grant requires an $8,000 match and we are overwhelmed with the generosity of the Pinkalicious audience from this past weekend who have already helped us raise over $1,000.  We only have 90 days to make the match, so we are relying on the support of the community to help us out.
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Choosing our Shows

It's that time of year again...the time when I roll up my sleeves and read a million scripts trying to find the best possible shows to bring to our audience.  It is always a challenge to balance musicals vs. plays, titles for older kids vs. younger kids, adaptations of well-known work vs. less-known work, new work vs. already scripted work.  But, I also really love this process because with every script I read, I have the joy of picturing it on stage and picturing the faces of the children enjoying the show.  What lines will get laughs?  How will the set look?  What themes, ideas or moments will the children who see the show go home talking about with their parents or grandparents?

Do you have any books you would love to see BACT perform?

We are in TECH!!!

Pinkalicious is on it's way!!  We spent the last weekend in tech, which is the time we start putting all of the sets, costumes, props and lights together to create the whole look of the show.

Here is our set in the progress of being built by Kim Schwartz our Technical Director and painted by our set designer Chelsea Pegram. 

Here is Katie McGee trying on her costume that was designed by Maggi Yule.  

 Lanie Wieland, our incredible puppet maker, camped out in the Freight and Salvage lobby with her sewing machine to make the puppet cupcakes!

Rehearsal Photos from Pinkalicious

 Whole Cast Dancing-Evan Boomer (Peter), Anna Smith (Mrs. Pinkerton), Katie McGee (Pinkalicious), Derek Collard (Mr. Pinkerton), Jenny Angell (Dr. Wink)

 The Artistic Team-Lynden Blair (Music Director), Nicole Helfer (Choreographer), Sean Fenton (Director), Christina Larson (Stage Manager)

KARATE with Evan Boomer (Peter) and Katie McGee (Pinkalicious)

First Pinkalicious Rehearsal

We had our first read-through at the Pinkalicious rehearsal tonight.  This show is so much fun!  

Here is the cast, director, music director, choreographer and stage manager:

Happy Holidays

Thank you to everyone who attended Emil of Lonneberga, Rudolph the Ugly Duckling Aristocats.  It was a fantastic December!!  See you all in the New Year.

Emil Is Coming to Berkeley

This weekend, "Emil of Lonneberga" will open at Freight and Salvage in Berkeley.  The show features live music and puppets!  But, that's not all that is going on--Our Youth Education Program has a terrific production of "Aristocats" performed by the Piedmont cast coming up on Sunday.  And our San Ramon Holiday show, "Rudolph the Ugly Duckling and Other Cracked-Up Holiday Tales" has 2 preview performances this week.  A bit busy around here!