Happy #FrontRowFriday, Encore family! Spring will be here before we know it. Before we “March” forward, let’s take this chance to look back on some highlights from February here at Encore Stage & Studio!
1) 49 cast and crew members, 8 performances, and 3,089 patrons made The Lion King Jr. a hit! “Hakuna Matata,” meant no worries for the many audience members that joined us for this production of a Disney classic. The grandeur of Pride Rock gave our designers and crew opportunities to explore new methods of storytelling, ranging from a myriad of puppets and over 100 costume pieces! Our costume designer, Debra Leonard shared that there were “62 ‘characters’ (including grass), 119 items made, 28 items purchased and altered/dyed, and 21 items pulled from storage. It was a lot!” It certainly was a challenging production and we’re so glad to have such a dedicated and amazing design team!
Ready to take the stage yourself? Mark your calendars for Pinocchio auditions, April 9th and 10th!
2) Rally the troops! Encore was excited to welcome 82 Girl Scouts in 8 troops to join in our pre-show Girl Scout Workshops. Our fantastic Arts Apprentice, A.K., led Brownies through a series of awesome team-building activities to explore their creativity and grow closer as a troop, while Ms. Mara led the Daisies in engaging and fun theatre games. We are always thrilled to share the joy of theatre with new young artists. Interested in joining in on the fun? Check out our selection of Spring classes, starting Saturday, April 21st!
3) Valentine’s Day fun! Our staff was in the red and white spirit on the 14th, even throwing ourselves a mini-photoshoot. Check out more of our antics on our Instagram page, @encorearlington.
4) It’s summer time! Planning, that is… Our staff members were happy to represent Encore at three local summer camp fairs last month, sharing all of the wonderful theatre adventures that await you. From elementary to adulthood, musicals to Shakespeare, there is something for everyone this #EncoreSummer!
5) Party time! Speaking of save the dates, invitations for Encore’s 50th Anniversary Bash went out last month. On April 28th, we will be celebrating half a century of “Theatre by kids, for kids!” Join us for an evening of excellent food and music, featuring performances by Encore alums and current students.
Thanks for looking back on this fabulous February with us. With so many outstanding performances, camps, and classes on the horizon, we can’t wait to see what spring will bring!
Photos by Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan. Video editing by Rosemarie O’Connor. Website contributor: Shannon McCarthy