DIRECTOR'S NOTE
It is 2001 and the 11 year old me is in awe of what Susan Baker has asked of myself & a dozen other young Rutlanders setting off to present a monologue building workshop at the old Dana School on East Street. That was the beginning of my now twenty year relationship with The Rutland Youth Theatre. I had the pleasure of acting in a handful of plays/musicals as a young artists learning the ropes & was asked to be “behind the table” for the first time alongside the lustrous Saskia Hagen Groom as she directed and I directed the music for Willy Wonka at the Paramount in 2009...
Twelve years later, cut to the start of our global pandemic. Myself, returning to the green mountains for safety & comfort as the musical I was directing in NYC was postponed until further notice. I received, the first, optimistic, & more important to me, creative offer since the world of storytelling had halted professionally four months prior. It was R.Y.T. Programming Director & old pal Nikki Adams sharing that her other half suggested I be asked to direct Aladdin Junior. I was instantly humbled by the offer of a return to work with young artists in Rutland County & attracted to the challenge of staging safely during the pandemic. All the while the loudest thoughts repeating themselves in my head remained concern for insisting we approach every step of the Aladdin process from an educational starter, based on cultural awareness, acceptance, inspiration, & how to respectfully pay homage to the various countries whom all host origin stories similar to our magical Genie-woven-land of Agrabah. I have most enjoyed opportunities to direct that have been accompanied with a project I feel is a story that insists on being told. We all know Aladdin, we all know Disney, we all know about a Genie in a bottle BUT I didn’t know the land we would create together until I met these beautiful young artists & this industriously passionate team of adult leaders. Each different, we say like a snowflake, each coming to this process with their own wants, needs, challenges, & dreams. I have adored every moment I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by this company as I learn Agrabah through their eyes, our Aladdin.
I have been blown away by this cast’s magic powers since meeting them via recorded video audition. Our process has been everything but normal to say the least. Thank you all for your vulnerability & willingness to play with me in this sandbox we’ve created together & their families for supporting these young artists & their uncountable gifts.
Rock on, play hard, let your hair down, and all that jazz!
Namaste, Jacob W. Patorti
