From the Director:
Sunset Theatre Company is ecstatic to be presenting its 11th production at El Camino College. We are extremely thankful to be able to work with the wonderful children that make up our company. The energy and enthusiasm that shines from each of their faces on stage is what makes what we do so rewarding. From our oldest veteran to our youngest newcomer, Sunset strives to create a family based on trust, friendship, collaboration, respect, laughter and love. We pride ourselves in being different than other children's theatre companies. We insist on being innovative in the opportunities we offer our students, to continue to offer them cutting edge theatrical education and to offer them professional training. We are proud to say that every teacher that works for Sunset (Michigan and California) has a bachelors degree in their field and/or a masters degree. Whether its voice, acting, or dance, your child is working with a professional. Sunset Theatre Company staff, along with being top educators in their fields are also professional artists. Our teachers continue to work in their fields as performers, thus allowing them to continue to grow and pass their knowledge on to your children. Our heart, soul and love for the theater goes into every production we work on. We hope you see our passion, education and spirit, instilled in the performances on stage today.
Our Comprehensive Performance Compay students, went on a field trip this semester to see the Broadway Tour of Kinky Boots. Steven Booth, who plays the lead role of Charlie Price, was kind enough to meet with our students and share advice and stories with them. Steven gave Sunset students a personal tour of the backstage to see props, costumes, tour tanks, dressing rooms and more. Our students were given the opportunity to go on stage and pose for a picture with the Broadway Set. Sunset students were able to meet other cast members, the stage manager and other professional crew members of Kinky Boots. The students made an observation while they were backstage, they were able to see that many of the elements Sunset does backstage and how we prepare, are in fact, very similar to what happens professionally on a Broadway Tour. We want our students to understand what it takes, to respect the art, the work and realize they are capable of the same accomplishments. This spring, we will be continuing our speaker series with industry professionals as well as going on another field trip.
Thoroughly Modern Millie seems to be the show of the year, as two local high schools have chosen this show as their spring production as well as us. We were excited for the many challenges in such a production and the eagerness our students showed in meeting those expectations. Today you will see the entire cast (Ages 8-18) tap dancing and we think it's important that you know that the overwhelming majority had never tapped before. Considering the comeback that tap is making on Broadway, this will be a tool that will greatly benefit our students and we will continue to train them and offer more opportunities for them to tap. In this production you will see two actors speaking and singing in Mandarin with no prior experience in the language. They worked with a private tutor and really rose to the occasion. The fact that we have students this dedicated and willing to learn reminds us of the title character of Millie. Millie is determined to "make it" in the world, learn new things, and not settle for anything less than what she wants. We've never been more proud of a cast that has had to take on so much and learn so many new things in such a short amount of time.
We are ever thankful for the opportunity you give us to work with your children. Being able to contribute to their growth as performers and watching them rise to all challenges is truly why we do what we do. If you are watching the show today and are inspired to get on stage, we hope to see you walk through our studio doors!
This show could not happen without a special thanks to: Bridget Gerson, Melissa Wickman-Hudnut, Amanda Hill, Sally House, Nancy Adler, Bryan Bates, Andy Wolski, Anne Marin, Drew Waller, Rachel Peter, Lauren Saussy, and Alexa Silvershein.
