Notes from the Director:
If you were lucky enough to experience it, everyone has a memory of being in “The school play”! It may be a fond memory or not but each of us lucky enough to ever know the mixture of fear and elation of stepping out onto a stage, in a costume, with lights for the first time will remember it forEVER!
This production marks the culmination of three years of work in our after school club and during regular Theatre Arts classes where possible.
The Cario Theatre Club has met consistently after school every week throughout the last two years, post Covid, in person, building the strong ensemble of highly talented and motivated actors that you will see today.
Since September last, Cairo Theatre Club has welcomed a strong and talented new group of 6th Grade students who have made a great impact on our troupe and will continue the tradition to bring both plays and musical performances to the stage because everyone deserves a chance to step out onto the stage and make a memory.
For this much anticipated return to the stage after the 3 year hiatus, we chose the musical Oliver! Since it is the story of a child who overcomes great odds to find his way in life. He is accompanied on this journey by other young characters who aid and abet him throughout to find “Love” his ultimate goal.
Our students also have a tough time finding their way through the story that is middle school and much like Oliver they have to overcome great obstacles in order to succeed and I sincerely hope they will take the story of Oliver and it’s creators who also overcame such odds to heart as they make new friends, new discoveries and new memories on the stage.
Charles Dickens, the author of the novel Oliver Twist on which Oliver is based, only attained a 6th Grade education after he was forced to leave school at the age of 12, in order to help his family survive after his father was sentenced to Debtor’s Prison. A mere child, Dickens' worked alongside many colorful characters who peppered his later novels based on the real life people he met and worked alongside during this time.
Many years later and without a formal music education, and no knowledge of musical notation, Lionel Bart, wrote the entire book, music, lyrics and script for Oliver! Based on Dickens novel. After being rejected by dozens of promoters, Bart opened Oliver! In June 1960 in London’s West End which he financed himself. It was an immediate hit and received 16 curtain calls on the opening night with advanced sales of 30,000 GBP in the first week. Bart was just 30.
Both overcame great odds to find their dream to reach their goals which is the message that I hope we will all take to heart as we watch this story unfold and sit back and enjoy the skills and the craft that these students bring to the stage.
Thank you for your interest and support in our production of Oliver Jr! and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend our performance today. We appreciate your time and hope you will thoroughly enjoy what is about to unfold….
Heather A. Todd-Schlieper
