South Coast Repertory's Junior Players Present The Velveteen Rabbit
COSTA MESA, CA. – Is there a child anywhere who hasn’t been touched by The Velveteen Rabbit, the classic story that brings toys to life? Now they’ll really come to life when South Coast Repertory’s Junior Players present The Velveteen Rabbit March 20-21 and 27-28 in the theatre’s Nicholas Studio. Written by Margery Williams, the Players production has been adapted for the stage by Thomas Olson and directed by Mercy Vasquez.
The horse, the bear, the clown and all the rest will be onstage, along with many wild rabbits and, of course, a boy named James and his Nana. They’ll be portrayed by SCR’s Junior Players (grades 6-8), one of two young ensemble groups comprised of acting students who have been chosen through audition after at least two years in SCR’s Theatre Conservatory. They attend classes twice weekly during the school year with additional rehearsal time prior to their annual performance. (The Teen Players, grades 9-12, will perform later in the spring.)
The Velveteen Rabbit arrives at James’ house on Christmas day and is immediately put away. But as all children know, if a toy is loved for a long time it will become real, which is what finally happens to the velveteen rabbit in this story of love, loss, and then—a little bit of magic. According to Director Mercy Vasquez, who is also the Junior Players instructor, “Working on this piece marks most the cast’s first introduction to The Velveteen Rabbit. It has been a joy for me to rediscover the story and watch the young actors connect to its powerful message about love, self-sacrifice and the true nature of beauty.”
Vasquez graduated from UCLA with majors in English Literature and Theater and received dramatic training in London at King’s College, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and SCR’s Professional Acting Program in SCR’s Theatre Conservatory. She has performed on stage at SCR, Garden Grove Playhouse, Theater Theater and Heritage Square Theater and is the Voices Unheard Program Director for Greenway Arts Alliance in Hollywood.
THE VELVETEEN RABBIT story by Margery Williams adaptation by Thomas Olson directed by Mercy Vasquez original music by Julian Sharifi A classic tale of a boy, a toy rabbit and the transforming power of love.
Dates: Saturday Mar 20 at 4pm; Sunday Mar 21, Saturday and Sunday Mar 27 and 28 at 1pm and 4pm Tickets: $9 (may be purchased through the SCR Box Office at (714) 708-5555 or online at www.scr.org
CAST LIST:
GARDEN GROVE Karoline Ribak - Nana IRVINE Brooke Boukather - Tin Bear/Fairy Minion Rachel Charny - Velveteen Rabbit Ally Hickok - Jack-In-The-Box/Fairy Minion William Hopper - Clown/Peter Pan Juliet Weaver - Ball/Doctor LOS ALAMITOS Jamie Ostmann - Wild Rabbit/Tinker Bell NEWPORT BEACH Christopher Huntley - James Jaclyn Martin - Top/Wild Rabbit 1 TUSTIN Chelsea Davis - Soldier/Wild Rabbit 2 RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA Gracie O’Brien - Train/Nursery Magic Fairy YORBA LINDA Demie Santone - Skin Horse
