Shakes workers return, will air children’s play on WUCF

For the first time, an Orlando Shakes production will be televised when a musical adaptation of “Jack and the Beanstalk” airs at noon May 29 on WUCF-Channel 24.

The partnership between the theater and the public television station is the latest initiative from Orlando Shakes, which in recent days has brought back some of the staff members furloughed in March.

“We hope this is the beginning of a great relationship with WUCF,” said Orlando Shakes managing director Douglas LoveRamos.

“Jack and the Beanstalk” was recorded during its run in the spring of 2019. Orlando Shakes routinely records live performances of its children’s theater shows to stream to Central Florida schools. Because of that, the rights to air the program had already been arranged.

“The biggest hurdle in getting something on television is the rights,” Love-Ramos said. “But in our children’s productions, that has been pre-negotiated.”

The only person who needed to sign off? The author.

“Jack and the Beanstalk” was adapted as a jazzy musical adventure by Michael Andrew, the well-known Central Florida performer, composer and playwright. He had actually approached Orlando Shakes about adapting the fairy tale — his son’s favorite. Love-Ramos credited Andrew with jumping on board immediately. “He said, ‘Let’s make this happen, let’s get this to the kids.’”

“It’s been exciting to create a new piece not only influenced by the musicals of the golden age of Broadway, but also influenced by the performers who are playing these iconic roles,” said Andrew, who spent two years as bandleader at the Rainbow Room atop Rockefeller Center in New York City.

“I’ve created a song for a giant with a giant vocal range and for other specific qualities brought out by our talented cast.”

The broadcast will strengthen WUCF’s educational mission, said Phil Hoffman, the station’s executive director.

“WUCF is excited to showcase local cultural content as part of our at-home learning initiative,” Hoffman said. “It’s an important first-time collaboration with Orlando Shakes, and we’re proud to bring enriching entertainment and professional theater to families across Central Florida.”

The collaboration could lead to broadcasts of the theater’s productions for adults, Love-Ramos said. Orlando Shakes often creates recordings for its archives, and there are circumstances in which those recordings could be shown to the public.

Though they are shot more simply than the multi-camera format used for children’s productions, the archival videos have plenty of entertainment value, he said.

“The quality of the performances is excellent, and the visuals, costumes, sets are beautiful,” said Love-Ramos, who thinks airing Orlando Shakes productions could bring the theater new patrons.

“They can get a peek at what our theater is like, and for our fan base it’s a morsel of the Shakes,” he said.

The theater is preparing to resume programming, recently bringing back six furloughed employees who work in building operations, the box office, marketing and summer camps. Staff members who work on productions remain furloughed until August at the earliest; the first show isn’t scheduled to open until October.

The returning staff members, idled by the coronavirus shutdown, were able to reclaim their jobs in part because of a loan through the government’s Payroll Protection Program. In the meantime, Orlando Shakes employees are employing a “Hey kids, let’s put on a show” mentality, LoveRamos said. “We’re all banding together, and we’re getting through it.” Find me on Twitter @matt_on_arts or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more news of theater and other arts? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts