It’s a wrap at Wildwood Theatre Camp

Wildwood Theatre Camp is presenting its final performance of the summer the evening of Aug. 8, marking the end of my 25th year of directing the program.

My, my, my. Originally conceived by Len Zito, the former longtime director of cultural activities for the city of Mentor, kids from grade two and up get to learn the basics of performance and enjoy the grounds of the Tudor-style mansion that is Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor.

This year’s production is a revival of a show I wrote in 2012, “The Absolutely Truthful Positively Error-Free History of the World.” I drew on my interest in history to write it. It also features music by University School faculty member and administrator and my longtime collaborating composer Joseph Hollings.

This performance is at 7 p.m., Aug. 8, in the Mentor High School “Little Theatre” in Lecture Room A, and is free and open to the public.

Wildwood Theatre Camp features both kids with no performance experience and those who have been on stage multiple times. Kids range from as young as 7 or 8 up to high school age.

The program is provided by the city of Mentor and supports itself through its registration fees and the Parks and Recreation Department. As a city program, it is not auditioned and takes all children who sign up, including those with special needs.

Bring your young actor and see if this program would be right for them next year. Or if you did the show earlier in the summer, come check it out and see how another group did! And if you stop by, be sure to say hello!

Curtain 440

Curtain 440 opened Stephen Sondheim’s modern fairy tale makeover, “Into the Woods” last weekend, but you still have one more weekend before the clock strikes midnight on this production.

Performances are Aug. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 11 at 2 p.m. at Andrews Osborne Academy, 38588 Mentor Ave. in Willoughby. Tickets are available online at https://www.curtain440. com/Tickets or at the door, and are $15 for adults and seniors and $12 for students.

Angela Miloro-Hansen directs with vocal direction by Trinidad Snider, conducting by Kim Gallagher, choreography by Sarah Wyatt, and musicians that include local professionals and talented students.

This purely teen and young adult cast contains members of many area schools and colleges, as well as those who have graduated from the same.

“I absolutely love being in this show,” says Ashley Cunningham, 23, who plays the Baker’s Wife. “I am so excited for my first lead role, and I am very thankful for this opportunity. What I love about the cast of this show is that everyone is humble and so incredibly talented. ‘Into the Woods’ is not an easy show, it’s full of emotion (also crazy music and lyrics) and everyone rises to the challenge. We’ve worked extremely hard, and I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful walk into the woods.”

“This show is one beautiful rollercoaster of magical emotions and I’m so ecstatic to be a part of it,” says Breanna Rhodes, 21, who plays the Giant and Snow White. “The cast is made up of young adults and teenagers and everyone is so talented. This will be the first role I’ve ever played where I get to push my voice to it’s limit and yell as loud and as deep as I can and I’m ready for it. I may not be a giant when it comes to size, but my vocal chords can certainly pack a punch.”

“This show is a lot a fun to be apart of,” agrees 17-year-old Samantha Hess who plays Lucinda. “Yes it can be stressful sometimes because there are a lot of lyrics to learn, but we got through it. Everyone in this cast is so nice and talented.

“Also I honestly love the mood change from Act 1 the happy fairy tale to Act 2 showing the more human emotions that these characters express when faced with a scary threat thrown at them,” she added. “I love getting to play a mean character if I’m being honest since I never really get to play those kind of roles.”

One more chance to go “Into the Woods” with these cast members at Andrews-Osborne School this weekend.

Rabbit Run Theater

“Mamma Mia” is still running at the barn in Madison through Aug. 10.

“Mamma Mia!” is rated 13+ for content. Tickets for all performances are available by calling the box office at 440-4287092, Wednesdays through Sundays from 3 to 7 p.m. or online at www.rabbitrunonline.org.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, and $11 for youths 12 and under. For group packages and rates call 440-428-5913. All shows for “Mamma Mia!” begin at 7:30 p.m. Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 West Chapel Road in Madison.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic meal to enjoy on the grounds of the theater prior to a show in the picnic pavilion or courtyards.

While taking in a performance of “Mamma Mia!”, patrons are welcome to purchase a raffle ticket for Passport to Paris & Prizes, Rabbit Run Community Arts Association’s annual fundraiser.

Every ticket holder has a onein-five chance of winning one of 100 prizes, each worth $50 or more. The Grand Prize is a trip to Paris, France.

Only 500 tickets will be sold. Tickets are $50 each and available at the box office, online or at the Rabbit Run office. All proceeds benefit RRCAA.

Nominated for five Tony Awards, “Mamma Mia!” was originally conceived by Judy Craymer. Music and lyrics are by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus with some songs with Stig Anderson. The book was by Catherine Johnson.

“Mamma Mia!” ran on Broadway for 14 years and was the seventh-longest running musical in Broadway history. The musical is based on the songs of ABBA, a Swedish pop group active in the 1970s and early ‘80s. The show is directed by Scott Posey and features musical direction by Alex Ulle and choreography by Jill Tschetter.

Several area young thespians make up the cast, including Julia Schoen, Austin Collins, Sean Haffey, and Joe Ivancic from Lake Catholic High School in Mentor, Matt Garcia from Mentor High School, and Shaylin Virag and Jack Rees from Madison High School.

Young Thespians is a regular column that focuses on youth in theater. Do you have a production you wish to see featured? E-mail stevecouch@ windstream.net, follow me @ StevenRCouch on Twitter or join our “Young Thespians” Facebook group and post your show information.