Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Widener’s FreshBaked Theatre Company to Present The Little Mermaid


Children’s Theater Benefits Chester Food Pantry

Chester, Pa. (Feb. 15, 2012) — Widener University’s FreshBaked Theatre Company will present “The Little Mermaid” for young audiences on Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium on Widener’s Main Campus in Chester, Pa. The play is for ages 7 and up and has a running time of 50 minutes.

The FreshBaked Theatre Company will also hold special performances of “The Little Mermaid” on Thursday, April 12 at 10 a.m. and Friday, April 13 at 1 p.m. in Widener’s Alumni Auditorium for local schools and homeschooling groups only. Reservations for these performances are required and can be made by e-mailing ljcocchiarale@mail.widener.edu.

Admission to all shows is by free will cash donation, with all funds benefiting the Bernardine Center Food Pantry. Suggested donation is $1 per person.

Director Lisa Eckley Cocchiarale challenges the audience to experience the familiar tale of “The Little Mermaid” in a new way, setting the action on a beach. The mermaid saves a mysterious human who falls from his ship in a vicious storm. When she realizes that she cannot live without this man, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch and is granted legs in exchange for her lovely voice. To break the spell, the mermaid must make the man truly fall in love with her. This adaptation is by award-winning writer Mike Kenny.

“The Little Mermaid” features Widener University graduate student Christina Clements,’12, of Media, Pa., and undergraduate students Autumn Heisler, ’15, of Allentown, Pa.; Brett Hudson, ’14, of Glen Mills, Pa.; Chara Kramer, ’14, of Mount Laurel, N.J.; and Viraga Perera, ’15, of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Technical director is Peter Castagna.

Since 2001, the FreshBaked Theatre Company has promoted Widener’s mission of civic engagement with quality drama for children and their families in the greater Chester area. The ensemble strives to produce thought-provoking plays that challenge both young and adult audience members. “Our mission is to present inventive drama for young minds and the people who nurture them,” said Cocchiarale.

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