From left -- Aaron Sulkin, John Kinde, Jonathan Frye, Chema Pineda-Fernandez, Alison Talvacchio, Matt Succi, and Nerissa Hart rehearse for “Midsummer on a Playground.” Photo by Ruthie Rado/Courtesy of Pocket Change Theatre
Continuing to bring Fairfax County fresh, youthful performing arts talent to audiences, the Workhouse Arts Center has a special family-friendly treat in store. It is the debut of Pocket Change Theatre with its production of “Midsummer on a Playground.” It is a new adaption of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Where and When
Pocket Change Theatre presents “Midsummer On A Playground” at Workhouse Arts Center, W-3 Theatre, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton. Performances Friday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets, $12 adults, $10 for ages 12 and under. Call 703-584-2900 or visit http://www.workhous…">www.workhousearts.o…
Note: This 45 minutes, no intermission performance of “Midsummer on a Playground” will have relaxed seating, making the show autism-friendly. This means that the house lights will stay up, lighting cues will be minimal, no loud sounds and audience members are free to move or step outside. This will be explained at the top of the show.
“Pocket Change Theatre’s upcoming performances of ‘Midsummer on a Playground’ is an inventive spin on Shakespeare and a welcome addition to our line-up of theatrical offerings for young audiences,” said Joseph Wallen, director of performing arts. “We hope this production is just the first of many that Pocket Change will produce in coming seasons, adding more options for parents wanting to share the magic of attending live theatrical experiences with their families at the Workhouse.”
One of the goals of Pocket Change is to have a series “to make Shakespeare accessible to kids by putting it in a fun, low-pressure environment,” said artistic director Ruthie Rado of Springfield. “When Shakespeare means a bunch of silly people on a playground, not a standardized multiple choice question, kids realize that Shakespeare can be exciting and fun.”
Pocket Change Theatre was founded by recent graduates of George Mason University. The founders include David Johnson, Colin Riley and Rado. In a phone interview, Rado indicated they wanted to create their own theatre company for young audiences to “push the boundaries of style and story.” A first production was “War and Peas” about “three brave vegetables on their quest to save their friend from the scary fruit bowl,” said Rado.
According to Rado, “while we have made cuts for length and added a preshow magic act, Shakespeare’s language remains intact. We firmly believe that Shakespeare can be understood and enjoyed by young audiences.” Pocket Change also aims to have a distinctive narrative that can be “dialogue light, making the show accessible to English as a Second Language and Deaf/Hard of Hearing audiences.”
“Midsummer on a Playground” is directed by Brittany Martz (Fairfax Station and GMU graduate). She will use a theatrical framing device of a magic show as two traveling magicians “hypnotize” audience “volunteers” who will then unwittingly perform Midsummer while in a trance. Seven actors will play more than 20 roles.
“Not only is Shakespeare for everyone, but so is theatre,” added Martz. “No matter what you look like or where you come from, anybody can magically transform into a new character.”