James and the Giant Peach" at the Ross Ragland in Klamath Falls, OR. (Two)
Klamath Falls, OR— It was my pleasure to attend Ross Ragland's performance of James and the Giant Peach, on July 7, 2018. These young kids not only performed once but they did it twice. Once at 2 p.m. and then later at 5:30 p.m. in the evening in Klamath Falls, OR. The cast was having a great time on stage and it showed as the audience was having a great time too watching their performances.
James and the Giant Peach Jr. is a musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and book by Timothy Allen McDonald based on Roald Dahl's children's book of the same name.
James and the Giant Peach Jr. was part of the Summer Youth Theater Day Camp. The Ragland Summer Youth Theater Day Camp offered an intensive three-week session, to students in grades 4 and up, it provided a complete immersion into the world of theater and the arts. Classes included acting, dance/movement, voice and art projects. The 2018 camp experience culminates and had two performances of James and the Giant Peach, Jr.
Just before the performance started there was this woman sitting next to me a seat over who had a few of her children in tow. Including a infant. And the infant was having a good time getting ready to clap and a few times she did. It was the cutest thing. But what really caught my attention was her young daughter asking her mom. "Am I in the Wizard of OZ? I just laughed out load because it was so cute too. That her daughter knew she was involved in the Summer Youth Theater Day Camp program at Ross Ragland but she just didn't know what part or play she was going to be in. Cute and sweet, out of the mouth of babes.
Next, I noticed the woman sitting a seat away from me again was pointing out someone on stage to someone next to her and I then asked her if she had someone in the play? Her response was that she had a daughter in a black costume. Well, that was nice as most of the actors on stage were in black. So, I never did figure out which one was her daughter. In reality maybe she did not want me to know, Oh, well. I will never know how well her daughter did because I have no idea which one her daughter was on stage in a the black costumes. At that point I did not care anymore, as I came to watch all the great actors and their performance of James and the Giant Peach Jr. at 5:30 p.m. on July 7th, 2018, not just one particular performer or actor on stage.
Wyatt Croshal did an outstanding job as James in James and the Giant Peach Jr. I love how Wyatt was always in character when on stage, even when he had no lines. Wyatt enjoyed what he was doing and it came across in his performance and his great young voice. If Wyatt keeps at it he could very well some day reach the top. But that is just my opinion. I am no expert but I do have experience in Theatre.
I have a background in Theatre Arts and Telecommunications. Not only have I acted in plays since I was nineteen years old and while in middle school and high school I took many acting classes. Then in 1975 I decided when I was 21 years old to get a degree in Theatre Arts/ Telecommunications from Long Beach City College, Long Beach CA, where I was born. And in 1976 we were entered into the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival with the play Moonchildren: A Comic Play In Two Acts.
Moonchildren is a full-length comic-drama by Michael Weller. Originally titled Cancer, this play explores the rootless 60's generation of free-love and protest. We came in 6th in our district and were given a chance to perform it at the University of Las Vegas, Las Vegas. It was during the Bicentennial of the US and due to language content we lost.
I have acted in numerous theatrical plays over the years, even taught a Jr. High Drama class in the early 80's. I have even directed a few productions along the way as well. I was even an on air radio DJ in Redding, CA in the late 80's and early 90's. So I do have some knowledge of acting and production.
Each and every actor did well in their performance, from just the speaking lines, to the musical numbers. Ladahlor-Charlize Byrne, Grasshopper-Scott Neupert, Ladybug-Angel Aho, Spider- Jamae Rhine, Centipede-Brenden Ketchum, and Earthworm-Aria Sha.
The rest of the cast did an outstanding performance, as well. It was enjoyable watching each and every one of them do their parts they were assigned to, and some even had double roles to perform. Done that myself several times in some of the plays I have been in my past theatrical productions and performances too.
James and the Giant Peach" at the Ross Ragland in Klamath Falls, OR. (One)
Next up for the Summer is the Wizard of Oz.
Wizard of Oz presented by Fred Meyer
Aug 3, 2018@07:30 pm
Wizard of Oz presented by iQor
Aug 4, 2018@07:30 pm
Wizard of Oz presented by Nancy Wendt
Aug 5, 2018@02:00 pm
Wizard of Oz presented by Fred Meyer
Aug 10, 2018@07:30 pm
Wizard of Oz presented by Nancy Wendt
Aug 11, 2018@07:30 pm
Help! Cooler Summer Days Needed
The vital system we need to keep our summer camp kids and patron's cool in the hot summer months has gone KAPUT! We're seeking the public's help in raising the additional funds needed to rebuild the compressor, motor and coil in our air handling/cooling system. The rebuild will ensure the Ragland's system gets a new lease on life for years to come without having to purchase a new system at the greater cost of $150,000.
Your generous contribution is greatly appreciated. No amount is too small!
Click Here To Donate Today!
Thank You,
The dedicated Staff and Board of the Ross Ragland Theater
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