June 21, 2007

The YS Kids Playhouse production of ‘$ense and $ensibility,’ beginning June 28, includes cast members, from left, Belle-Pilar Fleming, Jake Kintner, Anne Weigand, Elliot Cromer and Adam Zaremsky. A summer festival will be presented in conjunction with the YSKP summer season, and will feature diverse arts and artists.

By Virgil Hervey

It’s not just another YS Kids Playhouse season; this year, YSKP hosts a three-week long summer festival. And beginning Thursday, June 28, there will be so much going on that you might have trouble wrapping your head around all the events organizers at YSKP have planned for the village.

According to YSKP Managing Director Lisa Hunt, the events are aimed at building the audience for YSKP’s two season’s plays, strenthening the relationship between the arts and local businesses and attracting more people to the village.

“There will be both scheduled and free-flowing street performances,” festival coordinator Melissa Heston said. “We are not asking businesses to do anything more, we are just enhancing what’s happening. This will show what we as a village can do with some coordination.”

The first of the two plays this season, $ense and $ensibility, a musical adaptation of Jane Austin’s classic novel, is scheduled for Thursday–Sunday, June 28–July 1, and Thursday-Sunday, July 5–8, at 8 p.m. at the Antioch Amphitheater. This original multimedia musical, created and directed by John Fleming, explores coming of age across the cultures of nineteenth century England; Santiago, Chile; and Yellow Springs. Fleming received a grant to go to Chile last year to research and shoot video for the project.

Decidedly less high-tech will be the street performances and other happenings around the village in conjunction with the play, starting with a “Liar’s Contest,” including Brother Wolf (Eric Wolf), guest story tellers and the public at the amphitheater at 7:15 p.m., before the 8 p.m. show on opening night, June 28.

David Epley, one of the Mudde Guys who performs as part of the Theatre in the Ground at Renaissance festivals around the country, will put on his other persona, Dr. Kaboom, to entertain the kids with what he calls “big fun with simple science” at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 29. Look for him in Kings Yard. At 6 p.m., an Exquisite Corpse party, hosted by the Yellow Springs Arts Council, will feature surrealist collaboration at the Underdog Café at the Emporium. Meanwhile on the amphitheater grounds from 6 to 7:30 p.m., a “Volksgarten,” where beer, wine and other beverages served by The Winds, will feature live music.

All day Saturday, June 30, street performers, musicians, magicians, face painters, puppeteers, belly dancers, and chalk artists will flood the village’s downtown, entertaining the townsfolk and the tourists alike. Starting at 6 p.m., another Volksgarten on the amphitheater grounds will feature local musical group Heartstrings.

On Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., Brother Wolf will host a storytelling workshop at the Antioch Theatre for kids ages 10–17. Before the play that night at 7:15 in the amphitheater, the kids will get three minutes each to show what they learned.

Pavel Pavelic Jofre, a guest artist from Chile, will give a photo presentation at the Little Art Theater on Monday, July 2, at 7 p.m. Jofre worked with Fleming in Chile to gather information and video footage for the play.

Starting at 6 p.m., on Tuesday, July 3, there will be an urban block party downtown in the block that encompasses the Chamber of Commerce, Peach’s, Ha Ha Pizza, Garden of the Goddess, and “would you, could you” In a Frame. Local musicians, including Tucki Bailey and the Afro Soul Band, are scheduled to perform both inside and outside Peach’s. There are also plans for an open mic. The event will also feature skate boarding demos, art exhibits, belly dancing and possibly a poetry slam.

On Wednesday, the YSKP cast and puppets will take part in the annual Yellow Springs Fourth of July parade.

The second weekend of the play will see more of the same with Dr. Kaboom, and Brother Wolf and a whole cast of musicians, street performers and local artists.

The second play of the season, Around the World in 80 Days, will have six performances on various dates, starting on Tuesday, July 11, and ending on July 22. Meanwhile, the summer festival will continue to go on around it.

According to Hunt, YSKP’s summer season is the fourth largest annual event in the village, behind Blues Fest and the two street fairs. Participants are from 8–18 years old and this year there are 65 kids involved.

Interested artists can still get in on the festival by calling YSKP at 360-6670. For a detailed schedule of all the YSKP Summer Festival events including updates, visit their Web site at www.yskp.org. To make reservations for $ense and $ensibility call 937-769-1030.

Contact: vhervey@ysnews.com