We are thrilled to announce Meg will have her SDJT directorial debut for our upcoming production of A Wrinkle In Time!
Meg DeBoard is a San Diego-based theatre director and movement director. She most recently directed Hänsel und Gretel for Point Loma Opera Theatre. She lived in London for two years, learning from acclaimed directors Stephen Unwin of The Rose Theatre and Melly Still from The National Theatre. She learned play adaptation from James Caird (Les Miserables) and movement from the resident movement director, Emily Mytton, of War Horse in London. Since moving to San Diego about a year ago, she has worked on Hollywood! and Blueprints to Freedom, both at La Jolla Playhouse, and When the Rain Stops Falling at Cygnet Theatre, all as assistant director. Directing credits include: And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank, Lulu, Seussical, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Hawai’i Premiere), Into the Woods, Urinetown, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and The Little Mermaid. She has an MFA in Theatre Directing from The University of Essex in England.
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Out of the Wings: Ray Limon
Ray has directed and choreographed productions for the Welk Resorts Theatre for over twenty five years including last seasons critically acclaimed production of “Cabaret”, Hello Dolly (2015 San Diego Critics Circle Award nomination Best Choreography), and “Chicago” (San Diego Bravo Award Best Choreography, Stage Scene LA Award best Director / Choreographer, San Diego Critics Circle Nomination Best Director).
He has staged over three hundred production across the country including South Pacific starring John Raitt, Christmas with Carol Channing at the Aqua Caliente Casino in Palm Desert, Liza Minelli’s Men Alive Concert at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and The Men of Cave,a show he conceived, directed and choreographed at Pala Casino.
He has staged countless shows and special events for Disneyland and Walt Disney World including Walt Disney World’s Fourth of July Spectacular, the internationally televised Super Bowl XXl Half time show, and the opening to the Tournament of Roses Parade.
Ray has been awarded six Stage Scene LA Awards, two Los Angeles Robby Awards, the Desert Theatre League Award, two Inland Valley Theatre League Awards, two London Arms Pub and Playhouse Awards, and a San Diego Bravo Award for Outstanding Director and Choreographer. As a performer Ray has appeared in film and television including “Columbo”, “Excorcist ll-the Heretic”, and “Staying Alive” starring John Travolta.
2016 Summer Classes Now Online
Young Artists in Balboa Park Productions Share Tales of Favorite Toys
Young Artists in Balboa Park Productions Share Tales of Favorite Toys
“Edward Tulane” and “Coppélia” feature the magic of toys
Thursday, March 3, 2016
By Nina Garin, originally appeared on KPBS
Balboa Park is on the verge of being overrun by toys.
The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and San Diego Junior Theatre are getting ready to stage shows in which the lead characters aren’t human, but magical playthings.
Photos, Marshall Williams
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by San Diego Junior Theatre, is about a handsome china rabbit that gets lost at sea and goes on a decades-long journey of self discovery. It opens Friday and runs through March 20 at Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park.
And San Diego Civic Youth Ballet’s “Coppélia” is tale about a young man who falls in love with a life-like doll he sees by the window. The classic ballet will be performed April 6 through 10, also at Casa del Prado Theatre.
Because toys play such an integral part in both shows, we asked some of the actors, plus each show’s director, to share memories of their most treasured toys.
“When I was a little kid, one of my favorite toys was Thomas the Train, but my Thomas was different. With my help, he wasn’t stuck on his rails — he would come to life in my mind and I would play with him on anything and everything.” Cameron Britt, 14, plays Edward in “Edward Tulane”
“When I was a kid, I had a stuffed dog named Baby that was part of my family. For over 10 years, my older brother and I gave him a voice (which I can still do to this day!) and in the mid-90’s, when I first started doing theater in middle school, my mom would sneak him into the theater in her purse so that, in his own special way, Baby could share in that experience.” Ira Bauer-Spector, director of “Edward Tulane”
“The toy that stands out the most in my mind was my blue Power Wheels Jeep. I would drive it all around singing ‘This Will Be An Everlasting Love’ by Natalie Cole at the top of my lungs. Driving that Jeep gave me the feelings of everlasting love and also endless imagination. I had my Jeep for 10 years, sharing it with my younger siblings until the wheels finally gave out.” London Barber, 15, plays Mayor, Wedding Guest and Dr. Coppélius’ understudy in “Coppélia”
“Santa brought me a dollhouse and I would play with it all the time. With my imagination running wild, the dolls would do crazy things and copy whatever was happening in my real life.” Riley Cox, 10, plays Lucy the Dog in “Edward Tulane”
“A small heap of love, with two light pink satin ears. Kiki was my cuddle buddy, she whispered to me soft words of love. Together, my bunny and I share the memory of my first ballet, along with my realization of the aspiring ballerina twirling inside of me. I believe some of our most trademark moments are not remembered because of what we saw, but who we saw them with. Kiki agrees.” Sofia Manriquez, 13, plays a Village Girl and Big Spanish Doll in “Coppélia”
“A toy, by definition, is something to play with. My favorite and most treasured toy is my brother, Giovanni, who is also in this show (as Bryce). When we play together, our imaginations run wild with make-believe stories and games. I have a feeling we’ll never outgrow each other and the memories we have will last us a lifetime.” Pierre Cozic, 13, plays Bull in “Edward Tulane”
“When I was little, my parents bought a big wooden dollhouse with a family of dolls. I became totally obsessed with that dollhouse! I would dust all the furniture and then arrange it the way that I liked it. I used to just stare at it for hours, imagining all the things the family would do, and coming up with ridiculous stories for the dolls.” Elsie Molenaar, 17, plays Swanilda in “Coppélia”
“As a child I had a brown and white stuffed dog that I brought with me wherever I went. I loved the movie ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ and I had dreams of one Christmas morning opening up a beautifully wrapped gift and finding a real puppy inside, just like the opening scene of the film. Funny enough, I have never had a pet dog, and would now call myself a cat person!” Danika Pramik-Holdaway, director of “Coppélia”
Youth in Arts 2015
A Backstage Glimpse of Youth Arts
By Deborah Sullivan Brennan
San Diego Union-Tribune, November 15, 2015
Behind the scenes at Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park Sunday, actress Maddie Williams, clad in a pink gown and plastic crown, led a group of children and parents through theatrical warm-up exercises.
In the building’s green room – a sort of common area for performers – Williams challenged the visitors to repeat tongue twisters and join in a wacky dance.
“This gets you really excited before a performance,” said Williams, 18.
The presentations sought to introduce families to performing arts programs that have operated in the park for up to 70 years, and to connect four related organizations – the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, San Diego Civic Dance Arts, San Diego Junior Theatre and San Diego Youth Symphony.
Hunter Katz leads a group taking part in the Youth in Arts program at Balboa Park through a back stage tour of the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park. Courtesy photo, Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune.
The two-day event attracted about 600 visitors on Saturday, and officials said they expected similar or better turnout Sunday.
Organizers hoped giving kids a stint in the spotlight would inspire new students to join the programs, which together serve more than 3,600 children and teens.
Prospective students could tour the backstage areas of the theater, attend workshops on theater, music and dance, and then present what they learned on the Casa Del Prado stage alongside advanced students.
Through the workshops, potential ballerinas took the stage, flanked by senior ballet students in navy tutus. Prospective musicians got to check out string instruments.
Actress Lauren Basurto, 16, of San Diego, sporting the auburn locks and sparkly turquoise tail of the “Little Mermaid” character Ariel, explained how theatrical casts handle costume changes, switching out wardrobes in as little as 15 seconds during performances.
“One of the biggest life lessons I’ve learned in San Diego Junior Theatre is how to be organized and responsible, because I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a girl grab two left shoes,” Basurto said.
Natasha Partnoy, who played the title role in the recent production of Mary Poppins, said the demanding experience of boosted her confidence.
“I didn’t have a chance to question my talents or ability,” said Partnoy, 16, of San Diego. “I had to rise to the occasion because a lot of people were counting on me.”
Melia Facello watched that performance with her grandmother Robin Sunkees last week. She was so hooked that Sunkees brought her back Sunday to explore the theatrical program. To her delight, the 7-year-old got to sing along with the song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” led by Junior Theatre education director Kim Heil.
“We were here last Sunday for Mary Poppins,” Sunkees said. “The whole way home she sang the songs from the play. She just likes the theater.”
Read the full article, with picture, in San Diego Union Tribune.