Kids to return to Port Huron Civic Theatre stage for the first time since COVID-19
"Do you like to move it move it?"
For the past six weeks, 64 kids have been hard at work rehearsing for "MadagascarJunior: A Musical Adventure," the musical that made that quote so recognizable.
The show will be performed in McMorran Theater Aug. 5-7. Co-directors Amy Fabick and Leah Tyrrell said they are excited for the community to see the kids perform for the first time since the pandemic began in Michigan more than two years ago.
“These kids have poured their whole heart, body and soul into this show,” Tyrrell said. “They deserve to have an audience clap and sing along with them because they have worked tremendously hard.”
The musical follows Central Park Zoo animals Marty the Zebra, Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe. After Marty decides he wants to experience life outside of the zoo, the group finds themselves stranded on the island of Madagascar
When auditions started for the show, Fabick said she saw a more sedated group than usual given the hiatus during the pandemic. However, since rehearsals, she said the confidence in all the kids has blossomed.
“We have kids who have never had a lead part before,” Fabick said. “Seeing their self-confidence grow is amazing.”
The cast ranges from five to 15 years old. Fabick said the cast size is usually around 120 kids, so almost everyone in the Madagascar cast has two parts. Additionally, the cast are split into two groups, and will be performing half of the showtimes each. For the last show on Sunday, the casts will switch during intermission.
Both Fabick and Tyrrell said the large age range of the cast has not been hard to manage. They said the older kids in the cast are compassionate and patient with their younger cast members. Even the younger kids have been helpful to the older ones.
“We have a kid who’s coming out of a serious injury and is dealing with mobility issues, so the younger kids rushed to them to make sure they help,” Fabick said.
Another way older kids have been helping out is behind the scenes. Kaleb Hodgins, student director, Michael Decker, student vocal director, Vincent Oldford, student producer, Niah Hess, student choreographer and Teagan Georgia, student teach crew leader have been helping the directors with the show.
Addison Partipilo and Andrew Cottone were casted as Melman the Giraffe. Both have been a part of the theatre group since they were little kids. Partipilo said playing the character Melman has been really fun.
“He brings all kinds of sprays and hand sanitizer everywhere, so that’s really fun to play around with,” she said.
Cottone said this his first time playing a lead role. He said it’s nice to have another person playing the role alongside him.
“It’s nice having two people because we can play off each other and make the character together,” he said.
Tyrrell said she loves seeing the new friendship grow between kids who may not have interacted before this show.
“They have this show in common, and now they’re finding more things in common with each other because they get to interact and socialize,” she said.
There will be five performances of the show. Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 show times are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., with the 2 p.m. show on Aug. 5 intended as special preview for community groups such as day camps or church groups. The Aug. 7 show will be at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $18. For those interested in the special preview show, contact the Port Huron Civic Theatre through their Facebook for ticket prices.
Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com or (810) 292-0122.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron Civic Theatre set to perform Madagascar Junior next month
