AUBURN - Halloween is not the only time Amanda Balcom can dress up and be someone else.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Mia Joyner, left, as Harriet Tubman, watches as Joe Wood, playing John Tubman, sings “You Are Not Alone” during a performance of “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom” at Auburn Public Theater. The Friday performance was the culmination of APT's four-week summer theater workshop for children.
Mia Joyner, left, as Harriet Tubman, watches as Joe Wood, playing John Tubman, sings “You Are Not Alone” during a performance of “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom” at Auburn Public Theater. The Friday performance was the culmination of APT's four-week summer theater workshop for children.
For that she can thank the Auburn Public Theater's Summer Children's Program, a four-week theater workshop during July for young theater aficionados looking to learn more about acting, singing and dance.
“I like how you can go up on stage and be someone you're not,” the 15-year-old from Auburn said, “and have a different experience.”
Balcom portrayed a Quaker in the summer program's production of “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” an original play performed at Auburn Public Theater last weekend. She and nearly 50 other theater gurus between the ages of 6 and 18 took to the stage last Friday and Saturday to portray the life and times of Harriet Tubman for family, friends and community members.
And while being up on stage seems natural for Balcom, it was just two years ago when she thought nothing of theater. Her sister had previously participated in the program, and so last summer she decided to give it a try. A year later, Balcom couldn't imagine doing something different with her summer.
“I like how when we first get here we're all different people,” she said of her fellow actors. “But we've all become close. We've become a cast.”
Established four years ago, the summer children's theater program endeavors to introduce the world of theater to the next generation, APT educational coordinator and program director Janie MicGlire said. During the month of July, children met for four hours a day, three days a week, during which time they learned about all aspects of theater. They learned their lines, songs and dance routines for the play, a culmination of their work.
“I sit and watch them perform,” MicGlire said, “and I am amazed at how much they've learned and accomplished in such a short period of time.”
Artistic producing director Angela Daddabbo said the play, “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” was a product of a long-standing goal to write a play about one of the most influential people in Auburn. The same goal holds true for William Seward, Auburn transplant and secretary of state under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, and Auburnian Thomas Mott Osborne, a politician and warden of Sing Sing prison in Ossining.
The idea was to get plays written about these three individuals and include them into the theater's repertoire, Daddabbo said. Rather than commission the plays, which costs money, Daddabbo and other APT officials thought one way to get their feet wet was to write a play for the children's theater workshop. And thus “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” was born, a collaboration between Daddabbo, MicGlire, play director Carey Eidel, costumer and set designer Diane Bauso, musical director Amy Bellamy and choreographer Yvonne Villano-Hassett.
Daddabbo found Tubman to be a fascinating subject and an important one to introduce to her students.
“Harriet Tubman was such a courageous, brave, righteous person,” Daddabbo said, “and a great leader. I think she's even more amazing because she wasn't born here. She had to choose to live here. What an even greater honor for her to choose Auburn as her home. As a source of local pride, I just feel like at a time when strong leadership is needed in the world more than ever, one of the greatest things we can do is look back at past leaders like Harriet Tubman and be inspired by their leadership.”
That is what made 9-year-old Mia Joyner, of Auburn, so honored to portray Tubman in the play. She believes there is nothing more important than to let the accomplishments of Tubman be known in the world.
“People should know about her and what she did for the slaves,” she said.
The same opinion holds true for Aileen Mack, 12, of Auburn, who portrayed a Quaker in the production. Tubman's decision to move to Auburn is a source of pride for Mack, who truly venerates her for her role in the Underground Railroad. For that reason, she was ecstatic to bring the life of Tubman onto the stage for all to see.
“It just makes people think about people could treat others like that,” she said about slavery, “and she was so brave to go back and help people escape.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
“I like how you can go up on stage and be someone you're not,” the 15-year-old from Auburn said, “and have a different experience.”
Balcom portrayed a Quaker in the summer program's production of “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” an original play performed at Auburn Public Theater last weekend. She and nearly 50 other theater gurus between the ages of 6 and 18 took to the stage last Friday and Saturday to portray the life and times of Harriet Tubman for family, friends and community members.
And while being up on stage seems natural for Balcom, it was just two years ago when she thought nothing of theater. Her sister had previously participated in the program, and so last summer she decided to give it a try. A year later, Balcom couldn't imagine doing something different with her summer.
“I like how when we first get here we're all different people,” she said of her fellow actors. “But we've all become close. We've become a cast.”
Established four years ago, the summer children's theater program endeavors to introduce the world of theater to the next generation, APT educational coordinator and program director Janie MicGlire said. During the month of July, children met for four hours a day, three days a week, during which time they learned about all aspects of theater. They learned their lines, songs and dance routines for the play, a culmination of their work.
“I sit and watch them perform,” MicGlire said, “and I am amazed at how much they've learned and accomplished in such a short period of time.”
Artistic producing director Angela Daddabbo said the play, “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” was a product of a long-standing goal to write a play about one of the most influential people in Auburn. The same goal holds true for William Seward, Auburn transplant and secretary of state under Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson, and Auburnian Thomas Mott Osborne, a politician and warden of Sing Sing prison in Ossining.
The idea was to get plays written about these three individuals and include them into the theater's repertoire, Daddabbo said. Rather than commission the plays, which costs money, Daddabbo and other APT officials thought one way to get their feet wet was to write a play for the children's theater workshop. And thus “Harriet Tubman, Journey to Freedom,” was born, a collaboration between Daddabbo, MicGlire, play director Carey Eidel, costumer and set designer Diane Bauso, musical director Amy Bellamy and choreographer Yvonne Villano-Hassett.
Daddabbo found Tubman to be a fascinating subject and an important one to introduce to her students.
“Harriet Tubman was such a courageous, brave, righteous person,” Daddabbo said, “and a great leader. I think she's even more amazing because she wasn't born here. She had to choose to live here. What an even greater honor for her to choose Auburn as her home. As a source of local pride, I just feel like at a time when strong leadership is needed in the world more than ever, one of the greatest things we can do is look back at past leaders like Harriet Tubman and be inspired by their leadership.”
That is what made 9-year-old Mia Joyner, of Auburn, so honored to portray Tubman in the play. She believes there is nothing more important than to let the accomplishments of Tubman be known in the world.
“People should know about her and what she did for the slaves,” she said.
The same opinion holds true for Aileen Mack, 12, of Auburn, who portrayed a Quaker in the production. Tubman's decision to move to Auburn is a source of pride for Mack, who truly venerates her for her role in the Underground Railroad. For that reason, she was ecstatic to bring the life of Tubman onto the stage for all to see.
“It just makes people think about people could treat others like that,” she said about slavery, “and she was so brave to go back and help people escape.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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