Greylock Theatre Project Brings Kids, Actors Together
 Rya Kelly and Heather Lind at rehearsals for the Greylock Theatre Project's 'one on one' musical skits. Top, Abby Treece takes a shot at partner Pat Swearingen. |
These odd questions can only be answered in one place: The Greylock Theatre Project's "One on Ones" presentations tonight at Goodrich Hall on the Williams College campus. The performances are scheduled for 5 and 8.
The Greylock project is a replication of the 52nd Street Project in New York City and is part of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Started in 1996, the educational outreach program works with North Adams children living in the Greylock and Brayton Hill neighborhoods to provide performance opportunities.
The special magic comes in the pairing of the young actors, ages 9 to 15, with professional theater artists for a week to rehearse the 10-minute musical skit that they each will perform. The participants also take classes in playwrighting over an eight-week span and then work with professionals to develop an original play performed by WTF actors.
This the second summer New York City actor Adam Lerman has taken time out from the festival to work with a local child.
It's been great working with his partner, 9-year-old Kim Oxford of Brayton Hill on "You Gotta," he said, adding he really likes the sarcasm in the plays and the music that the GTP's intern Ananda Plunkett (a 2007 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional High School) wrote for their song "is just beautiful."
While there are many comic moments in the plays, the messages within them touch on subjects from friendship to the woes of aging.
"I love the comedy of it, the short skits are like Vaudeville and the kids learn timing," said Pat Swearingen, a nine-year veteran of the project.
Abby Treece, his 9-year-old partner from Greylock Housing, wrote notes on her script of "The Fountain of Yu" like a pro and likes her character in the play. She also enjoyed "bossing Pat around at the beginning of the play," she said. "It was all lots of fun. Everyone should come see it because they will enjoy it!"
Andrea Syglowski, in her first year with the project, decided to join after watching the playmaking last year, which was her favorite part of being at Williamstown Theatre Festival.
 Rightor Doyle, left, and Cameron Lesure act up in 'Prose and Cons.' |
Abby was equally complimentary. "Andrea is a great partner and she likes getting to play her brother in disguise, complete with a fake moustache," she said of their work on "Babysitter Shmaybesitter." Abby is looking forward to taking home the dragon prop after her play is over — but thinks it will scare her cat.
Cameron Lesure and his professional partner, Ryan Doyle, are together for the second year and bantered affectionately back and forth.
"We have huge egos but we have the best time together," said Doyle. "Cameron is gregarious and fun. We have similar kinds of humor, we are dynamic together and sometimes it is hard to get work done."
"He sometimes uses big words and I don't always know that he is saying," said Cameron. "But he pretends to know what I'm saying anyway," countered Doyle.
Doyle said their play is a very complex one about prisoners and their guards and they each play both the prisoners and their guards. Cameron said he feels closer to his role after watching the reality show "Lock up Raw."
 Directors Emily Windover and Christopher Kauffman. |
Directors Chris Kauffman and Emily Windover said it has been a great summer and that this year's performances are strong. Liz Urban is the project manager. Interns Plunkett, Phillip Ballantine and Erin Wilks.
"Playmaking" performances are on Monday, Aug. 10, also at 5 and 8 in Goodrich Hall.
All performances are free, but seating is limited, so reservations are a must. To reserve tickets, call the theater box office at 413-597-3400 on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 to 5, and Sundays from 11 to 4.
