DELHI — Something’s not right at the West Top town Academy —and it isn’t just the cafeteria food. There’s a super strict headmistress who won’t let the kids have fun. There’s a big exam coming up and the kids must get absolutely perfect marks –or else- and—there’s a mirror which can steal someone’s identity!
That’s part of the story of Switch, an original musical created by the young artists of the Summer Theatre Workshop production by the Delaware County School of the Performing Arts. (DCSPA). The production is entirely the work of this talented ensemble of Delaware County inhabitants-ages 7-14 years old. The production drew a standing room only crowd of friends, relatives and just folks who were looking to have a good time—to St. James Church Lake Delaware last Friday.
This was hardly your typical kids’ show. The original songs were hummable. The choreography was spot on. The wise cracks were laugh out loud. And every bit of the show was created by the cast, from costumes to production design, choreography, script, the music and –you might just ask, just how did they put on a show?
“We started putting the show together just a month ago,” says Garth Kravits, who directed Switch, and with partner Julia Rugg founded the Delaware County School of Performing Arts. “We started by asking the kids where they wanted the show to be set. The kids tossed around a few ideas-and decided that they wanted to set it in school.”
The music, featuring showstoppers like “In the Back of My Mind” a song about wanting to be somewhere else, and “Maybe It’s Time for A change,” a rouser which advanced the plot was developed entirely by the cast, said Kravits, who provided piano accompaniment on the sidelines.” How did they write the songs?” Kravits answers: “I asked them first, What do you want this song to be—happy or sad, fast or slow-and we went from there. Sometimes they’d say, oh, I like this song by Olivia Rodrigo, sometimes they’d shout out a show tune. So, I’d play a few notes. They decided on the sound and feeling they wanted. They have no problem telling me what they don’t like! The kids wrote all the lyrics. Starting out, some of our cast were hesitant to contribute, but by the third day everyone was throwing in their ideas.”
Rugg says she knew this would be a cohesive group from the first day on. “I could tell when they all ate lunch at one big table,” she says. “The camaraderie was there from the start.”
“This show is process driven, not product driven,” says Rugg,. “It’s about the experience. Kids develop self-esteem. They find they can do things they never thought they’d be able to do. We’re teaching theater, says Kravits. “But our goal is to make better humans. Through collaboration, group dynamics, critical thinking and belief in themselves.”
When Kravits and Rugg, also partners outside of work, first moved to Margaretville several years ago, they wondered what they could do to serve the community. “We could open a shop, or start a restaurant,” says Rugg. “But then we decided to do something we were really passionate about. Kravits, an actor, musician and teacher, who’s appeared and continues to appear in Broaway shows and television has taught musical theater to children for the past 35 years. Rugg is a former public school teacher.
“We realized there was a need for workshops for kids interested in theater and the performing arts.” Says Kravits. “It’s a chance for them to be taught by real industry professionals. Kravits and Rugg also import some of their Broadway friends, for workshops, various classes, and fundraisers.
“We want to insure that everyone has this opportunity, says Kravits. ” He stresses that the classes—and the summer workshops are affordable and open to all. “There are scholarships, too,” he says. During the school year, they hold children’s classes in movement, theater and modern dance. In the future, they are considering offering classes to adults. For the big summer workshop and musical , Rugg, the production arm of the team—puts out a call for registration on social media and local radio starting in February. Slots fill up fast, she says, but no one is turned away.
The DCSPA will have a permanent home in 2,000 square feet of space across from Mornings restaurant, in Arkville. . While this space has been undergoing renovation, Margaretville’s churches, firehouse and American Legion served as rehearsal spaces for this year’s production, culminating in the event held at St. James.
Kravits keeps up his own performance credits too. Soon, he takes off for parts unknown to appear in a musical “destined for Broadway,” asserts Rugg. But before that, Kravits, Rugg and cast members are in the process of putting together a cast album of “Switch”. For this, the DCSPCA is drawing on big city connections to take the kids to a New York recording studio. This is not the first time the Switch cast members had a brush with the Great White Way. Kravits and Rugg took the cast to New York for a theater workshop followed by dinner, and the musical MJ, about Michael Jackson.
“I didn’t think they knew about Michael Jackson,” says Kravits. “ ‘Yes! ‘they said,” reports Kravits. “Our parents listen to him. He’s great!’ “
Much of the programming and the events are made possible from grants from the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation and the A. Linsay and Olive B. O’ Connor Foundation.
After the show, I sked one cast member, Aanya, what her favorite part of the show was. “The people!” she said. I wanted to know how the others felt about their success. But by that time , they were all too busy leaping around the back lawn playground.
If you missed Switch you can see it on: https://vimeo.com/1215165063
For more info: julia@mvillearts.org
