Summer Youth Performances at Hartford Stage

Breakdancing Shakespeare presents As You Like It

Now in its 11^th season, Hartford Stage’s popular Breakdancing Shakespeare program ventures into the Forest of Arden this summer with William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. This hilarious comedy tells the story of a diverse cast of characters thrown together by misfortune into a desolate place where they find they are nevertheless able to grow friendship, love, and forgiveness. The cast of Breakdancing Shakespeare will create a modern hip-hop telling of this 400-year-old story complete with Shakespeare’s original text and contemporary music/dance.

“When you think of Shakespeare, you think everything is kind of uppity,” says choreographer (and Breakdancing Shakespeare alum) Brandon Couloute. “And then, you know, breakdancing is super urban and gritty. So, I think those polar opposites – I think they do something really nice for each other.”

“And I think there’s a historical connection, too,” adds director Nina Pinchin, “because Shakespeare 400 years ago was this urban, gritty thing. I think we are not precious about it, so we get spoken word and rap into what’s going on with the iambic pentameter.”

This year’s cast features Emily Langin (Simsbury High School) as Rosalind; Diego Pichay (South Windsor High School) as Orlando; Alana Morgan (Drexel University) as Jacques; Kalonji Daley (University High School) as Silvius; and Emma Webb (UCONN) as Phebe.

Performances will be held at Hartford Stage at 7 pm on Thursday, August 3, and Friday, August 4, and at 2 pm on Saturday, August 5. $10 general admission tickets are available for sale at the door, through the Hartford Stage Box Office at 860-527-5151, or online at hartfordstage.org/education/bds.

The Hartford Teen Musical presents Pippin

After last year’s fantastic inaugural production of Footloose, the Hartford Stage Teen Musical is back this summer with the smash hit, Pippin! With an infectiously unforgettable score from the four-time Grammy winner and three-time Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Disney’s Pocahontas), this musical tells the story of the young prince Pippin, who is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment in life. Guided by the mysterious Leading Player and a band of players, he seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the intrigues of political power, and other worldly temptations. In the end, Pippin is forced to decide whether what he really seeks is an extraordinary life after all, or whether his true happiness lies in simpler joys.

Directed by Lisa Byrne, and featuring musical direction by Jacob Boergesson and choreography by Alyssa Serrambana, this production will be presented by teens ages 14-19 from the Greater Hartford area. These teens will have rehearsed for five weeks as part of Hartford Stage’s popular Summer Studio program, where they take master classes, study acting, dance and music, and also act as mentors for younger students in the program.

This year’s cast features many talented local young actors, including Alex Bilodeau (East Windsor High School) as Pippin; Kendall Kennedy (Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy) and Raymond Soeun (Hofstra University) as the Leading Players; Zoey Roland (South Windsor High School) as Catherine; Sam Casertano (Franklin Academy) as Charles; Emily Geremia (Rocky Hill High School) as Fastrada; and Elena Bachmann (Manchester High School) as Berthe.

Performances will be held at Hartford Stage at 7 pm on Friday, August 11, and 2 pm on Saturday, August 12. $10 general admission tickets are available for sale at the door, by calling 860-527-5151, or visiting hartfordstage.org/education/performances.