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New Artists: As they are
Updated: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Kids pick the songs for New Artists variety show in Bandon
BANDON — Dan and Anita Almich describe their youth theater group, New Artists Productions, as all about the kids.
Nowhere is that more evident than in their annual “I Wanna Be a Star!” variety show, which will be held Saturday at the Sprague Community Theater.
There are few places where a show that often features young girls singing songs from “Hannah Montana” could happen, let alone fill a theater with paying customers. But the Almichs take a unique approach to the show: They let the kids create it.
The 25 young performers, ages 7 to 16, choose their own material.
“I like it a lot,” said Aria Giovanetti, 8, who will sing a Taylor Swift song. “You don’t have to sing what you don’t like.”
Another performer taking advantage of the opportunity is 11-year-old Anna Taylor. She’s involved in four acts: a group performance of the “Hannah Montana” theme song, a skit, a solo Miley Cyrus song, and a duet of “This is Me” from the Disney Channel movie “Camp Rock” with Jessie Lingle, who also sings a Hannah Montana song. Anna said the “Camp Rock” song was her favorite act.
“I think that people that can do this are lucky because some people can’t,” she said. “I like it because I make new friends.”
While acts like hers make up a substantial part of the show, it’s not all music recorded since 2005. In fact, more than half of the selections will be familiar to those who aren’t regular Disney Channel viewers, including several classic Broadway numbers. There’s also a performance of The Carpenters’ “Close To You” by Brianna, Becca and Emily Wilson that had a few parents grooving along at a rehearsal Saturday at Ocean Crest Elementary School.
Members of the group are frequent visitors at the Almich residence, where they comb through an expansive music library for ideas, said Dan Almich. He said he is sometimes surprised by how well New Artists shows turn out.
“Some of these girls, it’s their first time on stage. It’s like watching a baby bird test its wings,” he said. “Some of it shows the quality of their age.”
Among those performing at the variety show, there are a few with considerably more stage experience, such as Destyni Fuller. Fuller, 14, has been in about 10 shows with New Artists, including serving as co-director of the recent “Christmas Toyshop.” She also competed last year in Bay Area Teen Idol, consistently scoring in the top three, and will perform two of her songs from the contest in the variety show.
Like all the performers interviewed, Fuller praised the Almichs for the opportunities they provide.
“Dan and Anita try to help kids,” she said. “They do it out of their own pocket. … They’re like grandparents.”
Thaddeus Miller, whose performance of “One Song Glory” from “Rent” could be called a showstopper, also credits the Almichs with helping him develop as a performer.
“(New Artists) really helps people come out of their shells,” he said. “I believe my self-esteem, just from acting with them, has gone up.”
Miller said he looks forward to turning 13 just in time to compete in Teen Idol this summer. He is part of a group of five New Artists members who take voice classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Having known he wanted to be an actor since he was 4, Miller said he’s excited to be tall enough to play a leading man in a future New Artists show after a growth spurt.
“A month ago, I was really short,” he said. “Just last week I grew three inches!”
Though he described the variety show as just for fun, he said it has an important function for the group in giving the younger performers exposure to the stage.
“It makes people feel like, ‘If they can do it, I can do it,’” he said. “It encourages people who are really nervous on stage to not be nervous later.”
Miller said he could see the kids in the group who are just starting out turning into accomplished performers by the time they get to be his age.
But some of the youngsters have other ideas.
Aria, for example, said she would probably only do theater until she is 12 because she would need to start getting serious about her future after that.
“I wanna be a drag racer,” she said. “A professional. The best in the world.”
BANDON — Dan and Anita Almich describe their youth theater group, New Artists Productions, as all about the kids.
Nowhere is that more evident than in their annual “I Wanna Be a Star!” variety show, which will be held Saturday at the Sprague Community Theater.
There are few places where a show that often features young girls singing songs from “Hannah Montana” could happen, let alone fill a theater with paying customers. But the Almichs take a unique approach to the show: They let the kids create it.
The 25 young performers, ages 7 to 16, choose their own material.
“I like it a lot,” said Aria Giovanetti, 8, who will sing a Taylor Swift song. “You don’t have to sing what you don’t like.”
Another performer taking advantage of the opportunity is 11-year-old Anna Taylor. She’s involved in four acts: a group performance of the “Hannah Montana” theme song, a skit, a solo Miley Cyrus song, and a duet of “This is Me” from the Disney Channel movie “Camp Rock” with Jessie Lingle, who also sings a Hannah Montana song. Anna said the “Camp Rock” song was her favorite act.
“I think that people that can do this are lucky because some people can’t,” she said. “I like it because I make new friends.”
While acts like hers make up a substantial part of the show, it’s not all music recorded since 2005. In fact, more than half of the selections will be familiar to those who aren’t regular Disney Channel viewers, including several classic Broadway numbers. There’s also a performance of The Carpenters’ “Close To You” by Brianna, Becca and Emily Wilson that had a few parents grooving along at a rehearsal Saturday at Ocean Crest Elementary School.
Members of the group are frequent visitors at the Almich residence, where they comb through an expansive music library for ideas, said Dan Almich. He said he is sometimes surprised by how well New Artists shows turn out.
“Some of these girls, it’s their first time on stage. It’s like watching a baby bird test its wings,” he said. “Some of it shows the quality of their age.”
Among those performing at the variety show, there are a few with considerably more stage experience, such as Destyni Fuller. Fuller, 14, has been in about 10 shows with New Artists, including serving as co-director of the recent “Christmas Toyshop.” She also competed last year in Bay Area Teen Idol, consistently scoring in the top three, and will perform two of her songs from the contest in the variety show.
Like all the performers interviewed, Fuller praised the Almichs for the opportunities they provide.
“Dan and Anita try to help kids,” she said. “They do it out of their own pocket. … They’re like grandparents.”
Thaddeus Miller, whose performance of “One Song Glory” from “Rent” could be called a showstopper, also credits the Almichs with helping him develop as a performer.
“(New Artists) really helps people come out of their shells,” he said. “I believe my self-esteem, just from acting with them, has gone up.”
Miller said he looks forward to turning 13 just in time to compete in Teen Idol this summer. He is part of a group of five New Artists members who take voice classes at Southwestern Oregon Community College.
Having known he wanted to be an actor since he was 4, Miller said he’s excited to be tall enough to play a leading man in a future New Artists show after a growth spurt.
“A month ago, I was really short,” he said. “Just last week I grew three inches!”
Though he described the variety show as just for fun, he said it has an important function for the group in giving the younger performers exposure to the stage.
“It makes people feel like, ‘If they can do it, I can do it,’” he said. “It encourages people who are really nervous on stage to not be nervous later.”
Miller said he could see the kids in the group who are just starting out turning into accomplished performers by the time they get to be his age.
But some of the youngsters have other ideas.
Aria, for example, said she would probably only do theater until she is 12 because she would need to start getting serious about her future after that.
“I wanna be a drag racer,” she said. “A professional. The best in the world.”
I Wanna Be a Star!
New Artists Productions
Sprague Community Theater, Bandon
Date: Saturday, Feb. 21.
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: $5, $3 students.
New Artists Productions
Sprague Community Theater, Bandon
Date: Saturday, Feb. 21.
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: $5, $3 students.
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Bandon wrote on Feb 20, 2009 11:27 AM: