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The cast of the Arts and Mentoring Project’s production of “Disney’s Aladdin Kids”
practices choreography during a recent rehearsal. The group will perform the show at
2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3 at the Pipestone Performing Arts Center.
Photo by Kyle Kuphal
Aladdin, Jasmine and other well known characters are coming to the stage of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center (PPAC) on Sunday Aug. 3 when the Arts & Mentoring Project (AMP) presents “Disney’s Aladdin Kids.”
The show will be the culmination of a week-long summer theater camp that began Sunday, July 27. Director Jennifer Sheldon said the kids version of the classic tale has a 30-minute run time and tells the story without the romance between Aladdin and Jasmine.
“It’s more of a friendship and they’re coming together to come against an injustice that they both see,” Sheldon said.
This is the first time AMP has done a week-long theater camp. The organization has typically done summer productions that span several weeks. Sheldon said AMP didn’t get a grant to fund a program this year, so the options were to either not do a show or do something on a smaller scale, and she thought it was important to offer a program of some kind. She said the shorter duration makes it less of a time commitment and that it’s also a bit of an experiment to see if the kids can have their lines and lyrics memorized in a week.
“I know they can because they’re blowing my mind already today,” Sheldon said on Monday, which was the second day of camp.
There are 23 children in the cast with most ranging from those going into third grade through 18 years old. In addition to cast members, there are two interns working on the production. Those involved come from Pipestone, Edgerton, Worthington, the metro area and Iowa. Sheldon said a few of them from out of town are staying with their grandparents, so they could be in the show.
Lead characters include Jael Lopez as Aladdin, Lillian Roszel as Jasmine, Keegan Otter as the Sultan, Ethan Beukema as Jafar, Mikah Sheldon as Iago, Harper Peterson as the genie and Lili Blom as the lamp vendor who narrates the story.
Cast members are spending six hours a day at the PPAC preparing for the public performances. Sheldon said each day is divided into blocks with periods to work on music and periods to work on blocking, movements and lines. They’re going through the script in chronological order, adding to what they learned the day before until they have the whole show ready.
Samantha Davis is the music director and Amy Blom is the stage manager. Sheldon is also serving as choreographer.
This is Sheldon’s second time directing a musical. Her first was “Disney’s Frozen Jr.,” which AMP produced last summer. She’s also directed plays for the Calumet Players.
Sheldon said she enjoys working with kids because she’s able to see the uniqueness in each kid and pull it out of them in a way that makes them shine on stage. She likes to encourage them and challenge them, and then seeing them perform in front of people, something that many people would find scary or uncomfortable
“My goal is to get these kids to believe that they can do more than they think they can do,” Sheldon said.
Those who would like to come see what the kids can do can get tickets online at www.pipestoneperformingartscenter.com or at the PPAC prior to the performances. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Show times are 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.