Arts & Entertainment

Canarsie Boy Stars in New Musical at Youth Theater

January 4, 2019 Paula Katinas
Photo courtesy of TADA! Youth Theater
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A fifth grader from Canarsie is one of the stars of a futuristic rock musical produced by a Drama Desk Award-winning theater company.

Alfred Nicolas, 10, plays a character called Sylvester in “Odd Day Rain,” a musical presented by TADA! Youth Theater, a company based in Manhattan. The show opens Jan. 19 at the TADA! Theater at 15 West 28th St.

The musical takes place in the year 2211 and centers on a group of kids who live without any adults, computers, running water or cell phones following a disaster that took place years earlier.

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The book for “Odd Day Rain” was written by Janine Nina Trevens and Deirdre Broderick. Broderick also composed the music and lyrics. The production is directed by Trevens, who is the founder and producing artistic director of TADA! Joanna Greer is the choreographer. The musical director is Matthew Gregory.

In addition to Nicolas, other cast members from Brooklyn include Noura Ali, 11, as Sheila; Tomai Nelson, 13, as Jamie; Brooklyn Fuentes, 17, as Daisy; and Kiyo Garcia, 13, as Ellie.

Nicolas enjoys performing with TADA! “I go to a private school, and we have to wear uniforms there, which feels like we are all the same. At TADA!, I feel like I can be my own person and open up,” he said in a statement released by the theater company.

Working in the theater has also helped him improve his public speaking skills, he said.

“Before this summer, I was pretty shy, and I was definitely bad at public speaking. However, my mom encouraged me to audition for TADA!’s fall show, ‘Sleepover.’ Since then, I’ve learned more about myself, one of those things being that I’m not a bad public speaker at all!” he stated.

TADA! Youth Theater was founded in 1984. Its mission is to offer young people from different backgrounds the opportunity to perform in the theater and learn leadership and communication skills, as well as collaboration and and problem-solving. It is the first youth theater ever to win a special Drama Desk Award.

“Odd Day Rain” runs until Feb. 18

For tickets and show schedules, visit: http://www.tadatheater.com/shows/buy-tickets-3.


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