NEWBERRY — Newberry Community Player’s Young Apprentice Director program will return to the Park at 7 p.m. Friday with a modern retelling of The Ugly Duckling in which the power of words on other people’s feelings is the key to the whole play.
The apprentice program is in its second year as part of NCP’s Youth Academy Program. This is a training program for older teens who have expressed an interest in learning the skills needed to become directors instead of just actors or backstage workers.
“The teens chosen have shown strong leadership qualities as well as creativity and organizational skills,”said Ellen Hunt, NCP’s artistic director. “They deal with every aspect of a director’s duties. They chose the play, hold auditions and chose their cast from a group of their peers, set the rehearsal schedule, work with our costume mistress, Melissa Sheppard, and consult with one of our technical directors, Phil Astwood to develop the overall ‘look’ of their production.
“What they have really found challenging are the hiccups in production that they don’t see as young actors,” added Hunt. “Things like missed rehearsals or replacing folks that have to drop out. We make them deal with it all. It’s quite an awakening for them and they suddenly see why we often pull out our hair. I love watching it all. For me, it is like a play within a play.”
Next up for the Teens is Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor. Secondary auditions will be held on Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. at the Ritz Theater. NCP’s Young Players program is open to any teen between the ages of 13 to 20. Call Ellen Hunt at 803-924-7158 for more information.