Youth Ensemble Theater premieres Canadia at Bard
To me, the Youth Ensemble Theater (YET) embodies the spirit of spring. Between the exuberant youth actors and the awesome staff, I am excited about anything that this group does. It’s the sheer enthusiasm of everyone involved that gets me. Let’s have them explain it to you themselves.
Take, for instance, actor Sophia Hover: “I love the Youth Ensemble Theater program. It is a great experience to be doing what I love with other people my age who love it too.” Or how about actor Emma Torrey: “When I go to YET, I don’t only act, I get to hang out with wonderful people who enjoy doing what I like to do. You share laughs, ideas and just a love for acting. In YET, we work on character development, character intention and more. This helps you understand a part better when you are trying to act it out. It also helps you become one with the character. We work on improv, which is just fun, as well as a good way to teach yourself how to save a line when you forget it. YET is an amazing experience, and helps build up your knowledge of acting, as well as have a good time doing it!”
Who are the guiding forces behind YET? Amy Poux, director, acting teacher and vocal teacher of YET; Jessie Levey, improvisational modern dance/movement teacher; and Genevieve Casagrande, improvisational acting, stage combat and sword fighting teacher. Poux shared her passion for YET: “By providing meaningful artistic forums and outlets for our youth, their authentic voices fuel the vitality of our communities and create a place for original thought, new voices and diverse points of view. They will inspire change, keep us relevant and sustain our communities if we provide them with the forum.”
You can catch this incredible energy in YET’s performance of the original play Canadia, which takes place in a small town in Ulster County on a typical night with typical teenagers who are visited by not-so-typical strangers. There’s a video trailer for the play on the YET website that shows off some of the group’s humor and fun, and all within the context of good theater.
The Youth Ensemble Theater’s debut performance of Canadia takes place on Friday, March 22 at 8 p.m. at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, located at 60 Manor Avenue in Annandale-on-Hudson, followed by performances on Saturday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. at the High Meadow Performing Arts Center, located at 3643 Main Street in Stone Ridge. Tickets cost $10. For tickets or more information, call (845) 389-5889 or visit www.youthensembletheater.com.
Magic show with Domino the Great at Unison in New Paltz
My favorite springtime magic trick is making Lagusta’s Luscious chocolate English cream eggs disappear. My family is not amused. Believe me, I have performed this trick for them numerous times. So let’s give them what they want: professional magician, comedian and puppeteer Domino the Great.
Domino the Great performs at Unison Arts & Learning Center on Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m. His show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets purchased at the performance cost $14 for adults, $10 for Unison members and $7 for children; all tickets purchased in advance are $2 off.
Unison is located at 68 Mountain Rest Road in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1559 or visit www.unisonarts.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.dominothegreat.com.
Skate Time in Accord hosts Clifford the Big Red Dog
Have you heard? Clifford the Big Red Dog is coming to Skate Time 209! His owner, Emily Elizabeth, had her hands full when he “helped” in the book Clifford’s Spring Clean-Up, but at Skate Time 209, he’s all about fun. This event sounds great to me because it’s for all ages, with activities, stories and games for the younger kids, a roller rink and skateboard park for the older kids and a silent auction for the grownups.
“Clifford Comes to Skate Time” takes place on Saturday, March 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $9 for ages 10 and up; $5 for kids ages 3 through 9; kids under age 3 get in free. Skate rentals cost extra. Proceeds will benefit the Little Ones Learning Center, a free literacy program for children up to age 6.
Skate Time 209 is located at 5164 Route 209 in Accord. For more information about the event, call (845) 626-7249 or visit www.littleoneslearningcenter.org or Little Ones Learning Center on www.facebook.com.
Join the family! 
