Theatre Department and Children’s Theatre launch partnership with ‘Coraline’

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s (CTC) upcoming production of “Coraline” marks the start of a partnership with the UNC Charlotte Department of Theatre that presents new opportunities for students, both on the stage and behind the scenes. Eight UNC Charlotte theatre students – three actors and five design and production students – have joined the cast and crew for “Coraline,” which runs Oct. 16-31 in the Wells Fargo Playhouse at ImaginOn. The co-production presents the first in an initiative that is intended to bring the Theatre Department and CTC together on a continual basis.

“The Department of Theatre is pleased to be a part of ‘Coraline,’” said James Vesce, associate professor of directing and former chair of the Department of Theatre. “We truly value the work that Children’s Theatre does in the community and hope this is the beginning of a long-term partnership between the two institutions.”

A musical based on the novella by Neil Gaiman (which was animated for the screen in 2009), “Coraline” won a 2010 Obie Award for Stephin Merritt’s music and lyrics. The sometimes creepy, “Alice in Wonderland”-like story makes it a good fit for both CTC’s “Adventurer Series” for children ages 8 to 14 and the scheduled October run, which ends on Halloween.

Senior theatre performance majors Camerin Chargualaf, Casey King and Aubrey Young will perform roles alongside CTC’s professional actors. Autumn McLaughlin (junior/theatre education) is the assistant scenic designer; Beth Killion (senior/ production) is the assistant costume designer; Tiffany Eck (senior/production), assistant sound designer, will operate the sound board; Alexandria Fife (junior/theatre education) and Tina Kelly (senior/production) will be assistant stage managers.

Three UNC Charlotte faculty are part of the “Coraline” creative team, too. Delia Neil, associate professor of dance, is the show’s choreographer; Benjamin Stickels, lecturer in audio engineering, is the sound designer; Tom Burch, assistant professor of scenic design, designed the set and has helped mentor the design/production students. Burch has an established relationship with CTC, serving as scenic designer for “Jackie and Me” last season and “Journey to Oz” and the “Commedia Princess and the Pea” this season.

“This experience is great for the students,” said Burch. “It gives them internship credit and the chance to work with professionals in the field, which allows them to see how a professional production is put together. It expands their resumes and allows them to build references and develop contacts. Children’s Theatre is one of the largest children’s theatres in the country, so it is a unique experience in that respect, as well.”

The seeds of a sustained partnership between CTC and UNC Charlotte were planted two years ago with the workshopping of two adaptations of children’s picture books, “The Paperbag Princess” by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko and “Jeremy Draws a Monster” by Peter McCarty. Adapted for the stage by CTC in-house playwrights Michelle Long and Mark Sutton, with the help of UNC Charlotte theatre faculty Jeanmarie Higgins and Beth Murray, the new plays received staged readings by students at UNC Charlotte in fall 2013. “Coraline” presents an effort toward co-productions that could take place as often as every other season, perhaps bringing children’s shows to Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts.

“From my first conversation with Beth Murray two years ago to my subsequent conversations with James Vesce, this type of project has been the dream that we hoped would develop,” Children’s Theatre Artistic Director Adam Burke said. “When I was coming up as a young artist, it was very difficult to gain entrance to the professional world of theatre. I am incredibly happy that Children’s Theatre can help to bridge the gap that exists between the education and the profession and hope we continue to provide this access with future projects.”

Tickets for “Coraline” start at $12. Details are on the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte website.