by James O’Barr
The recent announcement of the Olympia Family Theater’s upcoming 18th season came with an additional proud flourish: The Olympia City Council has awarded OFT two years of funding as one of its Inspire Olympia creative non-profits. Of course, OFT has been inspiring South Sound citizens of all ages since its founding by Jen Ryle and Samantha Chandler in 2006. With a passionate commitment to using high quality theater experiences to entertain and educate, OFT has not only brought audiences over 70 main stage productions but has provided the region’s kids with year-round after-school, school-break, and summer classes in acting, ensemble theatre, technical production, and more. The 2024–2025 performance schedule, together with the additional financial support of Inspire Olympia funding, finds the new year at Olympia Family Theater full of high promise, starting at The House at Pooh Corner.
Based on the enchanting and perennially popular stories of A.A. Milne and adapted for the stage by Bettye Knapp, The House at Pooh Corner follows the adventures of Christopher Robin and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood — Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, and the rest — as they face the possibility that Christopher Robin will be going away… to school! Should they run away to the North Pole, or the South Pole, or wherever, or will they find a way to stay together, friends and companions forever? Directed by Alayna Chamberland, The House t Pooh Corner runs from September 27 to October 13.
Honk! The Musical, directed by Dahlia Kash with music directed by Nick Hall, is an adaptation of the Hans Christian Anderson classic, The Ugly Duckling. Set on a farm in the countryside, a newly arrived duckling looks rather different from his sisters and brothers, and soon becomes the object of pity and scorn to many of the barnyard’s other inhabitants. Only his mother protects and encourages him, and only the Cat, with his eye on a good meal, shows an interest in befriending him. In the end, Ugly discovers that being different can prove to be beautiful. This award-winning musical, celebrating the value of diversity and the power of inclusivity, will run from November 29 to December 22.
The Giver is adapted from the best-selling, Newberry Medal-winning young adult novel by Lois Lowry. Directed by Kathy Dorgan, long-time artistic director of Olympia’s Creative Theater Experience, The Giver tells the story of 12-year-old Jonas, who lives in a community in which everything seems perfect, under control by the Elders, and safe. The memory of war and fear and pain have been banished, along with choice, and everyone is given an assigned role. At his coming-of-age ceremony, Jonas is designated as the new Receiver of Memory, the only one who carries the memories from all of history, including those of pain and suffering, joy and hunger and war, for the memories of these things have been taken away to assure security and conformity, or Sameness. Now Jonas will learn the truth about life, and what it means to grow up, and to become responsible for one’s way in the world. The Giver will run from January 24 to February 9.
Wildfire and the Bird Scouts, directed by Teal Farias, is a story about the way we ask the next generation to solve the problems that we ourselves have created. The fledglings of Bird Scout Troop #7 are on their first ever annual migration when they find themselves lost in a forest that’s been ravaged by fire. On their quest to rejoin their flock, the scouts must contend with a desperate predator, an ancient oak tree, and Wildfire herself, while the forest’s radically changed environment challenges their ingenuity and resilience. Wildfire and the Bird Scouts runs March 14-30.
Photo from the Olympia Family Theater website.
The 2024-2025 season grand finale, May 16 to June 8, not only features the multiple award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (rumored to be a Disney film in the works) but will also bring OFT co-founder Jen Ryle back to the stage as director and Anya Guadamuz (of last season’s Barney Carey Gets His Wings) in charge of music. A motley crew of teenage spelling champs compete in the bee, run by three odd-ball adults, spelling their way through vexing vocabulary while sharing hilarious and poignant personal stories. With clever songs, quirky characters, and non-stop comedy, the show is a silly celebration of the thrill of victory, the irony of defeat, and the joy of discovering who you truly are.
WHAT
Olympia Family Theater
WHERE
612 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501
MORE INFORMATION
https://olyft.org/