CUSR’s own, Nikiaya Brandon, writes CUSR’s next theatre performance titled Mystery of Fifth Avenue! This year’s show will be a comedy mystery. Our actors have worked hard and are excited to showcase what they’ve been working on in the theater class. You’re in for a treat!
Read below to learn more about the upcoming performance from Nikiaya.
You created a new theatre group! How did you arrive at the name? How did the logo come to life?
“I thought that since we were growing in number and becoming a fan favorite, we needed a name to complement our wonderful actors and productions so that we could be easily identified. I met with Anita Stein to discuss it, and we brainstormed together. She came up with the name, and I created a slogan. We also have a little cheer we do with the group; you might get the pleasure of seeing it at the show! I initially designed a logo on Canva to give our marketing team an idea of what we wanted. After I sent it off to Katy (CPD Graphic Designer), she applied her graphic design skills, and voila we had a masterpiece.”
You WROTE the play for this year’s dinner theatre performance. What inspired to write the play? Why is it important for you to offer an original play?
“I was inspired by many movies, such as Pink Panther, New York Minute, and Inspector Gadget (lots of movies that have comedic twists and turns and crazy plots). It’s important to have original plays because it allows us to write roles that are comfortable and accommodating for our participants. It also gives them the flexibility to adapt their roles as needed, while allowing us to charge admission without worrying about copyright technicalities.”
How is dinner theatre different from the usual performances?
“Dinner theatre offers a more upscale experience, where you get to enjoy food and a comfortable setting while watching the performance.”
How many participants in the program? How many volunteers are helping?
“We have 16 participants and 7 volunteers. We have 16 rehearsals in total for the actors to learn their lines and stage cues. Some participants have more than one role in the show. We’ve had tremendous help from parent involvement, and the actors are thoroughly enjoying the show.”
