Archive: Arts & Entertainment

In a celebration of music from past, present and future Running to Places (R2P) shows, the R2P company -- and alumni – present "The R2P Family Reunion Show," a musical revue to brighten the winter season. The show, appropriate for the whole family, runs one performance only, Dec. 21 at 3 pm, in the 3rd floor auditorium at the Community School of Music and Arts, 330 E. State St, Ithaca.

"The show features skillful performances from fabulously talented people who are thrilled to be performing together," says Joey Steinhagen, R2P artistic director. "It's a taste of some of your favorite R2P shows, plus some new surprises, all rolled up into one."

Some of the songs are from recent R2P shows, like Torianna Payne's reprise of her "Tomorrow" from Annie and Mwape Sokoni's "So You Wanted to See the Wizard" from The Wiz.

Two Dorothys will grace the stage, from R2P's two versions of the story: Ella Monroe singing "Home" from last season's The Wiz and alum Maddi Carroll revisiting "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz.

Given R2P's commitment to company members learning best practices in a wide range of theatrical arts – from singing, acting, and dancing to lighting, sound, set design, costuming, choreography, and stage management – it's not surprising that so many company members go on to study related disciplines in college, as demonstrated by the show's alumni roster, which reads like a Who's Who of accomplished performers. Two of them recently graduated from college musical theater programs: Maddie Vandenberg, who will reprise her "Astonishing" from Little Women, and Keara Byron, who will sing "Something to Believe In" from Newsies alongside Christian Henry, who is currently pursuing his degree from Ithaca College's prestigious theater program.

All participation in R2P is free; performances like the Family Reunion Show "help keep the lights on and the doors wide open to all," says Steinhagen. "Community support helps us ensure that every young person has an equal opportunity to participate. Everyone who auditions is offered a place in a show — no one is ever 'cut' or excluded."

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