Scenes from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at Stages Theatre. (Stages Theatre)
Hopkins Center for the Arts mainstage is busy this holiday season putting on a musical featuring the classic tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This year is the 60th anniversary of the TV special, and two young actors from Northeast have taken to the stage.
Based on the television special, the musical produced by Stages Theatre Company tells the story of how Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer learns to embrace his individuality while on a mission to save Christmas.
12-year-old Evey Chadwick is performing in two roles this season, as an elf character and a misfit toy plane. Theater sparked their interest when Chadwick’s parents would take them to see local productions like the ones at Stages.
“When I’m in shows, I think about inspiring kids in the audience to do shows,” Chadwick said. This specifically applies to stories that Chadwick had seen on TV that they later got to perform on a stage such as “Matilda” and “The Grinch.”
Stages Theatre Company and its youth productions have become a place where kids can harness their creative talents.
One of Chadwick’s favorite things about their role this year is having the freedom to make their character into what they want. “It’s really fun when you aren’t as main of a character because you can make stuff up about them, and decide who they are and you get to make up backstories.”
The production’s actors also get the opportunity to create friendships with other kids who have similar interests. “You get really close with your castmates,” said Cash Beard, an 11-year-old from Pillsbury Elementary School and elf character in the Rudolph production.
As fifth graders, Chadwick and Beard are now performing in their second-ever Christmas-themed show. Both joined Stages Theatre Company at the beginning of the year.
“I think they do a really good job of making us all feel like one family,” Beard said.
The production is promoted toward audience members of all ages. “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” can be seen on the mainstage of Hopkins Center for the Arts through December 28. Tickets: https://www.stagestheatre.org/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-the-musical.
Evey Chadwick. (Stages Theatre)
Cash Beard. Both fifth graders are from Northeast. (Stages Theatre)
