A cast of young community dancers joins the line-up of musical numbers from Pop, Motown, Broadway and Hollywood.
This pairing was the winning formula for Of Moving Colors’ annual ‘Kick It Out’, which takes place on Saturday at 4pm and 7pm on stage at the Manship Theater for two performances.
Expect plenty of costumes and glitz as kids ages 5 to 17 join the company’s professional dancers to the sounds of singers such as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Bill Withers. Please give me.
Artistic Director Garland Goodwin-Wilson said, “This is a fun show that wasn’t even canceled during COVID-19.” We were going to do it as a group, but we had a lot of parents who wanted to do it live, so we adapted.”
The company will begin rehearsals with child actors in October. During the pandemic, these sessions were held outdoors or on Zoom.
“Also, that year’s show ran at Dunham rather than Manship. Dunham’s Brown Holt Theater was larger, allowing us to spread the crowd more to better comply with COVID restrictions at the time. That’s why,” said Wilson. “But production never stopped.”
As with previous productions, “Kick It Out … That’s Entertainment” will feature children from across the Baton Rouge area. Each participant must pay tuition fees, and full or partial scholarships are offered for economically disadvantaged dancers.
Rehearsals culminate in a 90-minute program of full theater numbers, from The Andrews Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to Otis Redding’s “Pain In My Heart.”
“We’re also bringing back a popular dance number to ‘A-Tisket, A-Tasket,’ and the entire cast will come together to dance to ‘That’s Entertainment’ and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business,'” Wilson said. rice field. “It’s also different this year in that it features a number of his solo numbers by members of professional companies.”
As with past “Kick It Out” shows, the dance numbers are choreographed by Wilson, Bethany Jones McCullough and Courtney Landry. The company dancer line-up includes Cassandra Sonia-Boyd, Kayla Cole, Julian Guillory, Lauren Ebert, McCall Handley, Hannah Noff, Alyssa Rainey and Gabrielle Thibodeau.
The program will also include an original poem written and performed by Chancelier “xero” Skidmore, who premiered a company commissioned work at 2020’s “Kick It Out.”
Finally, Wilson can’t talk about this year’s “Kick It Out” without highlighting a special dancer in the cast of kids.
“For one dancer, this has been a special year for Alison Riley and her mother Rachel,” Wilson said. “Alison is a grown up young dancer and she still participates in the program. She dances in her own group and plays a sweet petite duet with Major Matassa, but in the last dance of the performance she turned professional for the first time. join.”
Riley also helps mothers bring their children’s costumes to life.
One of Moving Colors’ annual community productions, “Kick It Out … That’s Entertainment,” features two performances at 4:00 p.m.
“Mrs. Riley partnered with company staffer Emma Granier, who is also the manager of the Kick It Out project, as one of the children’s costume designers,” Wilson said. “Allison is helping them out. Mrs. Riley has been offering her costume work this year and over the past few years. For hours she has been honored with OMC’s most prestigious award for her costume work.” will receive one of the Prism Awards.”
The Prism Award is for artistic excellence, philanthropy and community service.
“The award for Mrs. Riley’s work is well-deserved,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s excitement grows as the show draws nearer.
“When I start putting on a show every year, I have a lot of expectations,” she said.
“Kick it out…that’s entertainment”
Annual production of Of Moving Colors featuring a community cast of young dancers.
Saturday 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
Manship Theater at Shaw Center for the Arts, 100 Lafayette St.
$13 to $35.
(225) 344-0334 or manshiptheatre.org.