What is ANDI BOI really about?…

ANDI BOI.  A transgender play, yes, but really a play of benefit to everyone.  Perhaps more than love itself, I think that humans crave something.  That something, is to really know each other.  But to get there, we have to look beyond what we think we already know.  ANDI BOI takes us squarely in that direction.  No, it is not so easy to challenge ourselves to think differently, but it is important that we stop, look and re-examine ourselves and our world.  Maybe it is not as it seems.  Maybe gender is not so simple and there really is more gender complexity.  If we would just let go of that inherent need to be right all of the time, I think we might find that deeper connection; a valuable connection that perhaps we’ve been missing out on.  Such a discovery would not just benefit transgender people, but all people; especially our own spirits. I think this is the powerful lesson ANDI BOI teaches: We need friends.  We need each other more than we need to be right.  Really, this is the point of life.  We only need to stop, listen and reconsider what we know.  We may discover new ways to love.

I say all of this, for it came true for me.  ANDI BOI fell in my lap, and I found myself volunteering behind the scenes.  Who knew my heart would find a whole community of people trying to bring a bit of light to a controversial topic such as transgenderism?  Who knew I would find such kind new friends?  As a transgender woman myself who came out long before the internet, I am touched by such change of heart.  There was a time when we were taught to hide and to be ashamed.  Those were darker days.  Without a doubt, ANDI BOI can make us all feel tall and proud.  I think the director of the play, Bruce Coleman, got it right when he gives us all permission to reach out to each other, to forgive each other and to not be so afraid.  Without saying it, he says, hey, it’s okay to ask questions and it’s okay to change.  With a little love and sincerity, he says we can allow ourselves to think and grow in new ways.

So, please do go see ANDI BOI.  I know you will really love it.  After the show, there’ll be a chance to meet and talk with people like me who will be a part of the talkback discussions.  I just bet you might make a new friend.

Renee Baker is a Licensed Professional Counselor focusing on gender therapy and has a private practice in North Dallas.  She may be reached at www.renee-baker.com.

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TEEN SCENE PLAYERS PRESENT

ANDI BOI

Written and Directed by Bruce R. Coleman
Co-produced with Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in partnership with First Unitarian Church of Dallas
February 7 – 16, 2020
Created especially for ages 13 and up and those who love them…

(Contains adult language)

Performance Dates and Times:

Friday, February 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 8, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 9, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 9, 4:30 PM
Saturday, February 15, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 16, 1:30 PM (ASL)

Ticket Prices: $16 for single tickets. Prices subject to change. Call the Box Office for details, 214-740-0051.

General tickets are available online at dct.org

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Producing Partners:

Collaborating Partners:

Dallas Children’s Theater is a participant in the Audience (R)Evolution: Cohort Grants program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the professional not-for-profit American theater.

Her son plays the lead in the world premiere production of DCT’s ANDI BOI

“When I was asked to write this, I solicited advice from my husband and friends who also have transgender kids. My husband said that these days, Zander’s gender is the least interesting thing about him. He always says that; and it’s true.

Friends pointed out that the only thing “special” about being a trans parent is the fact that sometimes strangers feel entitled to judge your parenting and your kid’s emotional stability. Otherwise, it’s just loving them and trying to meet their needs. You know. Parenting. Unfortunately, being a trans person is exponentially more difficult than parenting one. So there are days we parents do a bit of educating or cutting ties when education doesn’t work.

I’m just thankful for the grace in it all. Grace shown by old friends who immediately supported our transition — from providing an empathetic, nonjudgmental ear to shopping with a “new” guy figuring out his style. Grace demonstrated in a patient gender therapist. Grace given by trans elders enthusiastically embracing this young one. I could write a book about how the grace of the DFW theater community — here at DCT, at theaters where Zander has performed, and at his extraordinary school — saved my son’s life.

Mostly, I’m in awe of Zander’s ability to view himself with utter honesty and live authentically each day. I’m grateful for the grace he showed as we struggled to comprehend his journey. I worry for him. I hope for him. And, without a doubt, I know he will somehow change the world.”

If you have questions, want to learn more or just want to be an ally, come see ANDI BOI at Dallas Children’s Theater.

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TEEN SCENE PLAYERS PRESENT

ANDI BOI

Written and Directed by Bruce R. Coleman
Co-produced with Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in partnership with First Unitarian Church of Dallas
February 7 – 16, 2020
Created especially for ages 13 and up and those who love them…

(Contains adult language)

Performance Dates and Times:

Friday, February 7, 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 8, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 9, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 9, 4:30 PM
Saturday, February 15, 1:30 PM
Sunday, February 16, 1:30 PM (ASL)

Ticket Prices: $16 for single tickets. Prices subject to change. Call the Box Office for details, 214-740-0051.

General tickets are available online at dct.org

Producing Partners:

Collaborating Partners:

Dallas Children’s Theater is a participant in the Audience (R)Evolution: Cohort Grants program, funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group, the national organization for the professional not-for-profit American theater.

Photo by: Courtney Roberts

And now a word from our friends at Free Play…Arcades are they!

“I have the most wonderful memories from childhood of my mother bringing my little brother and I to El Centro or The Crescent to see Dallas Children’s Theater shows.

I remember watching precocious Scout grow a friendship with Boo Radley. To Kill a Mockingbird later became my favorite book and started the long chain of events ending with me becoming a lawyer. I remember another one about a little boy with hemophilia that caused me to reflect on how important it is to learn about things we don’t understand, instead of just being afraid. And even though I can no longer recall any further details about the play itself, there was one with a Jewish mother, whose accent my brother and I found incredibly charming.

In the car on the way home, my mother surprised and delighted us both by imitating her lines perfectly! It turned out that in a former life, our mother was a speech coach who specialized in accents – every time we thought about it, for years and years we would beg her to repeat this one line again and again and when she acquiesced, it was always a joyful occasion.

All of these memories were locked away in an all but forgotten and dusty corner of my mind when Rachel Wells, with Dallas Children’s Theater, got in touch with us about a most exciting project – their production of SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! The memories flooded back, both from Dallas Children’s Theater and my Schoolhouse Rock watching days…Conjunction Junction….Electricity…Interjections….it put an instant smile on my face – which is the power of nostalgia!

In many ways, nostalgia is now my business. My husband Corey and my brother Richard and I own and operate Free Play – originally one, but now four and counting nostalgia-infused retro arcades in DFW, where we, along with our amazing staff, work tirelessly to give customers the chance to play all the great arcades and pinball machines from the 80s and 90s in incredible atmosphere with top-notch food and drinks. An added bonus to the business has been the unprecedented pleasure of sharing these amazing games from my childhood with my children (and discovering new ones together)!

I really thought things couldn’t get any better, but now, thanks to the Dallas Children’s Theater, I also have the opportunity to share even more blasts from the past with my kiddos. We saw THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR CHRISTMAS SHOW recently, and not only did the kids LOVE it, but our 3 year-old daughter has been putting on plays for us in our living room ever since.

And I positively cannot wait to relive all those amazing songs – I can almost sing them from memory (but I promise I won’t!). It doesn’t hurt that the entire point of Schoolhouse Rock was to present super educational, sometimes difficult information in an easy-to-understand and love format – the parent in me loves it just as much as kid me did!

I am counting the days until I am sitting there in the theater with my son, sharing the experience of Schoolhouse Rock with him! Join us – and while you are there, take a spin on one of the retro arcades – maybe Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Or is Galaga more up your alley? – hanging out in the lobby before the performance!”

Kelsie Hyden owns Free Play with her husband Corey (pictured) and her brother Richard. Also pictured are Kelsie’s son and daughter, Sterling and Zoe. Free Play Arcade is DFW’s most acclaimed retro arcade. With locations in Richardson, Arlington, Denton, Ft. Worth, and a new location coming to Dallas next year, every aspect of Free Play, from its games to its bar to its kitchen, has been celebrated by the press, nostalgia-seekers, gamers, and fun-seekers alike. Awarded Best Arcade by Ft. Worth Weekly, Dallas Observer, and D Magazine (in addition to a half-dozen awards for its bar and food), Free Play strives everyday to be the “best arcade ever”. For more information, go to http://freeplayrichardson.com/. Also learn about their Dallas location, opening soon!

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SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
Originally Conceived and Directed by Scott Ferguson
Book by Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall, and George Keating
Music and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newall, and Tom Yohe
Directed by Nancy Schaeffer

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. MTIShows[dot]com

January 25 – February 23, 2020

Recommended for ages 5 and up

If you were a kid from the early 70s to mid 80s when this series was first on TV, or in the mid 90s when it ran again; you owe it to yourself to go back in time to the good old days. Relive how fun learning English, history, science, and math was thanks to Saturday morning television and this pop culture phenomenon! There’s no time like the present to start teaching the rest of the family such megahits as Conjunction Junction, Just A Bill, Three Is A Magic Number, and others so everyone can be a part of the show! Join nervous school teacher Tom, and all of those crazy cartoon characters, for a turn-up-the-volume blast you won’t soon forget!

Learn more about this show and others in our 2019-2020 season at dct.org.

Title Sponsor: Which Wich, Free Play

 

You’re in for a turn-up-the-volume blast you won’t soon forget!

Alyssa Cavazos*
(Dori)
Alyssa is so excited to be joining her DCT family once again with this all-star cast and crew! You may recognize her from Dallas Children’s Theater productions of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Belle), The Island of the Skog (Louise), Treasure Island Reimagined! (Morgan), and Ella Enchanted: the Musical (the purple haired sister, Hattie). She also is a resident Teaching Artist for DCT youth. She has had the pleasure of performing all over Dallas, New York City, and Missouri. Regional theaters you may have seen her with include: Uptown Players, WaterTower Theatre, Kitchen Dog Theater, Pegasus Theatre, Flexible Grey Theatre Company, and others. Alyssa has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Abilene Christian University. Alyssa would like to thank Dallas Children’s Theater for this wonderful experience, Drew for his undeniable support, and God for His many blessings.

Gustavo Perez Diaz**
(Joe)
Gustavo is excited to make his debut with Dallas Children’s Theater! He began performing with the St. Louis Opera Theatre Artist in Training program. He continued his opera theater studies at the University of Missouri-St Louis. Gustavo performed extensively throughout the St. Louis area – some roles include Rocky Horror Picture Show (Rocky), The Elixir of Love (Nemorino), Die Fledermaus (Alfred), and Hello, Dolly! (Barnaby Tucker).

Brian Hathaway*
(George/Elvis)
Brian is thrilled to be back at DCT, having last appeared in Ella Enchanted: The Musical. Past DCT credits include James and the Giant Peach; A Year with Frog and Toad; Goodnight Moon; Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; and Go, Dog. Go! Brian has also been seen locally in productions at Lyric Stage, WaterTower Theatre, Uptown Players, and Theatre Three, among others. Favorite credits include Finian’s Rainbow (Og), The Producers (Leo Bloom), The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), Honk! (The Cat), and Little Women (Professor Bhaer). Brian is a proud 14 year member of Actors’ Equity.

Thi Le**
(Janet / Dance Captain)
Thi Le is delighted to make her Dallas Children’s Theater debut in Schoolhouse Rock Live! She has credits in Jesus Christ Superstar (Mary Magdalene) at Brookhaven Theatre, Mamma Mia! at Brick Road Theatre, Spring Awakening (Anna) at Uptown Players, CATS (Sillabub) and Bright Star at The Firehouse Theatre, Kentucky (Sophie) at Imprint Theatreworks, and most recently, Sister Act at WaterTower Theatre. Thi loves creating art and having the opportunity to tell someone else’s stories, and she strives to inspire others to do the same.

Laura Payne
(Schulie)
Laura is thrilled to return to Dallas Children’s Theater after being in the original cast of The Secret Life of Girls over 10 years ago! Regional credits include: Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert) and The Ballad of Little Jo (Josephine “Jo” Monaghan) at WaterTower Theatre; Matilda: The Musical (Miss Honey) at ZACH Theatre; ’Twas the Night Before Christmas (Mary Midkiff) at Casa Mañana; and Beowulf (Warrior) at Trinity Repertory Company. Other credits include: Side Show (Daisy Hilton) and We Go Round and Round (Sweet Young Thing) at Brown/Trinity Rep; and Anna Karenina (Anna) at Notch Theater workshop. Much love to her friends and family for their continuous support! www.lauralymanpayne[dot]com

Lakeia Shaneen Smith
(Dina)
New York born Lakeia Shaneen Smith is an accomplished singer, songwriter, music director and vocalist. After graduating from University, she began to tour overseas in Europe and Asia as a soloist and part of a gospel ensemble where she met her now-husband, Emanuel Smith. When not touring overseas, she and her husband would perform in NY, DC, Virginia and the eastern coast. While here in Dallas, her recent credits include Music Director of Nina Simone: Four Women at the Jubilee Theatre in Fort Worth; the “Angel” in Black Nativity at the Bishop Arts Theatre Center; Mrs. Mallet in CORPS’ Bells are Ringing; and most recently, appeared in Beyond Perfection, a new Dystopian Musical, and “Egyptus” in the musical “The Ark”. She gives God all glory for being able to do what she loves and is passionate for. She is very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful cast and musical.

Will Stotts*
(Tom)
Will Stotts is pumped to be back at DCT! Credits include: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) at Dallas Children’s Theater; My Fair Lady (Freddy Eynsford Hill) and Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt) at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre; Sister Act (Joey) at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse; and Urinetown (Officer Lockstock) at Red Barn Theatre. Will recently signed with the Linicomn Agency and holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ouachita Baptist University. He thanks Nancy for the opportunity, God for his grace, and his wife and family for their love and support.

Karl Schaeffer*
(Understudy: George / Elvis)
Karl has appeared in many DCT productions including the 2019-20 season opener Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Additional credits include Treasure Island Reimagined!; Blue; Skippyjon Jones; Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat; Night of the Living Dead; Pinkerton!!!; The Emperor’s New Clothes; Babe, the Sheep-Pig; Holes; The Mummy’s Claw; Pecos Bill; The Island of the Skog; Frankenstein; The Stinky Cheeseman…; Honus & Me; Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; The Pied Piper’s Magic; Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!; Go, Dog. Go!; Charlotte’s Web; Balloonacy; Junie B. Jones Is Not A Crook; and Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium. He also performed with Dallas Theater Center, Shakespeare Dallas, and Theatre Three. Karl is an Artist-in-Residence at DCT and teaches video acting classes for the DCT Academy.

*Indicates member of Actors’ Equity Association

**Indicates Equity Membership Candidate.

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SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE!
Originally Conceived and Directed by Scott Ferguson
Book by Scott Ferguson, Kyle Hall, and George Keating
Music and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newall, and Tom Yohe
Directed by Nancy Schaeffer

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! JR is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. MTIShows[dot]com

January 25 – February 23, 2020

Recommended for ages 5 and up

If you were a kid from the early 70s to mid 80s when this series was first on TV, or in the mid 90s when it ran again; you owe it to yourself to go back in time to the good old days. Relive how fun learning English, history, science, and math was thanks to Saturday morning television and this pop culture phenomenon! There’s no time like the present to start teaching the rest of the family such megahits as Conjunction Junction, Just A Bill, Three Is A Magic Number, and others so everyone can be a part of the show! Join nervous school teacher Tom, and all of those crazy cartoon characters, for a turn-up-the-volume blast you won’t soon forget!

Learn more about this show and others in our 2019-2020 season at dct.org.

Title Sponsor: Which Wich, Free Play