 The Ragamuffin Project comes to the Valley
Indio Performing Arts Center
Indio, California
Story by Allen Lawrence
Photo courtesy of The Ragamuffin Project
The Ragamuffin Project is coming to the Coachella Valley. This talented and entertaining ensemble casts young local actors to present a program designed to educate and entertain children of all ages.
The Ragamuffin Project production breaks new ground within the children’s theater community, as 16 comedic performers (ranging in age from 7 to 17) presents a “Saturday Night Live”-style romp of original sketch comedy and adapted monologues. This unique brand of children’s theater, which is guaranteed to entertain children and adults, is part of an innovative curriculum of workshops and classes created by Just 2 to Tango Productions.
Each actor has had to audition and take classes teaching them an advanced form of acting. Sketch comedy is extremely difficult and depends heavily on timing and delivery. Most adults can’t pull it off. The audience will be educated through the actor’s performances! Directed by Noemi Villela-Dean and Tres Dean, the Ragamuffin Project was created based on the premise of the directors that children simply aren’t given credit as performers.
“We wanted to create an outlet for children and teens to showcase their talents in a way that’s never been done before,” says Villela-Dean. “Yes, there are the open calls and Valley Idols, but this showcase focuses on comedy. Any professional actor will tell you that comedy, good comedy, is extremely difficult to pull off. These young performers are not only being asked to pull off a comedy, they’re being asked to pull off fast-paced sketch comedy, which is an even greater challenge.”
The Deans go on to say, “While the show is designed to entertain the children of all ages, we don’t just use that as a catch phrase, we mean it. However, the adults will be laughing just as hard if not harder than the kids in the audience.”
“As directors and actors our selves, we’ve seen so many ‘cattle-call’ type children shows where kids are herded on stage in large numbers and dressed up as barnyard animals, but they’re never truly given the chance to stand out or show off their talents,” explains Tres Dean. “The sketches and monologues we’ve written and adapted have been designed to showcase every single performer, while teaching them an advanced form of theatre training.
“Acting is good, healthy fun and teaches discipline and creativity,” Tres Dean continues. “Our fondest hope is that the kids (and parents) will catch the acting or performing bug after experiencing this show. We also want both to enjoy and become participants in live theater. This show is nonstop fun from start to finish. We want more kids to become ‘Ragamuffins’ and develop the same type of work ethic and dedication our kids are learning.”
It’s good, clean, rowdy, silly entertainment guaranteed to leave them laughing and wanting more!
The show times are 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday, June 5-7 with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee. Prior to each show, the Deans and the Indio Performing Arts Center host a party for the kids and their parents featuring food, drinks, and prizes!
The Ragamuffin Project hosts a series of year-round workshops for youth, focusing on acting, directing, writing, musical performance and dance, and technical theater training at The Indio Performing Arts Center.
Ticket prices are $19 for adults, $9 for students and $7 for children under 6.
For more information and reservations, contact the Indio Performing Arts Center box office at 775-5200 or Just 2 to Tango Productions at 333-0847.
For more information about The Ragamuffin Project, click here.
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