'This is the Beginning of a Lifetime for Many of These Kids'

Choreographer Judi Abbatiello led dancers through a routine on the Masuk High School stage last week in preparation for the Two Planks Theatre Co. Summer Workshop's production of "Shrek" the musical.

Off stage, husband and wife David and Susan Halliwell worked closely with other aspiring young actors.

"'Shrek is a huge show and it has a lot of production values with the sets, costumes and music," David Halliwell said. "People think they know the story from the movie, but the musical goes deeper into the characters. It goes beyond just the movie."

The musical has jokes in its songs not heard in the movie, as well as nods to other Broadway musicals, according to Halliwell.

The five-week theater program will culminate in shows at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on July 26 and 27 and again on Aug. 2 and 3. General admission is $15 and $12 for senior citizens, students and children younger than 12.

Judi Abbatiello's son, Mike, is assisting her with the choreography and Gabrielle Brazauskas is the musical director. The Halliwell's son, Robert, 21, is teaching.

It Started at Polka-Dot Playhouse 

In 1991, the Board of Directors for the Polka-Dot Playhouse in Bridgeport asked Susan Halliwell and Eric Nyquist to start a summer theater program. Two years later, Nyquist did not want to direct anymore, so David Halliwell took his place. The program had also moved to Bridgeport University.

The workshop eventually moved to the Jewish Community Center in Bridgeport before coming to Monroe 12 years ago.

The dimmer pack inside the Jockey Hollow Auditorium blew two years ago, forcing the production of "Bye Bye Birdie" to move to Masuk High School — and that's where the summer program stayed.

A seven-year-old cast member walked past David Halliwell and Halliwell said, "I like the fact that kids come here that size and they stay with us 5-6 years and become full-fledged performers."

Among those who attended the program, Stacie Morgain Lewis performed on Broadway in the musical "Wicked" and in the recent revival of "Sunday in the Park with George".

"Kids go onto technical theater. Some go on to direct," Halliwell said. "One of our kids is directing now. This is the beginning of a lifetime for many of these kids."

Dreams Take Hard Work

The Two Planks Theatre Co. Summer Workshop has close to 50 students, who learn everything from acting, singing and dancing to working on the set.

"We are an intensive program," Susan Halliwell said. "We have high expectations for the students who come here. We assume they not only want to perform, but to improve their performance."

Most of the students are from Monroe, but the theater workshop also attracts young talent from Easton, Newtown and Shelton.

Susan Halliwell said the workshop is open to all who are age 8 to 25, but they know what is expected of them before they sign up.

"We spend the entire day focusing on performance goals with a combination of classes and rehearsal," she said. "The students who come here want to be professionals. We make sure they know what to expect before they come."

Amina Ali, 18, who graduated from Masuk this spring, participated in the Two Planks Theatre Co. Summer Workshop since she was 12 and she was active in theater for all four years of high school. This summer, she is assisting the staff as well as performing in the cast.

"Theater is my life and these people are my family, so when I come back here, I feel like I'm at home," Ali said.

When asked her favorite thing about the workshop, Ali said, "The first rehearsal, when it comes together you think, 'We just blocked the entire show.'"

For more information on the Two Planks Theatre Co. Summer Workshop, visit its website: http://twoplankstheater.org/.