Young People’s Theatre Company Jr.’s members asked and finally received.
The company and Michigan City Area Schools present Disney’s “Mulan Jr.” June 29-July 1 at Holdcraft Performing Arts Center (formerly Elston Performing Arts Center) in Michigan City.
“It just felt right this year,” said Becky Tiedeman, director of “Mulan Jr.”
“The kids really like the Disney movie so ‘Mulan Jr.’ is something they’ve always to do. They like the story of ‘Mulan.’ They like the music from it. It’s a cute show.”
Based on the 1998 animated film “Mulan” and the story “Fa Mulan” by Robert D. San Souci, “Mulan Jr.” features music and lyrics by David Zippel, Jeanine Tesori, Stephen Schwartz, Matthew Wilder and Alexa Junge.
“Mulan Jr.” also features music adapted and arranged and additional music and lyrics by Bryan Louiselle and book adapted and additional lyrics by Patricia Cotter.
“This show’s about a girl that feels she can do the same as guys can do,” said Tiedeman, of Michigan City.
“When they are called to go in the army, one from every family has to go. Her father is the only male in the family. He’s already served. He’s injured. She wants to take his place. She goes to serve unbeknownst to her father. She impersonates a boy. The penalty is death.
“‘Mulan Jr.’ shows that you do need both the feminine and masculine to work together. With everything that’s going on this is a good show to have on at this time. It shows girls what they are capable of. They can do what any guy can do if they put their minds to it.”
Crew for “Mulan Jr.” includes Taylor Lyles of LaPorte, as music director and Michigan City residents Candy Hunt and Amy McDaniel on costumes, Kristi Steinhiser on props and sets, and Ella Jasnieski and Mia Taylor, previous Young People’s Theatre Company Jr. members, as student directors.
Tiedeman has managed casts of 60 youngsters for some Young People’s Theatre Company Jr. productions, and this time she has 23 actors including residents of LaPorte, Michigan City and New Carlisle-based New Prairie United School Corp.
“I normally do shows for ages 7-14 but we have split the group in two because we get so many kids that it gets quite crowded on stage,” said Tiedeman, founder of Young People’s Theatre Company Jr.
“We have started a new company called Young People’s Theatre Company Kids. That is for ages 7-11, so we have that overlap with the older kids too. That way some kids can do both shows in one year and ease into the next group.”
Kids from Michigan City and the surrounding area can move from Young People’s Theatre Company Kids to Young People’s Theatre Company Jr. for ages 11-14 to Young People’s Theatre Company for ages 14-21.
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Young People’s Theatre Company Kids stages Disney’s “The Aristocrats Kids” Nov. 2-4. Auditions for that show, which will be directed by Tiedeman, are at 10 a.m. Sept. 1 at Holdcraft Performing Arts Center.
“I enjoy working with the kids, watching them grow through the years. They are amazing,” Tiedeman said.
“We feel that every kid deserves this opportunity and that’s why we formed Young People’s Theatre Company — to give all kids that opportunity. People are very surprised when they find out just how good the quality of the shows are. We get them as close to a professionals experience as we can.”
Disney’s ‘Mulan Jr.’
When: 7 p.m. June 29-30; 2 p.m. June 30-July 1
Where: Holdcraft Performing Arts Center (formerly Elston Performing Arts Center), 1200 Spring St., Michigan City
Tickets: $10 adults ($12 at door); $5 for 12th-graders or younger
Information: 219-873-2070; www.yptcinc.com