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November, 2013
Auditions for the 2014 Schmeckfest production of "Children of Eden" will be held Friday evening, December 6 starting at 6:30pm, and Saturday morning and afternoon, December 7 starting at 10:00am.  The auditions will be held at Music Hall on the campus of Freeman Academy at 748 S. Main Street in Freeman.
Anyone wanting to audition should schedule a time-slot in advance; signup sheets/audition schedules and audition materials will be available at Freeman Public Library starting November 12.
Director Tim L. Waltner said the show will require a company of about 50, including children.


September, 2013
The production team for the 2014 Schmeckfest production of Children of Eden has been announced. The musical will be presented as part of the festival March 21, 22 and 28 and 29 as well as on Thursday, March 27; no Schmeckfest activities are scheduled that day.

The production team (listed alphabetically by title) includes:

Artistic Director – Tim L. Waltner
Choral Director – Dan Graber
Choreography Director – Kathryn Reimler
Costumes – Heather Haggerty
Lighting Director– Jeffrey Preheim
Makeup-Animals – Jackie Goosen
Makeup-Cast – Jill Hofer
Orchestra Conductor – Mindee Birnstiehl
Producer – Freeman Academy Auxiliary Program Committee, Amy Hofer Vetch - chair
Production Consultant – Jeremy Waltner
Props – Deb Beier
Set Construction – Jarrod Preheim
Set Design – Michelle Hofer
Sound Design– Chris Glanzer
Stage Manager – Brad Carlson

 

“Children of Eden” is a two-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John Caird.  The musical is based on two familiar stories from the book of Genesis.  Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel.  Act II tells the story of Noah and the flood.

“Children of Eden” has been described as “A joyous and inspirational musical about the age-old conflict between parents and children. Adam, Eve, Noah and the “Father” who created them deal with the headstrong actions of their respective children. The show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message that “the hardest part of love... is letting go.”

Auditions have been tentatively scheduled for the first week of December.

“That’s earlier than previous musicals,” said director Tim L. Waltner. “But given the significant amount of music in this show for both actors and the chorus, I’m hoping to begin rehearsals in early January.”

The chorus, which provides musical narration for the show, is an essential and major component in the musical, Waltner said, and is involved in more than half the scenes.

In addition to the adult actors and chorus, the show requires children and youth, primarily to help portray the animals that appear in the Garden of Eden and in the story of Noah and the ark.

More details about auditions, including character descriptions, will be announced later this fall.

Tickets for the 2014 Schmeckfest musical and meal go on sale in November; more information about the festival is available at Schmeckfest.com.

The show is being presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019.

The program committee of the Freeman Academy Auxiliary has announced that “Children of Eden” will be presented as the 2014 Schmeckfest musical production. Tim L. Waltner will direct the production as part of the 56th Schmeckfest, which will be held March 21-22, 28-29.

“Children of Eden” is a two-act musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by John Caird. The musical is based on two familiar stories from the book of Genesis. Act I tells the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel. Act II tells the story of Noah and the flood.    

“Children of Eden” has been described as “A joyous and inspirational musical about the age-old conflict between parents and children. Adam, Eve, Noah and the “Father” who created them deal with the headstrong actions of their respective children. The show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message that “the hardest part of love... is letting go.”  

This is the eighth Schmeckfest production Waltner is directing; he has been involved as either director, actor or on the technical side of 37 previous Schmeckfest productions.