Arts & Entertainment

Gemini Theater Inspires Imagination

Local children's theater tells fairy tale favorites.

Gemini Theater is sparking the imaginations of children across communities with original stories involving their favorite fairytale characters.

Executive Director Jill Jeffrey said in each show, the kids actually become a part of each story themselves.

“We are an interactive children’s theater, so during the shows kids are invited down on stage or participate from their seats to become extra characters in the story,” she said. “For example, when we did Beauty and the Beast they become the animals in the forest who help her find the castle.”

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Located in the East End on Penn Avenue near the food co-op, Gemini Theater produces musical adaptations of classic children’s fairytales and stories with original scripts and music. Jeffrey has been with the theater since 2009. It was founded in 1996.

“We have regular season productions on the weekends from September to April and we do shows for schools and organizations – we go to them or they come to us,” she said.

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Largely funded by grants from Duquesne University, the Heinz Endowments and other area organizations, Gemini is a nonprofit. Some of the shows it has completed in the past include Arabian Nights, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, The Sword in the Stone and more.

“What we really like is we take the characters the kids know and make them into original shows,” she said. “For example, we did Sleeping Beauty Holiday, where she was sucked into modern times with a family.”

But Gemini’s mission goes beyond theater, Jeffrey said.

One of our big things we are trying to teach is that what we do partners with the idea of literacy,” Jeffrey said. “We are trying to make kids understand that Disney and other companies that use these stories, do not write these stories. These are very old folklore stories and some of them began as performance. We are hoping families recognize that we are trying to get kids to embrace the arts and literature as opposed to saying the movie is more important.”

Gemini is preparing for its annual fundraiser called The Royal Ball, which is for the whole family. The event is being held at Duquesne University May 14. The proceeds support the children’s theater’s next season.

Those who attend can dress up as their favorite prince or princess.

“Imagination is another big key to our mission – we are trying to get kids to use their imagination to be creative, trying to tell kids that what we do, they can do at home too,” she said. “You can take your favorite story and perform it. You don’t need someone on TV telling you what to do.”

Tickets to The Royal Ball can be purchased by calling the theater. Tickets for adults are $65, a first child is $45, additional children are $30 per child, and two and under are free.

Registration for summer camp also is open at the theater’s website.


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