The Enchanted Attic

The following story appeared in The Journal Standard on Friday May 13, 2005:

Enchantment returns in 'Attic'
By Amee Bohrer
The Journal-Standard

During an "Enchanted Attic," rehearsal, a young ballerina performs her solo, but is having trouble finding the right facial expression.

An older student walks out and gives the younger dancer some ideas, as an older sister might do for a younger sibling.

The younger ballerina smiles, applies the advice and nails it.

This is a typical rehearsal for "The Enchanted Attic," as the junior and senior companies of New Expressions Dance Theatre, directed by Jill Johnson, combine. She estimates about 40 performers ages 5 to 50 are involved in the production.

They'll present shows to the public May 20 and 21, but will also do two performances just for area students on May 18 and 19.

Although the show was first performed in March 1995 at Highland Community College, Johnson and Lisa Albert, who co-wrote the story, decided to re-vamp it a decade later, especially since Johnson, along with the original composer and costume designer, have since learned new skills they wanted to incorporate.

Composer Jerry Wickman of Shannon spent three months re-orchestrating his composition. The music hasn't changed, but instrumentation has been altered and two new musical themes were added.

"I went through every single note and re-recorded it," Wickman said. "It sounds much more like an actual orchestra playing."

Wickman will have CD's available at the show.

The story focuses on Emily, a little girl visiting her grandmother. When her grandmother's magical bird escapes and leads Emily into the attic, she meets a host of enchanted toys who need her help.

Most of the toys are friendly, but some, such as a jack-in-the-box, are a little sinister. When bats attack the toys, it's up to Emily and her cousin to save their new friends.

Other personified toys include spinning tops, dust bunnies, spiderlings and a pirate.

JoAnn Hamer of Baileyville, the costume designer, didn't change the design of most of her costumes from the first production, but re-made them all to fit a different set of dancers.

Also an art teacher, Hamer sees her costumes as "3-D moveable art," and said expressing herself through costume-making is "better than Cubism."

"I'm very proud of all my dancers," said Johnson, director of Studio 121 ballet company. "They've put in a huge amount of work."

The performers are anxious for the first performance and enjoy different aspects of the process.

MacKenzie Fye, 16, of Freeport, who plays the roles of head soldier, a bracelet charm and a storm figure, has been dancing for 14 years.

"Costume changes in two minutes or less," have been the most challenging part of the production, Fye said, along with the rehearsal schedule that grows to five or six days a week as opening night nears.

"My favorite part is the make-up," said Lucy Jones, 9 of Savanna, one of two girls double-cast as Emily. Normally, she explained, "I don't get to wear make-up."

After seeing the performance three times I am again duly impressed with the talent that is present in Freeport and the surrounding communities almost as much as I am astounded by Jill Johnson's ability to put the right person in the right role for the performances. Once the performance begins it is hard to imagine how anyone else (of her senior and junior companies) would have fit the roles any better. The music was first rate. The choreography was exceptional. The dancers were inspired and inspiring.

I was saddened, however, as the Pirate Doll, my daughter, Veronica, will be leaving the company. This was her last official performance (for now?). There are various commitments at school that cut short on available time. We'll still have her younger sister, one of the Clown Dolls, Teresa, to carry on the animated, energetic stage presence.

It looks like The Nutcracker will be the main performance next year. It is tentatively scheduled for December. Now the dancers have time to work on the technique over the Summer and look forward to a few extra days off.