Date: Fri 14-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Oceanna-Sobo-Laskauskas-Anna

Full Text:

Newtown Couple's Story Is Sending Kids Under The Ocean

(with cuts, in Photoshop)

BY SHANNON HICKS

NEW MILFORD -- An original story written for the small screen by a Newtown

couple a few years ago will benefit two groups of area residents this weekend.

Anna Oceanna is a musical story about Anna, a young girl who lives by the sea.

She spends much of her life looking out at the ocean from her bedroom window,

remembering her father, a sea captain who died when she was much younger. Anna

lives mostly within her imagination, talking with her imaginary friend Sam,

the class goldfish. Her inner world comes to life during summer vacation when

Sam leads Anna and some of her schoolmates on an adventure under the sea which

will change their lives forever.

Linda Sobo wrote Anna Oceanna about four years ago with her husband, Simon.

The Sobos originally intended the story to be an animated musical. Anna

Oceanna is being used now, however, as a theatre project for area youngsters

ranging in age from 8 to 14. The kids are in the process of rehearsals for the

show, which will be presented by TheatreWorks Kids, based at the New Milford

theatre on August 15 and 16. The public -- the second group to benefit from

the creation of the Sobos' story -- is invited to attend any of the three

planned performances.

Linda Sobo wrote the song's music and lyrics for Anna Oceanna ; her husband

Simon wrote the play's dialogue. Carlton Laskauskas, a friend of Linda's who

directed James and The Giant Peach for TheatreWorks Kids last summer, was

responsible for adapting the Sobos' story into the stage production that is

now in rehearsals.

"It's their baby, but I'm translating it for them," Ms Laskauskas said a few

weeks ago.

By the time the curtain rises for Anna Oceanna this weekend, TheatreWorks Kids

will have had 14 rehearsals total. The first few days of the program were

devoted to auditions for the play's parts, and then the crew spent six days

blocking scenes. Rehearsals ran during the last week of July, and then

everyone had a one-week break away from the theatre. This week has been the

final round of dedicated rehearsals, with the first public performance

scheduled for Saturday, August 15, at 11 am.

This is the second annual program for area children hosted by TheatreWorks New

Milford, a year-round community theatre. Of the 22 who participated in last

year's production, eight young thespians have returned this summer.

Participants have come from New Milford, Bridgewater, Danbury, Morris, Newtown

and Sherman to take part in the adventurous program. The children are not only

responsible for delivering the play on stage, but also are learning direction,

set creation and decoration, lighting, and every other role that goes into a

stage performance.

"The kids are painting; they're doing it all with us," Ms Laskauskas said.

While Ms Laskauskas, who brings her extended theatre experiences to the

TheatreWorks Kids program as director for Anna Oceanna , was discussing the

children's participation, Linda Sobo was on stage with Nicole Jackson. Mrs

Sobo and the 11-year old were sponge painting a large blue tarp, which when

completed would be used as a backdrop for the underwater ocean scenes in the

play.

"There needs to be a theatre experience for children," the director continued.

"These kids are each bringing in certain talents, and they're adding it to the

pot. The chemistry between these kids is outrageous."

"They have jelled together," Mrs Sobo added. "They're laughing together, and

enjoying this experience so much. It's amazing."

One of the early production numbers in Anna Oceanna , which tells its story in

just under 90 minutes and includes 12 musical numbers, is "School's Out."

School has just been dismissed for summer vacation, and the children are

happily looking forward to the next two months of having no homework.

The number is an exuberant celebration of eight blessed weeks of play time.

The performers sing and dance as a group, and as soloists or in duets. There

is some pop, some rap, and even a joke or two mixed into the song. There are

dancing and acrobatics, and beautiful colors which permeate the background.

The action, both on the stage and in the words sung by the kids, sets the

scene for a summer that will forever change Anna's life, and the students who

attend school with her.

"Anna Oceanna" will be presented at the TheatreWorks building, at 5 Brookside

Avenue in New Milford, on August 15-16. Performances are at 11 am and 2 pm

Saturday, and 2 pm Sunday. Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $5 for children. For

reservations or directions to the theatre, call 350-6863.