A parent's perspective

I just wanted to say a few things about the Production Class and how it has truly affected my son, Lane.

It was a hugh deal for my shy son to take the big step of taking Ms Aly's One Act class last session. He wanted to allow himself to be part of Hurrah ( after watching his sister, Marissa, have so much fun with it), but there was that part of him that would hold himself back. I gave him a little incentive and he ran with it. The first day after that class, he walked out with a big smile and thanked me and told me that he loved the class. Since that time, Lane has continued to change thanks to the magic of Hurrah. That first class with Ms Aly and now the class he is taking with Sharon Cook has given him a new perspective of the world and more insight into himself. He is now (although slowly) allowing himself to open up his real self, and as a parent, it has been a very moving experience.

Lane even decided to audition for HIVA this year, which floored us. It took him a long time to decide, but about a week before auditions, he grabbed a song and said he could do it, then practiced his heart out. I'm sure the audition was altogether frightening for him, but that night when I tucked him in, he told me he did a good job and he was proud of himself. And that meant more than anything to me.

Thanks for all you do for so many children.

Gina Dobson

Performing at the Lost Colony Theatre

Over the summer, the cast of "Grease" performed at the Lost Colony Theatre in Manteo, North Carolina. This was a tremendous experience for the cast. The entire process was unbelievable for me. This trip began when I arrived at lunch, which the cast of Oklahoma provided for us. After lunch, the cast drove back to the dorms and they began going through the house with excitement. We were then invited back to the theatre to eat dinner and see the performance of "Oklahoma". This show was hilarious and the cast very talented. My mother was along on the trip and loved "Oklahoma" too, she laughed and she does have a distinct laugh. Everyone got to know her for her laugh! There was a cast party after the show and we were all invited to that too. I had the opportunity to meet and talk with the cast members. Back at the dorms, the house was full of talk about how good the show was and how much everyone enjoyed it. We had our performance the next night. We started our day with rehearsal at the open theatre. By the time we were to rehearse, the sun, heat and our sweat was unbelievable. We had so much sand all stuck to us, that by the time we returned to the dorm that late afternoon, we had a trail of sand following us! We all got ready and went back for the show. They had to hold the opening of the show because they were still selling tickets. It was sooooo exciting because they nearly sold out and it was the largest audience in attendance for a show outside of the Lost Colony production! I hope I get to perform there again! The people and the experience of working in that environment was priceless! The Hurrah Players have been invited back to perform at the Lost Colony again next summer!
Michael Johnson

A Life Lesson

I guess most parents want to provide settings for their children that help them to find their ways to successful lives. Our plan involves having our son involved in organizations that are comprised of successful positive young people and adults. In addition to the guidance by parents, the examples offered by the peers and inspiration from the adult leaders may be the best encouragement for young people. We have been very fortunate that he is in a school, church youth group and in the Hurrah Players that all provide young people with positive encouragement to become successful people. I would like to discuss Hurrah in this light.

A young person's involvement in Hurrah brings him/her into contact with other young people who continually strive to compete and perform successfully. The rehearsals, auditions and performances serve to immerse the performers in very hard work but it is always couched in atmosphere where the focus is on improvement. Of course, there is competition to get into plays and to obtain the most desirable roles. However, competition characterizes most aspects of successful lives. Competition at Hurrah does not appear to produce feelings of defeat or ill will toward the other young actors but it does increase the desire to perform better at the next audition.

Involvement with the Hurrah Players produces increased confidence in public presentations and success in working with others. The directors of the theater, music and dance convey positive, encouraging lessons enabling the young actors to have confidence in tackling current and future goals. Participation in auditions for each play prepares them for increased success in future interviews with colleges and jobs. They learn how to respond spontaneously to sometimes unanticipated questions. Of course, first auditions can cause jitters, but the reviewing panels respond with encouragement and each additional audition becomes a little easier.

There is another important aspect to the way in which the Hurrah Players encourage success. The preparation required for a play brings the young people together in fairly intensive but mutually supportive enterprises that produce close friendships. These friends celebrate the successes of each other and this along with the encouragement of the staff provides the foundation for a well rounded successful adult.

The confidence developed in successfully completing the many auditions, performing on stage before large audiences. These activities along with the warm involvement in a positive peer culture enhance opportunity for success in future goals whether or not these goals involve theatrical performances. This training will serve these young people well in many aspects of life regardless of whether they are involved in theater or not. I am very happy that my son has developed a love of performing, close personal friendships and a sense of acomplishment through his participation in the Hurrah Players.

Garland White

Why I like Hurrah

I like Hurrah because I love to act, sing, and dance and Hurrah gives me that chance. I get to audition, perform and have fun! I's love to become an actor someday. I have met alot of new friends at Hurrah and I love it. I have been a Hurrah Player for three years. I believe that everyone can be a performer.

I love all the teachers here. They are so awesome! They are nice. All the productions I have been in are wonderful. I would love it if you would be in one too!

Megan Boehmcke

"A Parent's point of View"

Being involved in the Hurrah Players gives your child the same opportunities that being involved in competitive sports, scouts or other youth oriented activities would offer - the chance to make good friends, work hard toward a common goal, develop social skills, exercise, have fun and gain self-confidence, but most importantly learn that even the smallest parts matters greatly when you strive to be your very best! There are life lessons that you will not learn from TV, the computor or video games. I am so thankful that my son found this outlet for his teenaged energy! The benefits for him are truly immeasurable.

Jo White, parent

Finding a new home!

A few weeks before school started, I found out I couldn't go to my dance studio any longer. I was crushed because I didn't think I would ever be able to dance again. The next day, my mom was already looking up other options for me to perform. Then I thought about Taylor Drumwright. She goes to my school and I remember that she had been the leading role in "Annie". I learned of the Hurrah Players and immediately got an application form. I finally found a place to dance, and even better, I could sing and act too!! Musical Theatre was my first class and I was so happy with it. People were so nice to me. Hugh, Cathy and Lisa treated me so well and I had so much fun! "Holidays In Virginia" was my first show and it was a BIG step for me. My first time singing and dancing on stage and I was scared. Right away everyone confronted me and told me not to worry and that I would be GREAT! They were right! I gained such confidence and had such a fun time that I couldn't wait for the next show! Hurrah has given me confidence and experience that I would not have gotten at a dance only studio. Now I have friends, great teachers and a passion for performing, and skills I didn't even know I had. Without Hurrah in my life, I am not sure what I would be doing! I have them to thank for everything. Now that I am in my third showm I cannot wait for more!

Carmen Wiley

What Hurrah Means to Me

What Hurrah means to me is moving across the country to an entirely new home, and finding a place that you always wish you could be at more often. It means great shows with really nice people. It means going into an audition and having everyone smile at you before you start. It means great classes with amazing instructors. Hurrah is a place where people want you to succeed. It's a place where you can ask a question and you always know you'll get an answer. Hurrah is a place where dreams come true!

Stephanie Kelleher

Our Family LOVES Hurrah!!!

We started going to Hurrah productions in 2001 when my oldest daughter was in the 1st grade. We loved going to all the shows and my daughters were so excited to actually begin to take classes. They would often say when we would go to the shows, how they wished they could be on stage like all the other kids and they were so star struck by them. Our daughters have taken jazz, Babes on Broadway, and Musical Theatre classes at Hurrah and loved all the teachers. They began to do auditions and every time became more and more comfortable. Hugh, Lisa, Cathy and Miss Co are always encouraging and positive. Since they started with Hurrah, they have been in 8 shows and love being on stage performing. I have noticed so much more self-confidence which has carried over to their schoolwork and friendships. They are all so proud to say that they are Hurrah Players. I am so appreciative that they will have these lasting memories to carry with them throughout their life. They have learned many life lessons while performing in a show.....time management, discipline, getting along with others, and seeing their hard work pay off. We have also really enjoyed all the wonderful friendships we have made through Hurrah. They are all incredible people who encourage everyone around them and for that we are most grateful. Our family thinks Hurrah Players ROCK!!!

The Martin Family
Steve, Lori, Madison, Macy, McKenna and Max.

Hurrah is NOT just for kids!

I had not done any theatre since high school ( 1996 was my graduation year) when I auditioned for Hurrah's "Beauty and the Beast" in 2005. I was SO nervous that I could barely keep my handwriting legible on the audition form. What made me even more nervous was that nearly everyone in the audition hall was oh, about 15 years younger than I was! I remember Lisa Wallace was sitting at the table, ( of course I didn't know her then) and there was a video camera present ( because Hugh was out of town and needed to see the auditioners) and someone was in the background holding up a stick with a picture of Hugh's face on it. As soon as I saw that, I knew that I had to be a part of Hurrah!

In two years, I participated in nine productions with Hurrah, I was also able to take part in a lot of "extra" performances and showcases. I attended the adult tap class ( holy cow is tap HARD) and the musical theatre class ( so fun) as well . My two favorite shows were "Peter Pan" ( I was a Pirate) and "You Ain't Nothing But a Werewolf" ( done in the Blackbox Theatre). By the time I did "Peter Pan", I was so comfortable with the incredible staff and actors at Hurrah, that everything was fun and all the nerves were gone! It was such an honor and a treat to enjoy myself on stage while being surrounded by amazing friends who became a family to me!

My husband and I ( and baby on the way) had to transfer across the country and leave Hurrah after my short time with everyone. During my last show, "Aladdin", the entire cast and crew threw a baby shower for us....on stage at the Roper during intermission...in front of the entire unsuspecting audience. It was then that I knew that I would forever be a part of the "Hurrafia".

Gina Adrover

WHY I LOVE HURRAH...

I am 8 years old and have been in Hurrah for over 4 years. I've had SO much fun and learned SO much! I've been in ten shows so far and it's really hard to pick a favorite because they have all been fun. I think though that I'd pick Peter Pan, where I got to be Tinker Bell. I love being on stage and it was really great when the audience clapped for me to "come to life again".

I started out with Babes on Broadway, taught by Ms. Co. She taught me how to dance and sing, and now she is teaching my little sister too. I also take classes from Mr. Hugh, Ms. Lisa, and Ms. Cathy. All of the classes are fun and teach you to "reach for the stars" (do your best). My mom and dad like it too because I'm never afraid to talk in front of people, so whenever I have to give a presentation to my class in school, I always get an A++!

Another great thing about Hurrah is all of the friends you make. I have friends of all ages at Hurrah!

I've had the best of times at the Hurrah Players!!

Alex Pouloutides

Growth of an Actor!

I started Hurrah when I was 10 years old. My first show was The Wizard of Oz and I was SO excited when I found out I was in it!! I went to one of the first dance rehearsals and we had to march across the stage....my only problem was I couldn't march. I was so upset about it but with the help of Hugh Copeland, I was able to get it!

To me, Hurrah is a family. Everyone is always willing to help you. They are caring, and they also give you some fun, unforgettable memories. Though I am not 100% sure what I want to do as a career, I would definately like to keep theatre a big part of my life. I want to thank the Hurrah Players for letting me make it a part of my life now! Thank you Lisa Wallace, Cathy Francis and everyone ESPECIALLY Hugh Copeland for helping me find my talent and for helping all of us at Hurrah become better people!

ELLIOTT SMITH

Father and Son Share the Stage in HONK!

When the Hurrah Players latest production opens March 20, Gabe Aviles and his son Nick will be center stage as featured performers. Nick has been active with Hurrah since middle school, recently having performed in High School Musical, Seussical and Holidays In Virginia.
Gabe, on the other hand, is making his Hurrah debut. Married, the father of three sons, and a career with UPS, this is Gabe's return to the stage after twenty-six years. While at Old Dominion University, he performed in a production of The Patriots with the Norfolk Little Theatre. In High School he was active in the theatre program and performed in The Music Man, Harvey and Hello Dolly. Although married life and his career up until now have taken him away from the theatre, Gabe has taken time to appear in two Pepsi commercials which were marketed in Latin America.

"It is a pleasure to watch Gabe and Nick help each other in rehearsals and to see what a strong bond they share for each other and for performing" states Hurrah director Hugh Copeland.

HONK! TCC Roper Performing Arts Center, 340 Granby Street, Norfolk, 23510. March 20-22 and March 27-29. Tickets call 627-5437

A Note from the Young

I absolutely love Hurrah!
Everyone -- adults, the older kids, EVERYONE -- is always nice to me. For my first audition, I was very nervous, but everyone was so nice. For my second audition, I wasn't as nervous. For my third audition, I wasn't nervous at all! Miss Co will always help you in class. She always encourages you. She will help you pick a song for an audition, and she will tell you how to make your audition special. She is a great teacher and I feel I have learned a lot from her. I love all of the parts I have been given in the plays and I always have a good time!

Gabby Allen

My New Experience

When I think about my experience with the Hurrah Players, I am reminded of two pieces of advice: the first is to surround yourself with what you want to be; the second is to put your skills into practice. I am reminded of the first piece of advice because one of my dreams is to make performing in musical theatre my career. I want that to be my life. The instructors and directors at Hurrah are well-versed in various aspects that I would need to work towards my dream. There are different levels of jazz and tap classes, as well as musical theatre, acting and vocal classes. Many of the students are or are becoming quite talented since they have been taken in by the Hurrah Players family. It can be an onstage performance or just in their personal skills,but whatever it is, it is always enjoyable. That, I think, makes the whole learning process better. By surrounding yourself with people who inspire you, you work harder and you gain role models in the process.

I think of the second piece of advice because of another old phrase: "practice makes perfect". It truly does, and through rehearsals, the show we were working on got progressively better each and every rehearsal. The time that we spent perfecting a dance number or making sure we hit the right notes or getting to the right spot at the right time was all worth while when the show finally opens to the public. It's an amazing thing to see the hard work that you put into a show manifest itself when you perform for others. If you don't put your skills into practice, then there's the chance that you may get rusty or, even worse, you can lose those skills. If you continually work on something, it tends to get better so that the public will get the best show that we can offer.

I would recommend joining the Hurrah Players to anyone who has any amount of interest in theatre, musical theatre, singing and dance. In my opinion, the Hurrah Players is one of the best things that anyone could ever do to improve their skills and also to have fun and get enjoyment out of their skills .( even the skills they didn't know they had) Being a Hurrah Player has been an enriching and exciting experience for me in which I made new friends, learned many things, and overall had some of the most enjoyable times that I've had so far in my life. I hope that any new Hurrah Player will have and awesome experience with the company and continue in their love of the arts.

Chelsea Ellorin

What does Hurrah mean to me?

I started at the Hurrah Players When I was 5 years old. I was very shy and I didn't know anybody. I started with the Hurrah camp in the summer and then went into the class called Broadway Babes and my teacher was Mrs. Co Harrison. I started to open myself up to everyone and made some great friends, which I might add, are still great friends today. My first show was "Cinderella" and I was a mouse. I had a great time, and since then I know what I want to do when I graduate from High School. I kept auditioning after that and kept taking classes, and I have learned so much. i have been given so many opportunities with the roles I have been cast in. Hurrah basically is my home. My friends here are my family. Big kudos to my Maw-maw for giving me my start here, she sent me to camp, to my mom for supporting me with everything and to Hugh Copeland, who has given me so many great opportunities, great direction and advice. He is my hero and an incredible role model.

Schuyler Midgett

It's Time to Celebrate 2009!!

What is Hurrah? A company, ( The Hurrah Players) a place, ( we're going to Hurrah) a FAMILY - with energy, passion, a deep caring for each other! Hurrah is a place to learn, to study the performing arts, to develop respect for each other, and to share in the joy of making the magic of theatre!

Let us be aware each day of our good fortune - that we have each other and that we have....

HURRAH!!!

So cheers for the New Year, new classes, new productions, and new as well as lasting friendships.

It's time to celebrate 2009 with committment, determination, and caring!!

WELCOME!!

Hugh