Riverdale 5th Grader in Cast of Six Stories Up in Discovery

Tellin' Tales Theatre presents Six Stories Up in Discovery plunges headfirst into topics faced by students today. If one of six middle school students doesn't win the science fair their beloved school will close. This musical exploration takes the audience through the exciting, mysterious world of mad scientists, extra-terrestrials and wayward sound waves.

Six Stories Up is an annual mentoring program developed by Tellin' Tales Theatre where middle school children and their theatre mentors with and without disabilities write and star in a full-length play, including music, with the theme changing every year. This is the 25th anniversary year for Six Stories Up.

Jahzara McGhee has been hearing her whole life about her sister’s experience in 2007 with Tellin’ Tales Theatre and Six Stories Up in Wonderland. Her mom, Jantae Spencer, said it was finally time for Jahzara to have her turn! At age 10, the youngest eligible age, McGhee would finally be part of this one-of-a-kind theatre experience. Jahzara McGhee lives in Riverdale and is a 5th grade student at Patton Elementary. Her mentor for Six Stories Up in Discovery is Tammy Rozofsky, an Ensemble member of Tellin’ Tales Theatre

Six Stories Up in Discovery is geared toward adults and children age nine and up and runs approximately 90 minutes with one intermission.

Ticket Details:

The show runs for two weekends at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee: Fridays, Nov. 4 & 11 at 7:30pm; Saturdays, Nov. 5 & 12 at 7:30pm; and Sundays, Nov. 6 & 13 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students. The $100 benefit ticket includes show on Nov. 6 and reception following. For tickets, visit www.tellintales.org

The Filament Theatre is ADA accessible. Sign language interpretation and audio description will be provided at the Saturday, November 5 show.

About the Mentoring Program

In August, storytellers were paired with middle school students with and without disabilities. Each team took on a different aspect of science and was given the mission to bring it to life while weaving in personal stories and insights. In mid-September, Artistic Director Tekki Lomnicki and Stephen Donart drafted a final script, linking the six vignettes together into a cohesive final script; music and lyrics were added as well. All participants will perform Six Stories up in Discovery under the direction of Lomnicki, assisted by Sue Nunamaker and Dominika Tamley.

About the Cast and Crew

The cast and production team of Six Stories Up in Discovery is an exciting mix of ethnicity and ability. Mentors include Israel Antonio, Stephen Donart, Michael Herzovi, Tekki Lomnicki, Tamara Rozofsky and Nancy Sosnowski. Bill Drudge makes a special appearance as the villain. Apprentices include Micah Brown, Campbell Chernoff, Norah Hurley, Jahzara McGee, AJ Sherill and Campbell Stewart. Stephen Scherer spearheads set design; Jabberwocky Puppets and Matthew Wycislak create masks and props and composer Mike Przygoda creates the original score.

The Mission

The mission of Tellin' Tales Theatre is to shatter barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story. We bring together children and adults from both communities to share their stories in theatrically innovative productions and programs to promote awareness, understanding and acceptance

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