Riverdale 8th Grader Performs in Tellin' Tales Theatre presents Six Stories Up at the Zoo

She's back! Jahzara McGhee of Riverdale is returning to the Six Stories Up stage after three years.

Six middle school students - including McGhee's character - visit the Wienerbury Zoo, a sanctuary for animals with differences: a dwarf giraffe, a vegan lion and a wolf who can’t howl, among others.

When they find out the zoo is closing because of federal funding cuts they must find a way to keep it open. This lively show features original songs and score, innovative choreography and fanciful masks. Tellin' Tales Theatre presents Six Stories Up At The Zoo is the result of an annual mentoring program between middle school students with and without disabilities and adult theater mentors, now in its 28th year.

Three years ago at age 10 (the earliest eligible age to participate) McGhee appeared in Six Stories Up in Discovery, following in the footsteps of her older sister who performed in the 2007 Six Stories Up show. Now in 8th grade and attending Sora Online School, McGhee plays Aliyah in Six Stories Up at the Zoo. Her adult mentor is Caitlin Robb. They worked together on one portion of the show, bringing in their own experiences with differences.

Here are the show particulars:

November 14, 15, 16 and 21, 22, 23 at Filament Theater, 4041 N. Milwaukee

Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
(Sign language interpretation and audio description available on Sunday November 16)

General Admission: $20 (plus ticket fee)
Students and People with Disabilities: $10 (plus ticket fee)
Family: $45 (plus ticket fee)
https://www.simpletix.com/e/six-stories-up-at-the-zoo-tickets-240643

About Six Stories Up

Six Stories Up at the Zoo is the final product of an annual mentoring program developed by Tellin' Tales Theatre, now in its twenty-eighth year. In August, storytellers were paired with middle school students with and without disabilities. Each team was given the mission to write a scene about how their personal difference relates to that of one of the animals. In September, mentors and their apprentices came together to share their scenes. Tekki Lomnicki and Steve Donart then linked the six vignettes and drafted a final script. All participants will perform Six Stories up at the Zoo under the direction of Artistic Director Tekki Lomnicki, assisted by Marlana Carlson.

See more pictures of the cast members:

https://patch.com/illinois/nor...