"Spellbound Theatre, New York's only theatre exclusively for young people ages 0-5 has been awarded the American Alliance for Theater & Education's Zeta Phi Eta-WiniFred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company Award. The honor will be presented at an awards reception on Saturday, August 5th at AATE conference in New Orleans, LA.

The annual award honors a theatre company serving young audiences that has been in operation for under five years, has attained a high level of artistic production, and possesses sound management practices while having stimulated community interest in its endeavors. It is named in honor of WiniFred Ward, often considered the 'mother of creative drama'.

Past winners who have come to exemplify longstanding artistic excellence include the Honolulu Theatre for Youth in Hawaii, Childsplay, Inc. in Arizona, the Dallas Children's Theatre in Texas, and Metro Theater Company in Missouri."

Read more:
https://www.broadwayworld.com/amp/c.php?url=Brooklyns-Spellbound-Theatre-Wins-the-National-2017-Outstanding-New-Childrens-Theater-Company-Award-20170802

Spellbound Theater is honored to be the recipient of the 2017 Zeta Phi Eta Winifred Ward Outstanding New Children's Theater Company Award, which will be presented to Spellbound's board, staff, and artists at the annual conference of the American Alliance of Theater and Education in New Orleans this July.

Thank you to all the artists who have helped to create Spellbound's work, and the staff, interns, and board members who have supported their artistic vision.

"Parents of toddlers, rejoice! There’s an entire theater experience designed with your little one in mind. Brooklyn-bound Spellbound Theatre, currently in its fifth season, caters to children aged 0 – 5 with creative, multi-sensory performance pieces and an emphasis on imagination.

Lauren Jost, artistic director, founded Spellbound in 2011 after finding inspiration in well-developed children’s theaters overseas, and felt the need to develop her own form of child-centric performance art in The United States, holding fast to the belief that “kids deserve engaging, professional, beautiful theater.”
“We’re very passionate about creating children’s theater that is engaging, exciting, and challenges expectations of what children’s theater can be,” she says.  To that end, performances are rich, highly visual, and tend to shy away from typical child entertainment, making it just as fascinating for parents, too."

READ MORE HERE: http://www.5boros.com/2016/06/give-your-kids-the-theater-bug-at-spellbound-in-brooklyn/

“A Book of Hours” 
January 16, 10am and 11:15am
A larger-than-life book leads children through familiar daily events using favorite nursery rhymes and songs to tell the story, as well as surprising treasures, puppets, and discoveries.  This interactive storytelling performance blends familiar stories together in unexpected ways with a giant pop-up book that reveals things for children to touch, feel, and do.   This “pop up performance” at the Old Stone House will be the first public premier of this special story, and it will be available afterward for touring to local schools and playgroups.  Ideal for ages 1-5.

Read more...
http://achildgrows.com/blog/2016/01/spellbound-theaters-book-of-hours-is-coming/

Posted by Raven Snook

Spellbound Theatre has always specialized in creating shows for the preschool set, but this is the first time the Brooklyn-based troupe has crafted a production for children with autism or other special needs. Audiences take a virtual, multisensory trip through Brooklyn's past in the historic Old Stone House. Saturday performances are open to the general public while Sunday shows are reserved for families with special needs.


http://mommypoppins.com/kids/best-fall-theater-shows-for-nyc-kids

Associate Professor at Manhattanville College Christine Dehne recently began a yearlong residency at the New Victory Theater in Times Square, where she will develop and produce a performance for children. “It’s huge for me because it is someone outside of your usual circle saying, ‘Hey, we support what you’re doing and believe in it,” she said, “It’s also nice to have this gift of space and time to focus on your craft, which is something that is really hard to come by.” In addition to teaching at Manhattanville, Dehne works as an artist for the Spellbound Theatre, a Brooklyn-based theatre for kids, and will be joined by Lauren Jost, founder and artistic director of Spellbound, during the New Victory LabWorks residency. The two will be creating “Ear, Nose, and Tail,” a production about a dog that is not sure he is comfortable being a dog. The show, intended for children zero to 5-years-old, will be using different forms of puppetry, animation, and audience interaction. 

“The New Victory Theater is one of the premier children’s theaters in the country, so it’s a really prestigious residency and for Spellbound that’s a big deal,” Dehne, who teaches in the Studio Art and Communications & Media departments, said.

While Dehne will be creating animation for the show prior to each performance, she will also be drawing images that come to life based on audience reaction and feedback during each performance as well. She sees this as a challenge, but believes using technology in the classroom, which sometimes doesn’t work, helps her “roll with it,” and the live animation will be an extension of that.

Even though the residency program has already begun Dehne and Jost won’t have studio time until the beginning of September, and will only be in the studio several weeks throughout the year. The first performance of “Ears, Nose, and Tail,” will take place in June.


http://www.mville.edu/news-a-events/news/news-features/5211-manhattanville-college-professor-begins-residency-program-at-new-victory-theater.html

http://www.achildgrows.com/small-kid-big-city-capturing-your-childs-moments-spellbound-theater/



Location: performance of Under the Tree by Spellbound Theatre at the Old Stone House in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Story: I took Liam and Jack to the last showing of this unique performance for children aged 1-5 that took place last weekend in a small tent in front of an intimate audience of 16 children and parents.

Liam, my four year old, hung out with a friend of his and both were active participants but it was particularly fun to experience the show through the eyes of Jack, my eighteen month old, who looked like he wanted to bolt at the very beginning but quickly became engaged and mesmerized by the little fabric bird he was given at the beginning, the ant, pictured here, and all of the beautiful digital animations that were projected on various surfaces of the tent.

This week’s photo tip: a puppet show or performance like this is great not just for stimulating your child’s imagination and giving them enriching experiences, but as a bonding experience for the whole family that will create great memories. If photography is allowed, capture your child’s natural reactions as well as the action on “stage.” Show them the photos afterwards as a way of talking about their experience and cementing their memories.

Under the Tree is over now but if you’re in NYC, keep an eye out for future productions from Spellbound Theatre, perfect for little ones.

And no matter where you’re located, look out for opportunities like this, especially during the summer when there are many festivals and outdoor performances that are also great photo opportunities!

- See more at: http://www.achildgrows.com/small-kid-big-city-capturing-your-childs-moments-spellbound-theater/#sthash.GJYGjlje.dpuf