GRUMBLING GRYPHONS to instruct and perform at TheatreWorks New Milford
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sat, 02/29/2020
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Leslie Elias, director of Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theater, adapted a popular West African folktale into this interactive show for children. Audience participation is an essential ingredient in the telling of the story. The director, Leslie Elias is an experienced teacher as well as performer and will be conducting the pre-performance workshop in drama utilizing theater games and activities. Original mask patterns made by Ellen Moon will provide templates for children to make their own mask during a brief morning workshop in combination with engaging in drama, singing and dance. During the show, children wear the masks they made and take part by acting, singing, chanting and playing such roles as lions, crocodiles, lions, monkeys, bees and various jungle animals.
Two main actors of the Grumbling Gryphons portray a variety of lively characters. Daniel Saed plays the lead role of Anansi-The Trickster Spider the infamous trickster of the Ashanti People of West Africa. Daniel Saed, having grown up performing with Grumbling Gryphons is also a member of Town Hall Players in Cornwall, a member of Nutmeg Junction Radio in Torrington and plays the part of Max in the upcoming production of The Sound of Music at Housatonic Musical Theater Society at Housatonic Valley Regional Highschool where he is currently a senior.
Director, Leslie Elias, in addition to writing and directing, plays numerous roles in the production, including the comical characters of Crocodile, Monkey, Lion and Queen Bee. Ms. Elias from West Cornwall has served as Artistic Director of The Grumbling Gryphons for forty years. She is the winner of the 2018 Connecticut Arts Hero Award as well as the 2018 Culture Max Award given by Northwest Connecticut Arts Council for Arts Educator. Dale Adams, from Harwinton, CT is the musical director and keyboardist and has played with the company for many years. He accompanies the actors on the keyboards. TheatreWorks is an award-winning volunteer, non-Equity theater company in New Milford, CT.
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