Seussical Jr.: Presented by CYT Indy

  By John Rea-Hedrick | May 28, 2013 - 6:09 pm |
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Seussical JrNow one of the most performed shows in America, “Seussical” is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime,” “Once On This Island”) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination–Jojo. “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think” captures the show’s spirit of imagination, as the colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

The story centers around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced with a double challenge–not only must he protect his tiny friend Jojo (and all the invisible Whos) from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him, the only one who recognizes “his kind and his powerful heart.” Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant, in a story that makes you laugh and cry.

(If you look closely, you’ll see four “Rea-Hedrick” names in the cast list below!)

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Performance Details:

SHOW TIMES: Friday, May 31st – 10:00am & 7:00pm
Saturday, Jun 1st – 10:00am & 7:00pm
Sunday, Jun 2nd – 2:00pm
VENUE: Lutheran High School
5555 S Arlington Ave
Indianapolis, IN 46237
(click here for a map)
PRICES: $11 – Individual Online
$13 – At-the-Door Price
$9 – Group Discount (10 ticket minimum)
$9 – Child Discount (Age Limit: 19)
$9 – Student Discount (ID Required)
$9 – Senior Discount (Age Minimum: 65)

Purchase Tickets Now

Leave a comment or drop me an email me if you’re thinking about coming!

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THE CAST: 

Cat in the Hat
- Abigail Whorlow

Jojo
- Simon Lynch

Horton the Elephant
- Clayton Mutchman

Gertrude McFuzz
- Katie Wolfe

Mayzie La Bird
- Kathryn Lynch

Sour Kangaroo
- Natalie Stigall

Young Kangaroo
- Talia Grazian

The Wickersham Brothers
- Bradley Huffman
- Ian Phipps
- Jeremiah Owens
- Nathan Phipps
- Ray Landis
- Taylor Ward

 Mr. Mayor
- Eli Robinson

Mrs. Mayor
- Eden Rea-Hedrick

Dr. Dake’s Nurses
- Gwendolyn Lynch
- Josie Carter

Vlad Vladikoff
- Allison Smith

Elephant Bird
- Samuel Woods

The Grinch
- Tekoa Rea-Hedrick

Judge Yertle the Turtle
- Kinlee Deboor

Bird Girls
- Amiah Duncan
- Ashley McCollam
- Hannah Phipps
- Kimra Duncan

Jose
- Micah Nelson

 The Whos
- Abigail Green
- Addison Howard
- Amanda Reising
- Angela Stigall
- Breanna Woods
- Clayton Smith
- Emma Red
- Gilead Hope Rea-Hedrick
- Gwendolyn Lynch
- Josie Carter
- Katelynn Pinkus
- Kidron Rea-Hedrick
- Kinlee Deboor
- Lexi Walker
- Luke Proctor
- Micah Nelson
- Samuel Woods

Jungle Citizens
- Aleah Mutchman
- Allison Smith
- Bristol Wilson
- Chaste Nickels
- Evee Ochoa
- Maura Phipps
- Tekoa Rea-Hedrick

 

Next Big Thing

  By John Rea-Hedrick | January 11, 2013 - 8:45 am | ,
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Recently, Kate Hart of YA Highway and Twitter Field Trip Friday fame tagged me in a writing meme – “Next Big Thing”.  After a grueling week at the office grindstone, I needed a short (read 365 days) break.  So I’ve decided to stop long enough to play along.

Here goes…

What’s the working title for your book?
Raven Academy. It’s Book 1 in a middle grade series I’m planning. And no it’s not a magical school for wizards and witches. This is the only book that takes place in a school setting. :)

What is the one sentence synopsis for your book?
A 13-year-old boy discovers he’s a member of a secret society of time travelers from another world who’ve built their society by studying Earth’s history and that he’s been hidden in Earth’s timeline by his own people to protect his future and the future of his world.

What genre does your book fall under?
Time Travel/Fantasy

What other books would you compare your story to in your genre?
Sadly, nothing comes to mind. But maybe that’s actually a good thing! *fingers-crossed*

Where did the idea come from for your book?
I’ve always been fascinated by time travel. And family secrets. The idea came to me in college while I was studying philosophy and contemplating the notion of freedom and the struggle between the individual and society’s needs. There’s also a deep family thread in the story that likely arose from my experience growing up in a family with our own secrets “private history”.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I never really think about books in terms of movies. I’ve got nothing.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I intend to work with an agency, but that could change in the future.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
I’d rather not say. Let’s just agree it’s taken me longer than it could have. As for the intro, I’d be happy to share it. Just ask!

What else about your book might pique a reader’s interest?
Mystery, family secrets, cover-ups, danger, ravens, time travel, friendship and self-discovery.

Tagging: Alina Klein, Michele Shaw, Jennifer Walkup

Happy New Year!!!

  By John Rea-Hedrick | January 1, 2013 - 9:00 am |
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Believe: Truffula Tree (Lorax)

I snapped this picture at the Garfield Park Conservatory just before New Year’s Eve. I actually found this lone pink “tuft” lying by itself on the path, but I set it in a shaft of sunlight on this bed of green leaves to contract the colors. The plant it came from was nowhere around. While I was tempted to walk the conservatory looking for the sign to learn the plant’s name, I decided instead to believe it was the tuft from a Truffula tree…The last one of all.

All I need now is to find the courage to help it to grow.

I hope your 2013 is filled with many new opportunities to choose to believe!

The Lies That Bind by Lisa & Laura Roecker

  By John Rea-Hedrick | December 28, 2012 - 9:20 am | ,
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The Lies That Bind by Lisa & Laura RoeckerThe Lies That Bind by Lisa & Laura Roecker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars!

Sequels don’t always live up to their predecessors, but THE LIES THAT BIND certainly delivers. I wasn’t sure what to expect from book 1, THE LIAR SOCIETY, but I found it to be a terrific read. I really liked Kate, and I was personally glad (since she’s 15) the book didn’t move into any “edgy” territory where her teenage love drama is concerned. THE LIES THAT BIND was equally satisfying on that score. The story is engaging and, while I had my suspicions, the mystery kept me guessing and turning pages right to the very end. The ending was perfect and set the stage for an exciting finale. I’m eager to see what the Roecker sisters have up their sleeves for Kate in book 3. I’m also curious to know what color Kate’s hair will be next! :)

View my other Goodreads reviews > >

Tom Sawyer: Cast Party Video

  By John Rea-Hedrick | December 14, 2012 - 8:45 am |
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I just learned Denise Wilson, Area Instructor for CYT Indy Southside, has posted the video from the cast party for CYT Indy Southside’s performance of Tom Sawyer!  All four of my children crop up in the stills (:10, 1:07, 1:13-1:18), but I recommend paying close attention beginning around 7:04 where my youngest is interviewed by another member of the cast. My favorite part is when she’s asked which scene she liked best. Her answer made me laugh out loud!  :)

I hope you enjoy it!

On The Milking Of Bears

  By John Rea-Hedrick | December 5, 2012 - 5:55 pm |
4 Comments

Boromir: One Does Not Simply Milk A Bear

One of my children recently asked the question, “Can you milk a bear?”

At first, this sounded like a funny thing to ask. Ridiculous, really. But funny as it was, the question wasn’t intended for laughs.  It was asked with a sincere desire to know the answer. Of course there’s quite a difference between “can” and “should” when it comes to something like the matter of milking bears. Even so, the boldness behind risking to ask the “unaskable” started me thinking.

At a certain point in life (for some reason we call this growing up) we tend lose touch with our childlike wonder of the world. We have responsibilities. We have deadlines. We have bills to pay. And soon we’re focusing so much on the tasks before us we begin to just accept things as they are instead of taking time to question why they are the way they are in the first place.  And whether they could be any different. Or whether, perhaps, they should be different.

So take a risk! Be bold! Think outside the box. Reclaim your childlike wonder, and ask the unaskable! See what happens. Who know? What if it turned out bear’s milk has an enzyme that cures cancer? It’s often the unaskable that has the potential to make all the difference. It can be a game changer. A life changer. A world changer.

So ask.

I’d love to know what you think.

The KidLit Network: First Contributor Post!

  By John Rea-Hedrick | November 29, 2012 - 9:22 am | ,
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John Rea-Hedrick: KidLit NetworkIn November of this year a new website was launched, called the KidLit Network.  This site focuses on children’s literature and features news and articles for readers and writers alike, including book reviews, crafts, interviews, a book club, and more!

KidLit Network was co-founded by two of the original founders of YA Highway, a popular book blog focusing on young adult literature.  I got connected with YA Highway in their early days and was recently asked to become a contributing member of the new KidLit Network.

I jumped at the chance!

Since then, I’ve also been happily helping out with some of the “behind the scenes” aspects of WordPress blog management like setting up the RSS feed, solving technical problems, and doing various other administrative functions.  *waves geek flag*

Yesterday, I shared my first contributor post: Invite Your Characters Over For Dinner under the ‘Writing” channel.  (Yay!)  I’d like to invite you to stop by and to share your thoughts!  And while you’re there, do a little channel surfing on the rest of the site.

We’re new, but we’re growing!  We’d love to have you along for the ride!