Families throughout the area will enjoy "Literature Alive," a music- and dance-filled tribute to some of the most beloved works of children's literature, performed by the Northern Stage Ensemble, a dedicated troupe of 22 talented young actors, ages 8-18, from New Hampshire and Vermont.

"Literature Alive" will be performed Saturday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, VT.  Tickets range in price from $10 to $25.  Premiere seating is available with Special Supporter Tickets at $100 each.  For tickets and information, call 802-296-7000, or purchase tickets online at www.northernstage.org.

This benefit showcase, sponsored in part by Ledyard National Bank, features scenes and musical numbers celebrating books from the historical to the hysterical, with scenes, songs, and musical numbers drawn from a wide range of American children's literature, including "Winnie-the-Pooh," "Anne of Green Gables," "The Wizard of Oz" and much more.

Proceeds from "Literature Alive" will benefit the Northern Stage Ensemble. Selected through open auditions, Ensemble members learn about all aspects of theater onstage and backstage—from acting and directing to lighting, costumes, set design and theater administration—with instruction from highly trained theater professionals.  They also take on significant leadership roles, and some of them work backstage at Northern Stage productions.

Northern Stage's Director of Education, says, "Ensemble members are selected for their talent, maturity, focus and discipline.  I expect a lot of them.  They are getting a top-level theater apprenticeship from some of the best professionals in the business, and the kids are aware of that.  They work very hard, and their commitment shows.  The kids in Ensemble are here because theater is where their passion lies.  It's a unique opportunity for young people to gain practical hands-on practical experience with an Equity LORT-D theater.  If a child has a passion for theater and wants to explore all aspects of production in a professional setting, the Ensemble is the only program of its kind in the region."

Ensemble members have worked in key positions on such shows as "Disney's Beauty and The Beast," "The Full Monty" and "The Elephant Man," as well as handling all ushering and house management positions at the final matinee of every show this season.  Members have also made their mark as performers, with six working professionally with Equity theaters around New England, and one on Broadway.  Davidson says the Ensemble Showcase will give all Ensemble members a chance to perform on stage and demonstrate their skills as actors and all-around theater professionals.  "For this production, Ensemble members will be running lights, sound, props, costumes, working front of house, performing.  They even designed the poster!"

Theater professionals participating in the Ensemble program include Brett Schrier, musical director for many Northern Stage shows and for National Tours of "Hairspray" and "42nd Street"; Lisa Mandel, whose Broadway appearances include "The Producers" and "Sunset Boulevard"; Terrie Robinson, from "Pippin" on Broadway and London's West End; Catherine Doherty, an award-winning filmmaker and acclaimed director; and Richard Waterhouse, a professional actor, director and teacher who has coached actors from "Frasier" and "Desperate Housewives," among others.

Upcoming Ensemble events include:

• Fall auditions to expand the group from 22 to 28 students.
• A season of Family Theater at the Briggs Opera House, which will eventually tour to small rural New England communities.
• "K2K –TA (Kids to Kids – Theater Arts), a unique new outreach program in which Ensemble members will share their love of theater with their peers in outlying communities, mentoring and teaching all the skills they have mastered

About the Director of Education

The Northern Stage Ensemble is the creation of Director of Education Jody Davidson, who has the unique distinction of being the only person to ever found and lead three separate companies each named "Best New Children's Theatre in the United States."  She has been featured in PEOPLE magazine for her work as a theater educator, and she is a published playwright and author.  Most recently, she was employed by Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, one of the foremost regional theaters in the Midwest.  Throughout her career, Davidson has taught acting and creative drama to more than 50,000 individuals, from pre-school to college age.

For more information about Northern Stage's Ensemble program, please contact Jody Davidson at (802) 291-7029 or via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  For more information about Northern Stage, visit www.northernstage.org.