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Children's Theater: Director, cast ready for fall
Director looks forward to experience
The Advocate
Computer Applications instructor Paul Navarro will be directing this fall’s Children’s Theater production of “The Emperor’s Dragon” while MHCC artistic director Rick Zimmer is on sabbatical.
Navarro worked with Zimmer while portraying Benny Southstreet during last year’s production of “Guys and Dolls.”
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“Once Rick and I got to know each other, he asked if I’d like to do the kid’s show and I jumped at the chance,” Navarro said.
Once Zimmer asked him, Navarro said, “I thought, ‘I’ll write something.’ I’m always looking for an excuse to write something.”
Navarro said he was drawn to MHCC’s theater program because “I wanted to get involved in Mt. Hood.” He added, “I definitely wanted to get involved in this way.” Navarro is an instructor at the Maywood campus.
Navarro has been in theater for 25 years in a variety of ways. “I’ve done everything from the bottom up,” Navarro said. “I’ve done sound, costumes, sets, original music. I’ve written, I’ve preformed.
“I’ve tried to do everything in theater.”
While directing “The Emperor’s Dragon,” Navarro will also be teaching Acting Fundamentals I (TA141.)
“This is the first time I’ve taught theater to college students,” Navarro said. “It’s a big, enthusiastic class, so I’m excited about that.”
Navarro is anticipating “The Emperor’s Dragon” as well.
“Typically an adult audience has expectations of what they want their experience to be,” Navarro said. “Kids just want to be entertained.”
Though Navarro has had experience directing, as well as doing children’sshows, “they’ve always been small in scope.”
“It’s exciting because it’s a little more freeing,” Navarro said. “I’ve never done a show this diverse before. The sound, the lighting, the set, the puppets, everything’s over the top.”
Another factor in “The Emperor’s Dragon” that Navarro is looking forward to is working with the student actors.
Navarro had worked with members of “The Emperor’s Dragon” cast before, during “Guys and Dolls.” He said it’s “nice to work with them again.”
“It’s exciting that the students are so anxious to be a part of all this,” Navarro said. “It’s great to work with enthusiastic people no matter what their level of talent is.”
Technical Director Daryl Harrison-Carson is looking forward to working with Navarro.
“The fact that he’s such a good actor will make him a fun director to work for.”
“The Emperor’s Dragon” will be performed for school groups on Nov. 9, Nov. 12, Nov. 13, Nov. 16, Nov. 18 and Nov. 20.
There will be a matinee performance for the public on Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $2 per person.
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