Trust Your Gut Productions Summer Academy presents Original Musical in Gloversville’s Trail StationPark

The 6^th Annual Trust Your Gut Productions Summer Academy is presenting The Velveteen Rabbit, a 100% original musical written, composed, designed, and performed by the youth of Fulton County in Gloversville’s Trail Station Park Friday, July 31^st through Sunday, August 2^nd. Velveteen… will be the second time TYGP’s Academy will perform in this beautiful park, to the delight of audience members, following in the success of their recent production of Romeo & Juliet, Fulton County’s first-ever Shakespeare in the Park. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets for this outdoor performance.

The Velveteen Rabbit is based on the eponymous children’s work by Margery Williams, which the students have worked together to adapt into a heartfelt celebration of childhood, magic, and love. As with past Academy productions, the script, lyrics, music, story, and design have been created completely by the Academy students, lovingly referred to as “Rising Stars,” under the guidance of a dedicated staff of regional arts professionals including Lead Teaching Artist and TYGP Creative Director, Michael Maricondi, Assistant Director and Puppet Creator, Ashley Olmstead, Production Stylist and Music Coordinator, Lillian Nevins, Storytelling Coach, Sonny Duross, and Vocal Performance coach, Sarah Dworman.  TYGP is also pleased to partner with The Gloversville Recreation Commission, the Gloversville Public Library, and class host-venue, The Shoeleather Express, whose owners, Elaine Mikenas and Dennis Viscanti, led several square dance workshops with the students, to make this program possible. The Academy was also the recipient of a Saratoga Arts Arts Education regrant award, thanks to their fiscal sponsor, The Gloversville Recreation Commission, and also received a charitable donation from the Sean M. Higgins Foundation, which supports arts education programs throughout the region.

“We are so excited about the kids’ creation this year!” said Lead Teaching Artist, Maricondi. “Our program’s class roster has increased to around 20 students, all of whom had a deep emotional reaction to reading this beautiful and timeless piece. For Velveteen…, we are even able to begin enacting our dream of having students play in the pit orchestra, bringing their original musical creation to life through not only their voices and bodies, but through their fingers and instruments as well.” Of their second year with the program and first year as full-time instructor, Assistant Director and Puppet Creator, Ashley Olmstead, added “We are continuing to evolve. Not only have we added more students, but have been able to teach them about puppetry and other forms of narrative performance, further nurturing their ability to collectively play, invent, and perform.”

Olmstead is leading the students on the creation, manipulation, and performance of puppets including hand-and-glove, rod, and Bunraku-style puppets which the students will use to bring the story’s many creatures to life. The students’ original musical will also include a square dance, choreographed with Elaine Mikenas of The Shoeleather Express.

This year’s group of Rising Stars consists of nineteen students aged 9-19 from Fulton & Montgomery counties.

“This whole experience is amazing, really. I’ve come to look forward to having this chance every year to collaborate and make new friends,”said Sofie Salamone, 15, who is enjoying her third year in the Academy. “Not to mention hearing everyone’s ideas and having amazing Teaching Artists who guide us!” Aleena David, 19, who has been with the Academy since 2022, added “I’m really enjoying how there’s a wide variety of new people joining us! The friendships made and shared are so special, and I love creating something new where everyone’s beautiful ideas are included!” Raine Casey, 18, exclaimed “I can’t wait to put on the performance! It was really fun making new friends and the new techniques we learned helped me with my acting skills. And adding puppets will surely be interesting!” Raine is attending the academy with their younger sibling, Rina, who also has seen incredible growth in their own acting and communication skills. “I hope everyone enjoys The Velveteen Rabbit!”

The Velveteen Rabbit will be presented in Gloversville’s Trail Station Park on July 31^st (7pm), August 1^st (2 & 7pm), and August 2^nd (2pm). A suggested $10 ticket donation is appreciated and can be reserved at ticketstripe.com/academyrabbit.

Small concessions and soft drinks will be available for suggested donations purchase at this outdoor production, which will be followed by a short talkback with the Rising Stars.

Images provided by Trust Your Gut Productions. Poster designed by Michael Maricondi.