For immediate release: April 2, 2022
Contact: Becca Flint, info@brokenlegproductions.com
Wakefield — This summer, community theater company Broken Leg Productions (BLP) wants you to act like you mean it! BLP, as it’s affectionately known, is back in business — as a new nonprofit — with an amazing lineup of summer programs and shows for young actors in the Wakefield/Melrose/Stoneham area.
With a new team in place that includes dedicated parents, community members, and local theater professionals, BLP is offering four sessions starting in June, including a new one-week “mini session” for students who have busy summers or who want to “try” theater for the first time. Summer sessions include the youth mini session for rising 5th through 9th graders from June 27-July 1 (performance July 1), a full youth program for rising 5th through 9th graders from July 5-July 30 (performances July 29-30), and two high school sessions for rising 10th graders through age 20: high school 1 from June 13-July 9 (performances July 8-9) and high school 2 from July 11-August 6 (shows August 5-6).
Other new offerings include an apprentice program for students who are on the older side of the youth programs and the younger side of the high school/college programs, and the addition of a student rep to their new board of directors to help ensure communications between the adults in charge and the students participating.
Asked why families should consider BLP this summer, Aimee Galego, president of the board and the parent of two BLP actors, says there are many reasons.
“If you’ve never done a show with BLP, now is the perfect time to join us,” she says. “We are starting fresh, and you will have the opportunity to join our new directors on their journeys this summer. If you love theater, come love it with us! If your child is on the fence about being in a cast of a show, coming to see a show may change their mind. The energy is contagious and the joy on the faces of our actors can be very convincing!”
Getting a new nonprofit theater company up-and-running wasn’t easy, says Becca Flint, an award-winning choreographer and BLP’s new managing director. Beyond the massive paperwork and decisions that needed to be made, the team faced a major obstacle: space.
“One of our biggest challenges thus far has been in finding a venue. Everything kind of hangs in limbo without a space,” she says. “You can have all sorts of great programming ideas, but without a place to make them happen, those ideas never make it from your head into reality. I’m incredibly grateful to the team at Wakefield High who have worked with us to enable us to utilize their space this summer. But the search continues! We hope to offer programming throughout the year, so we are still looking at venue options for future programs.”
Right now, with registration for this summer session opening April 8 (and an early registration discount available until April 15), Flint is excited.
“One of the things I’m really excited for is the introduction of our new ‘mini-session’ youth program! This is going to be a one-week program for students entering grades 5-9,” she says. “It’s a great fit for those who may be new to theater and want to try it out, or for those who love theater but have busy summers that usually prevent them from being able to commit to longer programs. At the same time, it will also present a new challenge for some of our returning students, adjusting to putting together a production in such an accelerated time frame. I’m excited to see how it goes!”
To learn more about BLP’s shows, or to find out how to register for a summer program, check out our website (www.brokenlegproductions.com) or email us (info@brokenlegproductions.com).