arts & culture

Here's One Chameleon That You Can't Miss

This summer, some 40 young people from all over the metropolis, from all kinds of cultural and ethnic backgrounds - including a dozen or so from the Jackson County Family Court system - signed up for Chameleon Theatre Company's Summer Internship Residency program (SIR). But when they signed up, not a one among them had any idea how far and how fast their new found stage bug would take them.

Founded in 1995 by Community Children's Theater of Kansas City, the Chameleon is a professional not-for-profit theater company that seeks to involve young people in original, living theater. The kids, K-12, have often had little prior exposure to theater and lots to learn. The Theater Company, located in Tracy Park, not far from the 18th and Vine area, gives them that opportunity.

Over the course of this past summer, the young people in the SIR program acquired artistic and technical skills under the mentorship of the Chameleon's professional artists. They did this while working on the first stages of a socially-themed rock musical called SpiralEye.

The kids learned photography, videography, construction, set design, costume design and sewing, Internet research, and graphic design. Better still, they learned to link these artistic and technical crafts with marketable job skills to prepare both for job opportunities and for higher educational opportunities. SIR even hosted speakers from local colleges and universities, local business leaders, and career professionals to learn networking, interviewing, resume building, and presentation skills.

For all their good work and new talents, the kids did not expect to take the show far beyond Tracy Park. They underestimated themselves. At the end of the summer, Chameleon Theatre Company and SIR participants presented showcases to the community to highlight the work accomplished. Through a recommendation by the United Way and Youth Volunteer Corps, Ms. Annie Presley attended one such showcase.

"She was impressed," says the Chameleon's Julia Othmer, "by our young people's professionalism, hard work, and artistic vision."

Ms. Presley was helping to orchestrate the America's Promise rally held last month at Hale Arena. She asked Chameleon staff to present 8 minutes of SpiralEye before over 5,000 guests and dignitaries, foremost among them, General Colin Powell.

The following week, 8 of the kids and the Chameleon's professional artists went to work to fashion 8 minutes of material: singing, dancing, and acting. "It was a great success," enthuses Othmer. Bob Rogers, President of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, commented after the presentation, "The noble behavior and professionalism of our youth [Chameleon kids] was a true testament to the character of your organization [Chameleon Theatre Company]."

But for the Chameleon, there is no resting on one's laurels. On October 21 of this year the Chameleon presents its 2nd Annual Halloween Costume Ball and Silent Auction. The evening's festivities include live music from Son Venezuela, a 10 piece salsa band; tango exhibitions and instructions between sets; hors d'ouevres from some of Kansas City finest restaurants; and 33,000 square feet of intense atmosphere with a Sleepy Hollow theme.

All proceeds from the event will support Chameleon Theatre Company's arts education programming in the upcoming year and the full length premiere of SpiralEye. Tickets are only $35 for festivities from 8pm - midnight. The Chameleon will also host a private pre-party masquerade. Those party-goers who wish to attend the pre-party as well as the Costume Ball can obtain tickets for $75.

Apparently to save trees from the the Sleepy Hollow forest, the Chameleon will not be printing tickets. Folks instead can download ticket forms from the theater's Internet website www.chameleontheatre.com or place an order over the phone. The company would prefer to save the cost of invitations and spend the money on programs instead.

This fall the Chameleon will host several arts education programs for youth, among them: a production conference series for high schoolers; in-school workshops at 5 area schools linking the themes of SpiralEye to the problems facing today's youth; and also technical and performance internships for youth to work alongside professional artists in the production of SpiralEye. The show premieres January 16, 2001. Don't miss it.