Youths’ Drama Workshop Will Redo Fairy Tales

At the Gold Coast Performing Arts Assn., one might see the next Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor, although these child thespians are more interested in playing animated heroes.

Twenty-eight youths, ages 5 to 17, are taking part in a two-week drama workshop that will culminate with performances in Thousand Oaks and Ventura later this month.

The collection of fairy tales translated largely by the student actors will include singing and spoken word segments.

“We start with familiar scripts, but we allow the students to rework the characters, developing and enhancing the personalities as they see fit,” said Nancy Goglia, managing director of the theater conservatory.

The troupe is broken into two age groups: the eight junior conservatory members ages 5 to 8, and the 20 theater conservatory members ages 9 to 17.

They lend their skills to all areas, including acting, singing, directing, lighting, sound effects and set design and creation.

Many share the goal of a career in entertainment.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be an actress or director and this [workshop] helps me,” said Azzurra Di Marcello, 11, of Camarillo. “It’s another way of expressing yourself.”

She listed George Clooney and Chris O’Donnell--stars of the current hit film “Batman & Robin”--as her favorite actors.

Sean Tracy, 5, of Thousand Oaks said he also wants to play a Batman role one day. But he will settle for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

“I kind of like the costumes and the masks,” he said.

The older students will put on a four-part presentation that consists of:

* “The Princess and the Pea,” a spoken word segment that includes interjected opinions of fairy tales.

* “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” a musical.

* “The Japanese Little Red Riding Hood,” based on Kabuki theater.

* “The Frog and the Prince,” a musical with original lyrics backed by lesser known Beethoven works on piano.

Between the segments, the younger students will recite nursery rhymes and perform “The Bremen Town Musicians.”

“My big deal is they have to work together as a team--and they do,” said Stephanie Angelini, the conservatory’s artistic director. “They behave because they really want to be here.”

The Thousand Oaks performance is slated for 7 p.m. July 18 at the conservatory’s Twilight Theater, 1408 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

The Ventura performance will begin at 10 a.m. July 19 at The Livery on 34 North Palm St. Both performances are free.