The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure

Conceived by David Kilpatrick
Directed by Michael John Casey

An Interactive Production for Children Ages 2 - 5

Meet brother and sister Andrew and Emma - aka The Young Spectaculars! Energized by their super-powered imaginations, but stuck creating their own adventures near the front porch, they save a cat and a picnic lunch before stumbling upon more than they bargained for. Join the Young Spectaculars for this show intended for the little hero inside all of us. This interactive, nonverbal show is performed by two adult actors, accompanied by music.

Downtown Baptist Church
February 22 - March 9, 2013

Atlas Performing Arts Center
April 11 - 16, 2013

Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
August 31, 2013

Atlas Performing Art Center
November 6 - 11, 2013

Artistic Team

David Kilpatrick (Playwright)

David Kilpatrick's playwriting career began in second grade with a show called Father Fox Tries to Get Some Chickens. Written on his parents' typewriter and starring his classmates, the piece proved to be so popular it then toured all the way down the hall to the first grade. Now, all of these years later, he's not only delighted to have made a career in theatre, but is also honored to be writing plays for children under 6 with Arts on the Horizon: Drumming with Dishes: The Holiday Edition and The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure. David has directed a number of shows, including Walnut Street Theatre's outreach programs and New York University's New Plays at the Provincetown series. Since 2007, David has been the Manager of Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences, working on world premiere commissions/productions, national and international presentations, and the biennial New Visions/New Voices, which develops new work for the field. He received his Masters in Educational Theatre at New York University in 2002 and spent two years afterwards in the education department at NYC's The New Victory Theater. From 2004-2007, David was the Education Outreach Coordinator at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre. David has taught for NYU's Study Abroad programs, has worked with The Jim Henson Legacy and is on the Board of Directors for Theater for Young Audiences/USA. For his own little superheroes - Ian and Celia.

Michael John Casey (Director)

Michael John Casey has directed at Nazareth College of Rochester, Shipping Dock Theatre and most recently at the Washington International School. He has taught Acting at Washington International School, movement workshops with Educational Theatre Company, Stage Craft at Catholic University, and ran the theatre component for the New York State BOCES Summer School for the Arts. Regional theatres Michael John has performed with include: African Continuum Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Festival, Catalyst Theater, Constellation Theatre Company, Folger Theatre, Ford's Theatre, Fulton Opera House, Geva Theatre, Imagination Stage, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Keegan Theatre, Longacre Lea Productions, Project Y Theatre, Rochester Children's Theatre, Rorschach Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Shipping Dock Theatre, Solas Nua and Washington Shakespeare Company. Training: MFA, Drama, Catholic University of America: BA, Theatre Arts, Nazareth College of Rochester. SAFD.

Bette Cassatt (Costume and Properties Designer)

Bette Cassatt got her start sewing by designing and making award-winning costumes for dogs. She has since made costumes for theatre and film, including a four-actor production of "The Three Musketeers," and a Victorian-era feature film called, "A Sweet and Vicious Beauty." Bette made plush creations for Arts on the Horizon's Out of the Box, and is happy to be working on The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure.

R. MacKenzie Lewis (Composer)

R. MacKenzie Lewis is currently the composer and music director for Eastern Michigan University’s Theatre Department as well as a lecturer with the Department of Music and Dance. Aside from his university teaching and directing responsibilities, he music directs, composes, orchestrates, and arranges music for various regional theaters, bands, orchestras, and musicals including orchestrating and music directing the National Tour and Off-Broadway premiere of The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical, composing Video Games: The Rock Opera and the world premiere musical with Ben Vereen, Soaring on Black Wings. Lewis also composes and arranges music for several high schools, colleges, and drum corps around the country. He keeps himself busy performing on piano throughout the Metro-Detroit area and recently in the Las Vegas production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. R. Mac lives in Ann Arbor, MI with his wonderfully supportive wife and two Spider-Man-Obsessed children.

Kathryn Rother (Remount Stage Manager)

Kathryn Rother is thrilled to be working on her first production with Arts on the Horizon. She is returning to the DC area after years away and most recently worked as a venue manager at the Capital Fringe Festival. Other previous credits include stage managing American Midget at the NYC Fringe Festival, The Arsonists, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at Dickinson College, as well as assisting on LOVE/SICK, Greater Tuna, and Homestead Crossing at Portland Stage in Portland, ME.