On stage! - Palette

Think of ICAF's annual ChildArt festival, and you immediately think of touching paintings composed by children. But any outdoor festival, especially one held on the National Mall, wouldn't be the same without stage performers.

And ICAF's 2003 celebration definitely delivers. Some entertainers will be adults, while many others won't be old enough to have driven themselves there.

Some will entertain you. Others will teach. Many will do both.

One such young person invited to perform at the festival is sixteen-year-old Laura Corbin. Active in high school theatre and an accomplished singer, Corbin seems to draw smiles everywhere. Her show for ICAF, entitled "The Difference Music Makes," contains music from her CD of the same name.

"What a wonderful opportunity to share my music with kids from all over the world!" exclaims the New Hampshire native. "I can't wait to explore all their art too."

Showing Corbin's love for children, her CD is a collection of ten children's favorites, including "Puff the Magic Dragon" and "When you Wish Upon a Star". The CD will benefit St. Jude's Children's hospital, a research hospital. On this trip she'll be traveling with two child performers younger than herself, both from New England.

Many of the young finalists are also accomplished performers. Twelve-year-old Ligia Claudia Suteu, the Romanian finalist and an award-winning pianist, will perform a piece for the festival guests. Celeste Godin, skilled on both the viola and the guitar, is the finalist from Oregon, US and will also perform.

"Hang onto your hats, 'cause you're about to see the wildest show in DC!" proclaims Kids 4 Broadway, a theatre group of kids and for kids. "Kids 4 Broadway students stage a performance of 'The Rhinestone Ranger,' a comedic spoof on The Lone Ranger and other fifties westerns."

Formerly known as the "Way Off-Broadway Theatre Workshop," this innovative theatre company admits youth aged seven to seventeen. For those wanting to go beyond acting, budding writers are encouraged to write plays suitable for production by other young people. Suddenly, the stage becomes something interesting and fun--for those behind the scenes and up front.

"Dancing Across Cultures", a collection of numerous national dances, will be presented in full costume by the Presidio Children's Dance Theatre. A creation of the Presidio Performing Arts Foundation (PPAF), this children's dance company works with those aged eight to twelve, both as viewers and participants.

PPAF is dedicated to the youth performance of world dance, music, and theater, and focuses upon the diverse communities of the San Francisco Bay area.

COPYRIGHT 2003 International Child Art Foundation
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group