Pint-sized pirates will be invading the Granada Theatre this weekend as the San Benito Stage Company opens its spring children’s musical “Treasure Island” on Friday.
Christian Barrera, who is codirecting the show with Derek Barnes, said it is the first pirate-themed play SBSC has done in more than a decade – when an adult cast performed “Pirates of Penzance”.
“This one is more geared toward kids,” Barrera said.
The cast includes 40 children ranging in age from 6 to eighth grade, with some girls playing male leads because the story is heavy on male characters. In reworking the musical for a younger cast and to make it family friendly, the directors did add some new characters, including animals that inhabit the island where the sailors and pirates land.
“We’ve adapted it for the kids but it is close to a real theater play,” Barnes said. “They really had to stretch their acting capability.”
Barrera said they were quick to explain to the children who auditioned for the play that Capt. Jack Sparrow, of “Pirates of the Caribbean” fame, is not in this particular story.
Mindy Scherr, who is co-producing the play with Rochelle Flosi, said they added an extra scene on the island for the 6- and 7-year-olds. In the past, the children’s play has been open to kids from ages 8 to those in eighth grade, but the group collaborating on “Treasure Island” decided to open it up to the younger children.
“The play itself is really only 13 characters, but we made a conscious effort to make it as ensemble heavy as possible,” Barnes said.
Scherr said the kids are from a variety of schools in San Benito County, with some being home schooled. She said most of them would not normally meet if they weren’t participating in the play.
Scherr also acknowledged the volunteers who are helping with the show, including the tech crew, artists decorating the backdrops, and others. She estimated at least 35 volunteers are helping with the show. In putting together the sets and costumes, Scherr said they made a conscious effort not to do a lot of skulls and crossbones.
“This is not a creepy show,” Scherr said. “It is a family show.”
Barnes and Barrera actually met when they were both in the ensemble of the musical “Big River” last summer, a show with an adult cast. They both agreed to collaborate on the children’s musical.
“I want to get people involved in theater,” Barnes said. “My goal was to get as many kids as possible (to be in the play) and get some to say, ‘Wow, I want to keep doing this.’”
Barrera, who has been with San Benito Stage Company since it was founded, said he has watched some of the kids he’s worked with in past years grow up.
“Some are in college or getting married and starting their own families,” he said, of past kids with whom he has worked through the theater.
Barnes and Scherr have family members, including children who are involved in the show.
“My niece started officially in this one and they are bringing her younger sister who is not even 1 yet,” Barrera said.
The directors and producer all agreed the show was shaping up to be a strong one in the weeks before opening.
“We get a lot of ideas and it felt really good having a collaborative network,” Barnes said.
For details, call 831-636-0122 or go to www.sanbenitostage.org.
‘Treasure Island’
HOLLISTER – San Benito Stage Company presents its spring children’s musical, “Treasure Island,” April 19, 20, 26, 27, May 3 and 4, at 7 p.m. and April 21 and 28, at 2 p.m., at the Granada Theater, 336 Fifth St., in Hollister. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students or seniors, with a group pack of four tickets available for $45. Tickets are available at Postal Graphics and San Benito Bene. Details: 831-636-0122 or www.sanbenitostage.org.
