Running to Places Theatre Company (R2P) kicks off its summer season with a musical revue not to be missed: R2P’s Best of Broadway — a collection of songs from R2P’s past, present, and future, running July 17-19 at the Kitchen Theatre, 417 West State/MLK Jr. Street in Ithaca. A dynamic group of the company’s youngest performers (grades 6-9) will present numbers from Fame, Rent, Pippin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and many more.

For the first time in their seven year history, the youth community theatre company will be “running” to the Kitchen Theatre. The newly renovated and air-conditioned theatre, seating 99 audience members on three sides of the stage, “provides us with fresh staging possibilities for musical numbers, as well as learning opportunities for young performers accustomed to traditional theatres where the audience all sits out in front,” says R2P’s artistic director Joey Steinhagen. “We’re thrilled to be at the Kitchen.”

As KTC artistic director Rachel Lampert says in her curtain speeches, the Kitchen provides a bold, intimate, and engaging relationship with the audience — after all, the fourth row is the last row.

“It’s the perfect venue for these fabulous young performers,” says Steinhagen. “They are putting so much thought, care, and effort into their performances, and at the Kitchen, you catch every last nuance in their faces, their voices.”

Rehearsals are currently underway at R2P’s beautiful new home at the Just Be Cause Center, just down the street from the Kitchen. The cast works from 9:00am-4:30pm daily, not only rehearsing songs and dances, but also getting an intensive training spanning a broad range of theatre techniques. Resident music director Jeremy Pletter has been eager for an opportunity like this.

“So often, we have precious little time as it is to put the show together,” says Pletter. “For this one, we were careful to build the schedule to make time for building skills that they will apply for the rest of their lives.”


Steinhagen also is very proud of the senior company members serving as mentors and teachers. “Ilana [Wallenstein, a rising junior at IHS] has been leading daily yoga sessions and Laura [Fegely, a rising senior at IHS] has run an intense Pilates workout every day. They’re incredible role models.”

The team of young mentors is rounded out by Elisheva Glaser and Max Avramis, with choreography provided by Fatima Sowe, an alum of R2P’s first season in 2008 and whose work was seen earlier this season in Seussical.

In keeping with R2P’s philosophy of tearing down financial barriers to entry for participants, the company has provided scholarships as needed to any interested student. Steinhagen wants the word to spread that “absolutely no one will be turned away due to financial circumstances. R2P is for everyone!” This is made possible in part by scholarship support from Fingerlakes Wealth Management and Tompkins Trust Company, with grant support from the Park Foundation, Community Arts Partnership, and multiple funds at the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.

The show runs only four performances: July 17-19, with shows on Thursday and Friday at 7pm, and Saturday at 2pm and 7pm.

Up next, the company will be “running” to Ithaca High School’s (air-conditioned) Kulp Auditorium for Fiddler on the Roof, August 15-17.

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