Mockingbird
Children's Theater of Madison
Overture Center-Playhouse 201 State St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Ross Zentner
When Caitlin’s brother dies suddenly in a school shooting, it is not only a tragic loss for her family, it is terrifying for her. The 11-year-old girl, a budding artist who is on the autism spectrum, has always depended on her older brother to help her understand and move through the outside world. How will Caitlin and her community recover after this shocking act of violence? This Children’s Theater of Madison show is recommended for viewers ages 10 and up.
2/22-3/1, Overture Center-Playhouse, at 2:30 & 7 pm Saturdays and 2:30 pm Sundays. $42-$31.
press release: Children’s Theater of Madison presents the young adult drama, Mockingbird, February 22 thru March 1 in The Playhouse at Overture Center. The story centers on eleven-year old Caitlin, a talented young artist on the autism spectrum, as she and her community come together to heal after a shattering tragedy. A Madison premiere, the play is an adaptation of the award-winning book by Kathryn Erskine.
Young Caitlin has always relied on her older brother Devon to help her make sense of the world. But when she loses Devon in a tragic school shooting, Caitlin must navigate the world without his guidance. The story begins after the tragic event; no portrayal of gun violence occurs in the production. We follow not only Caitlin but the whole community of this Anytown, USA as they embrace each other and heal. A timely story about the power of resiliency.
“Mockingbird is my favorite kind of story: one with a lot of heart, a bit of humor, timely subject matter, and a unique point of view,” says director Erica Berman. “I think audiences will be cheering for our main character Caitlyn as she navigates her way through an unthinkable loss.”
The production features a cast of 16 actors including both adult and youth actors. Mattie Olson has been cast as Caitlin. Mattie has a lot in common with her character: both are 11 years old, and both are on the autism spectrum. CTM intentionally sought out actors on the spectrum to audition for the role of Caitlin. Special supports have been put in place to support Mattie’s process, including having autism specialists in the rehearsal room, rehearsing earlier in the day, and having more frequent breaks. CTM has also engaged Seth Albertson, a visual artist with autism to create the drawings used in the show and in the set design. This choice is reflective of CTM’s ongoing commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. Director Erica Berman shares the value of these choices:
“ By casting an actor with autism to play a character with autism and hiring an artist with a disability to design Caitlin's art that you will see in the show, we are deepening our commitment to representation in the theater for people who are underrepresented.”
The role of Caitlin’s father will be played by Whitney Derendinger, a local professional actor. Whitney received his MFA in Acting from UW-Madison and has been seen on the CTM stage as well as with TheatreLILA, Forward Theater, Strollers, MTG, and others. Samantha Newcomb plays Caitlin’s school counselor. Samantha is a Chicago-based actor who was recently in CTM’s production of A Christmas Carol playing Belle, and this past summer at American Players Theatre where she was an acting apprentice.
The play is most appropriate for ages 10 and up; adults will find the show engaging whether accompanied by a young person or not. “It’s important for CTM to provide material that speaks to young adults and provides a thoughtful exchange of ideas after the production,” says CTM Artistic Director Roseann Sheridan. To that end, there will be a question & answer talkback after each performance, providing the audience and cast an opportunity to engage in conversation with each other. Special guests will join the talkbacks to address specific topics; a list of these guests can be found on CTM’s website.
In conjunction with the production, CTM has partnered with ArtWorking to produce the gallery exhibition, “Creative Life on the Spectrum” which is on display in the Playhouse Gallery outside the theater now through March 1st. The exhibit showcases visions of the world through the eyes of professional artists with disabilities from ArtWorking, CI Pediatric Therapy Centers and Achieving Collaborative Treatment (ACT). The exhibit is free and open to the public.
In 2010, Mockingbird received the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature and in 2011, the Golden Kite Award for Fiction. In 2012 it won the Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award, and throughout its time it has won many, many more (it received nine separate awards in 2011 alone). The author’s inspiration for this groundbreaking work began with her daughter, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in second grade.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
Mockingbird runs Feb. 22- March 1, 2020 in The Playhouse at Overture Center for the Arts. Performances are Saturdays at 2:30pm and 7:00pm, and Sundays at 2:30pm. Tickets may be purchased online at ctmtheater.org, or at overturecenter.org, by phone at 608-258-4141, or in person at the Overture Center Box office. Ticket prices include Overture Center’s facility fees. There are no service charges if purchased in-person at Overture’s box office. The suggested age for the show is 10 and up. CTM is offering the community a 25% discount on all remaining tickets; use code Community25 when ordering.
The mission of the Children’s Theater of Madison is to create vibrant theater experiences that engage, educate, and inspire young people and their communities. CTM is a resident company of Overture Center for the Arts.