BRATTLEBORO — New England Youth Theatre presents its spring musical Dear Edwina Jr., by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler, directed by Rebecca Waxman and performed at 7 p.m. on May 3, 4, 10, and 11, and at 2 p.m. on May 4 and 11 at NEYT, 100 Flat St.
Dear Edwina is an uplifting and heartwarming musical about the joys of growing up. In this slightly shortened “Jr.” version, a lovable heroine and advice-giver extraordinaire named Edwina assembles a charmingly goofy troupe to stage a backyard extravaganza.
Along the way, the youngsters learn about proper dining etiquette, coping with an embarrassing sibling, meeting new friends, managing money and savings, and even confronting issues involving unrequited love.
“This cast is made up of kids from three different states, six different schools, and a host of diverse experiences to become a true ensemble of players,” director Rebecca Waxman said in a news release. “It's such a pleasure to be working on such a joyful piece that is all about working together and caring for one another.”
While the characters are children and the subject matter is kid-friendly, the show is filled with songs and laughs and enough musical comedy for general audiences to enjoy. Musical direction is by James Pecsok and choreography is by Katherine Partington.