News

Happily Ever After: The Musical
5/21/2010

In 2005, in anticipation of opening a new children’s center, the Stars of Light Theatre Troupe chose children’s mental health as the theme for their tour shows. The script was written by Jim Wooldridge and Pete Gogoala using adaptations of fairy tales. The drops were designed by Neva DeForge and Marjorie Carlson. The live performances included stories of ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Depression in children.

The shows were so popular that the audiences requested to “take something with them” from the shows. Steve Vrtol and Mary Lee adapted the screen play and turned it into a children’s book, Happily Ever After, using photographs of the drops and additional drawings by Steve Vrtol as illustrations for the book. Development and printing of the book was funded by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and the Janet Wattles Foundation in 2006.

Dorothy Paige-Turner did a re-telling of the stories by putting them to music and lyrics and added an additional story. Thirteen students from Auburn High School, Ellis Arts Academy and Spectrum School were recommended by respective drama and music teachers to perform. The performing arts piece is being used to educate teachers and children, reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illness and improve access to mental health care.

In celebration of National Mental Health Month and National Children’s Mental Health Week, performances are being held at Henrietta, Fairgrounds, Orton Keyes, Lathrop, Kishwaukee, Beyer, Nelson and King Schools.

This project is funded in part by the Rockford Area Arts Council and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Rehearsal space was donated by Spectrum School.

To view photos from the Happily Ever After performances please visit the Mildred Berry Center page on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rockford-IL/Mildred-Berry-Center/10201883979