Monday, May 15, 2023

Mother/Daughter Playwrights at Paige Productions Youth Theater



Paige Productions Youth Theater (PYT), presents the world premiere of All Dolled Up - A New Musical. This doll-inspired show features third grade mean girls, Maddison, Ivy, & Piper, who are no match for Darbie Doll and her sisters. Move over mean girls, the original plastics are back!

This innovative 60-minute musical is written by mother/daughter playwrights, Shannon Underwood, and Laguna Elementary student, Paige Underwood. (AKA Little Paige, not to be confused with Paige Productions owner, Paige Beckman, AKA Miss Paige).

Miss Paige is thrilled to produce shows from young playwrights like (Little) Paige. This musical started as an award-winning monologue that (Little) Paige and her mom wrote. She performed this funny, quirky, monologue at East Valley's Got Talent and won 1st Place in the junior division. Miss Paige loved the monologue so much that she had Paige perform it again at Paige Productions’ recent Fall Break Camp show. 

Later, Miss Paige suggested that Shannon and (Little) Paige develop it into a full-length musical. Shannon & (Little) Paige put their heads together and started writing. They even incorporated talented Grandpa & Grandma, Will & Patti Hegarty, into the game, writing exciting new songs for the musical. 

“The process has been so much fun,” says Shannon, “Each family member has brought a particular character to life. For example, Paige wrote the character Ben and he’s silly, dense, and lovable. My mom, Patti, inspired the retro doll, Midge, from the 1960’s. We are even giving Midge a song that my mom wrote for a talent show when she was a kid.” 

Adds (Little) Paige, “My Grandpa and I are having fun writing the music, we are figuring out how to add the story into the songs and finding backing tracks. We work pretty well together.”

Miss Paige is hoping their show gets picked up by a theatrical licensing company at some point. She adds, “I am excited that kids get to say they originated the roles in this show before it becomes big.”

This show will be featured as the first 2023 Summer Camp at Paige Productions Youth Theater. Kids who want to participate can sign up for the camp and come each day for two weeks from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. They work on their singing, dancing, and acting each day and rehearse the show. It then culminates in two big performances for the community on the final day. Paige Productions does not have a stressful audition process, all kids are given a special part in the show.

The All Dolled Up summer camp runs two weeks, May 30-June 9, 2023 with final performances at 11:00 pm and 1:30 pm on June 9, 2023. They perform at 13001 N. Fountain Hills Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ 85268. Additional camp details and enrollment can be found at: www.paigeproductionsAZ.com. 

Paige Productions Youth Theater (PYT) is an exciting place where kids & teens can find fresh performance opportunities in the Phoenix east valley. This company works under a limited rehearsal schedule allowing students to participate in theater, not just in the summer, but year-round. This format allows them to participate in other shows, school activities, studio dance programs, and sports, while prepping for a theatrical production. In short, Paige Productions is a great place for busy kids. 

PAIGE PRODUCTIONS YOUTH THEATER meets in the Performance Hall at Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church, 13001 N Fountain Hills Blvd, Fountain Hills, AZ 85269. Their phone number is 480-375-8058, the website is www.paigeproductionsAZ.com. They can be reached by email at paigeproductions123@gmail.com.

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