AfterSchool Players move to grange building

September 23, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

CANFIELD

The AfterSchool Players has outgrown its old location and moved to the Dublin Grange building on Fairground Boulevard, near U.S. Route 224.

The theater group for children was formerly located in an office building on Market Street in Boardman.

With seating for 200, the new location has a much greater capacity, plus additional restroom facilities, a green room for the actors and a full kitchen.

The new space also will provide a better theater experience for students.

“There is an actual stage with back space areas and a pull curtain,” said Jennifer Kuczek, chief creative officer of AfterSchool. “I couldn’t be happier and the kids can’t wait to perform here.”

Kuczek said the theater company did a lot of work to improve the space.

“Besides cleaning every nook and cranny, we literally painted the entire interior and basement floors,” she said.

All electrical wiring circuit boards were replaced, as were two doors. The building looks like an old school house and has a bell tower that will now ring out before performances.

“During the summer, a group of theater parents purchased a bell, which we hung in the tower,” said Kuczek. “We will ring the bell before the start of each show.”

AfterSchool will offer classes in the Dublin Grange Theater.

Patricia Fagan, retired youth theater director at the Youngstown Playhouse, will teach basics of acting for grades 4 through 6.

Fagan will also teach Acting 101, an interactive forum for new and experienced actors in grades 7 through 12.

Joanna Andrei, veteran actor and choreographer, will offer a class for grades 1 through 3, in which students will use props to create their own tales.

Andrei will also teach an introduction to improvisation class for grades 5 through 8.

All of the six-week sessions run from Oct. 4 to Nov. 8 and will culminate in a performance. Cost is $65.

The theater will also offer classes for home-schooled students in grades 3 through 12.

For information on all classes, call 330-518-4064 or go to garagetheater.org.

Here is the AfterSchool Players 2014-15 season:

Oct. 24-26: “Afflicted: The Daughters of Salem”

Dec. 12-14: “Hansel and Gretel”

March 20-22: “Little Women”

May 22-24: “Treasure Island”

AfterSchool Players are under the new Dublin Grange Theater Company umbrella, which will produce two adult shows this season: “Next to Normal” (Nov. 6-22) and “In the Next Room” (Feb. 13-21).