Continuing with its mission to provide quality performing arts opportunities to all community members, ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre will once again provide free registration for all participants in its upcoming youth production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, which marks the 100th production for the theatre company.
The beloved Broadway musical—based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel and filled with unforgettable characters, heart, and humor—celebrates resilience, compassion, and the importance of community, and could not be a better choice for the theatre company to mark such a tremendous achievement. Working with Pied Piper Theatre is a fantastic opportunity for youth to perform with a nationally recognized theatre company that staffs a professional production team and orchestra, in addition to the opportunity to perform in the beautiful Merchant Hall at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
Mounting a large-scale production such as Oliver! incurs significant expense. To offset costs, Pied Piper traditionally requests that its participants pay a registration fee. This fee covers expenses such as sets, costumes, lighting, and other production costs, the largest of which is the rental fee for the Hylton. Thanks once again to a generous grant courtesy of the Florida-based nonprofit Iron Horse Family Foundation, the registration fee for all participants will be waived. The organization supported Pied Piper’s production of Les Misérables: School Edition in early 2025.
The private foundation’s purpose is to improve the lives of children through initiatives, projects, and support of organizational missions that bolster children’s health and wellness. It is devoted to carrying on the legacy of David M. Clark, a man who loved his children, the sound of roaring jets, and thundering hooves. Clark’s daughter, Liz Taylora, explains the foundation’s connection to her father: “As I look to the future and carry out his legacy, it is my hope that the projects and programs we support rattle the ground, shake up systems that need to be shaken, and help kids soar.” Iron Horse Family Foundation is an invitation-only grantor.
Participation in Oliver! is through audition only. Auditions will be held January 30 from 5–9 PM and January 31 from 9 AM – 3 PM at the ARTfactory. Rehearsals will begin on February 9, running Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays until show opening, with tech week beginning May 4. Show dates are May 9 and 10. All cast and production members will receive two complimentary tickets.
For more information on ARTfactory Pied Piper Theatre, audition times and locations, or performance details, visit the ARTfactory website at www.virginiaartfactory.org.
