Above:
Adrienne Crane

Right:
A scene from Pinocchio.

Building An Audience

henever Adrienne Crane
sits back in a theater seat,
she automatically divides
her attention between the
action on stage and the re-
action of the audience.
That's her job.
As president of the Philadelphia-based
American Family Theater (AFT), she
keeps personal tabs on 12-15 tours of sev-
en or eight musicals each year. One of
those touring shows, Pinocchio, comes to
the Meadow Brook Music Festival at 11
a.m. Monday, July 24.
"When I see 2,000 or 3,000 kids and
their families drawn to our stage and hear
sighs and laughter as a play unfolds, I get
all excited and know why we're doing all
that we do," said Ms. Crane, who heads
the nation's oldest and largest family mu-
sical theater company.
"It makes stories much more meaning-
ful when children see live versions of the
characters they've grown up with through
movies, videos and TV. The youngsters
are tied in closely to the characters because
they are real people."
Ms. Crane's visits to the traveling pro-
ductions, which reach 3 million patrons
annually, are only part of the quality
checks each play must undergo.
"We do previews, and we test our shows

on children, educators, parents and grand- has been cut in so many school districts,
parents," explained the theater enthusi- parents and grandparents feel they must
ast, who has been with the AFT for 22 of fill the void. For so many kids, an AFT pro-
its 25 years. "Each show changes based on duction is their first or only experience
the responses from all of these people."
with theater."
Since joining the organization immedi-
Dubbing itself "Broadway for Kids,"
ately after graduating
AFT owns all of its 39
from Pennsylvania State
scripts and scores, which
University with a degree
are commissioned. Con-
in acoustical engineering,
tract writers and corn-
Ms. Crane has helped the
posers are scouted from
company grow from per-
Broadway, films and TV.
forming in a dozen to
"The classic titles are
always strong," said Ms.
nearly 700 cities. She did
this while moving from
Crane, who offers pro-
stage manager and de-
ductions such as Cin-
signer assignments into
derella, Beauty and the
management positions.
Beast and Wizard of Oz
"As the product and
in addition to strictly con-
the technology to manage
temporary works such as
the product became more
Black Journey and Re-
sophisticated, we were
member Angel.
'We have a lot of input
able to expand very
SUZANNE CHESSLER
from the facilities and
quickly," Ms. Crane said.
SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
"I think there's always
promoters who are out
been a strong interest in
there booking the shows
family theater, and I think now there are from us. They have a real feel for what the
reasons parents are more anxious to take people in their communities are looking
their children.
to see.
"Years ago, the schools would take stu-
"Pinocchio has been on the road since
dents to the theater and provide theater last September and was on the road the
arts education as well. Because all that year before as well. It's an all-time favorite

American Family
Theater puts its
shows on the
road to build a
new generation of
theater-goers.

and draws all ages. Since January, Pinoc-
chio has been in 100 cities, including the
outermost regions of Canada.
'We've chosen to keep it in the Midwest
through this part of the season because of
the response it's been receiving. That is
strictly a business decision."
Ms. Crane is acquainted with the north-
ern Michigan theater climate through the
AFT dinner-theater production of Voyager's
Jubile , a 2 1/2 hour, full-scale show play-
ing in Mackinaw City through Oct. 1.
Because of the grueling schedule re-
quired of the approximately 12 persons
making up each touring unit, Ms. Crane
uses only adult actors and actresses. Cast-
ing is done every season in New York,
Chicago and Los Angeles.
"In the fall of 1996, we're bringing out
our first two Broadway revivals to tour the
country Babes in Arms and I Rein em-
ber Mama," Ms. Crane said. "In the spring
of next year, we are bringing out Wind
in the Willows for young audiences."
Ms. Crane jokes that she has a test mar-
ket at home — four children between the
ages of 2 and 21. She and her husband, a
telecommunications specialist, spend a lot
of free time taking their youngsters to art
events.

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