sure," Sophia says. "I learn my lines by
saying them when we practice, and I
like acting because I can show what I
can do.
Sophia, who participates in soc-
cer and takes ballet and voice lessons,
hopes to keep theater as a hobby. As
far as appearing with her brother, she
sees two sides.
"Sometimes it's fun, and some-
times it's competition," she says.
Sarah Kiperman, 11, a sixth-
grader at Abbott Middle School in
West Bloomfield, plays Angelina. She
won the role after play director Master
saw her perform with a new
musical group, BEAKOE (see
this week's AppleTree).
"I think of theater as my
way of relaxing," says Sarah, a
singer and dancer who has
performed at the Marquis
Theatre in Northville, with
Stagecrafters in Royal Oak
and for Nancy Gurwin
Productions at the Jewish
Community Center.
Sarah has been in The
Music Man, Snow White and
"
The Wizard of Oz.
think the moral of the
Pinocchio story is important," Sarah
says. "People have to know there are
consequences for what they do."
Also appearing in the production
are Lindsay Acker of Huntington
Woods, Lauren Gun of Bloomfield
Village, Rachel Matz of West
Bloomfield, Stephanie Moran of
Beverly Hills and George Roberts of
Birmingham.
The adult staff includes Scott
Aaronson of Southfield, assistant
director, and Marty Mandelbaum of
Berkley, musical director.
❑
Rick' s 11:14s
Mosaic Youth Theatre founder Rick Sperling garners a prestigious award.
ick Sperling emphatically
expressed his commitment to
stage productions by and for
kids when he founded the
Mosaic Youth Theatre in Detroit six
years ago. Soon his vision will be recog-
nized with one of the most prestigious
honors in the state — a 1998
collaborates to write and produce the-
ater pieces relevant to the age group
of the performers, 12-17.
"A lot of the things that are hap-
pening were part of my dream, but I
never thought they would happen so
soon. We've built a solid presence in
the community and developed the
respect of the artistic community and
the people who serve
Rick Sperling,
youths, particularly the
right, and
educators."
members of the
Sperling's troupe,
Mosaic Youth
which has been invited
Theatre National to perform on stages
Touring
across the country and
Company, meet
also outside the U.S., is
Vice President
currently working on
Al Gore following
HeartBEAT, a story
a recent Mosaic
about love, hate and
performance in
rhythm told through
Washington,
music. Mosaic also has
D.C.
had interactive programs
with other youth per-
formers, including
Governor's Award for Arts
members of an Israeli dance company
and Culture.
touring the Midwest.
Nine awards will be presented at a
"Working with kids is quite
gala ceremony and dinner Thursday,
magical," says Sperling, a Detroit
Nov. 19, at Henry Ford Museum in
resident and Ann Arbor Temple
Dearborn. This black-tie event serves
Beth Emeth member. He finds that
as the major annual fund-raiser for
skills developed for theater impact
ArtServe Michigan, which supports
all areas of participants' lives and
and advocates for the arts and cultural
are of special importance to at-risk
education in Michigan.
youngsters. Taking theater seriously
"It's pretty overwhelming," says
requires group problem solving,
Sperling, 32, whose troupe of 70
analysis, interpretation and adher-
members is selected by audition and
ence to deadlines, he says.
Master Of The Souse
Mitch Master brings his talents to Community House youth theater.
P
inocchio director Mitch
Master, 31, has been artistic
director of Sara Smith
Productions for two years.
The program was created by
Smith, a California-based retiree who
taught performing arts in the Detroit
Public Schools for more than 30
years. She also was a director for
Cranbrook Theatre for 16 years.
Smith started the Popcorn Players
Theatre Program at the Community
House 11 years ago, and it has
expanded with the program named in
her honor.
"Theater provides children with an
escape from anxieties," says Master,
who conducts Saturday morning act-
ing and production classes for 7 to 12-
year-olds. "They can forget about tests
for a while and still learn the impor-
tance of commitment, accountability
and discipline. They also can learn
how to memorize."
The director has been interested in
theater since he was a 9-year-old taking
lessons and signing up for communi-
ty productions. He went to arts camp
in Canada and has a minor in theater
from Grand Valley State University
Master, formerly an assistant direc-
tor for programs at Cranbrook, has
performed in staged readings at the
Birmingham Temple.
"Young audiences can watch these
plays and think that they can do the
same thing," says Master, who has
been a substitute teacher:at
Kingswood and found acting to be a
"I wish more people could see our
rehearsals and how self-directed these
youngsters are," says the Mosaic
founder. "I think we're doing cutting-
edge work, and the kids are motivat-
ed, excited and talented.
Sperling, who must raise funds
from scratch each year to keep the
troupe going, is working toward mak-
ing some scholarships available for his
group members. He hopes to interest
a corporation or foundation in
becoming a committed sponsor.
While there is no specific date set,
one of the exciting prospects facing
Mosaic, which recently was given a
Spirit of Detroit Award, is a booking
at the Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In a world that often asks teenagers
to slow down and be quiet, Sperling
notes that theater asks them to use
more energy and speak louder.
"Theater is a good outlet for any
emotions that they're feeling," he
says. ❑
— Suzanne Chessler
Mitch Master:
Teaching kids
about commit-
ment, account-
ability and
discipline.
personal -confidence builder. "Adults
can see the possibilities of what their
own kids can do."
Master, whose Community House
spring production will be Alice in
Wonderland, is launching a new the-
ater initiative. Working with the
Village. Players of Birmingham, he is
developing a program that will involve
youngsters ages 12 and older.
❑
— Suzanne Chessler
11/13
199S
Detroit Jewish News 1