Jack & the Beanstalk at Richmond libraries this weekend

VCU Players Present:

Jack and The Wonder Beans

An Appalachian Musical

Touring Richmond Libraries and Schools

Gayton Library: February 12, 2011 10:30 AM

Twin Hickory Library: February 19, 2011 10:30 AM


Adapted by Larry E. Snipes

From the book by James Still


Directed By Meghan Kelleher


Additional Choreography by Marie Boyette

Musically Coached by Richard Chan

All is well for Jack and his Mam. They have their home roof, a patch of land, and a cow. One spring, when the cow goes dry life on Wolfpen Creek has to change. In hard times no one wants to buy a cow “dry as a hat”. Jack trades his bossy to a Gypsy for “seeds”. And Jack is in for trouble. His adventures with the High Tall Giant Woman and her husband teach him that “the simple life is right for Jack.” Audience participation is invoked in the nick of time!


Featuring: Justin Bell, Brandon Butts, Tiffany Byrd, Madeline Bryan, Richard Chan, Byron Mitchell, Kate Poisson, Jaqueline Reynolds, & Joe Winters

According to the director, Meghan Kelleher, MFA Performance Pedagogy: 

I have a love for theatre for young audiences and have worked professionally around the country at various children’s theatres. Currently I am company manager and summer education director at Roanoke Children’s Theatre in Roanoke, VA.
Next week, nine undergraduate students and myself will be touring a simple Appalachian musical version of Jack and the Beanstalk, based on James Still’s children’s book Jack and the Wonder Beans.  The simple and flexible set allows us to tour a variety of locations. For example, we are going to two elementary schools and 3 libraries, performing for over 500 Richmond kids.  It is a delightful show based on a great children’s book, and using blue grass music to tell the story.  VCU theatre recently, has not toured shows geared towards children, but we decided to take on the project in hopes of reaching out to the community, particularly to young readers, to get them excited about reading and the arts.

The best part? It is Free!  We are able to offer the program free of charge, because our actors are students who are hoping to get the experience of performing for young audiences and sharing theatre to young viewers.  These students are learning about the gift of theatre as a way to teach and entertain.  And we wanted the show to accessible to anyone who would have us, because many schools are having trouble affording the arts these days.

It is isn’t too often that you hear about college students taking a break from their social lives and really giving back to the community, especially to kids, and I am really proud of these undergraduates.