PORT ANGELES — When the people who inhabit the Earth lose their sense of humor, it’s the crew of the spacecraft Neo-Ventura who help them find it again in Port Angeles Community Players Children’s Theater’s “Catch the Waves” by Patti Veconi.
The play, directed by 16-year-old Freyja Waknitz, opens Friday at 7 p.m. with additional shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the theater at 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
Tickets are $5 for children younger than 16 and $15 for adults. They are available only at the door of Port Angeles Community Playhouse on the days of performance.
“‘Catch the Waves’ is an incredibly interesting play, especially for us, as it is a sci-fi play, and that is unexplored territory for not only us, but many other theater groups,” Waknitz said.
“The ability for our actors to branch out and try new types of storytelling is important in furthering their potential future as adult artists.”
Barbara Frederick, PACP board president and founder of the Children’s Theater, said it’s important to have children tell the story, rather than adults with kids watching.
“When the kids who have grown up in our Children’s Theater become directors, it really hits home the impact that the arts have on kids,” Frederick said.
“Catch the Waves” cast includes Olivia Biddle, Caroline Brown, Lyla Brown, Alivia Halverson, Liam Irwin, Locke Jensen, Zea Kasten, Kai Lachner, Ellie Larson, McHenry Miller, Kevin Monk, Belle Robinson, Veronica Schaefermeyer, Kinsley Shrout, Jayden Truckenmiller, Zoe Truckenmiller, Mabel Waknitz, Henry Wendel, Issac Wendel, Piper Wickert and Grace Williams.
“I became involved in our children’s theater program at the age of 6, and have been doing plays with this program and others for years,” Waknitz said.
”’Catch the Waves’ will be my directorial debut, and I’ve been really enjoying it,” she said.
“As a 16-year-old fulfilling a role normally done by adults, I am bringing us even closer to our mission statement of ‘Theater for Children, By Children.’”
