Read what our Teen Ensemble members had to say after seeing the world premiere of Natasha Trethewey’s Native Guard –

Had you told me two weeks ago that I would be sitting in a theater enjoying a book of poetry; I might have thought you were crazy. However, when Alliance’s production of Native Guard opened you would finding me sitting front row unbeknownst that I was about to experience something that would ultimately bring me to tears.  
Native Guard, beautiful written by Natasha Trethewey, is a collection of poems that covers the thoughts, emotions, and memories of her late mother as well as being bi-racial girl growing up in the South. Ms. Trethwey’s writing doesn’t just draw you in, it makes you feel something. This was enjoyable poetry not just because of the writing but also the cast. These words are brought to life by the amazing actress January Lavoy, who tells the story as though it were her own. I believe it was the passion she (January Lavoy) puts behind these poems by Natasha that reel in audiences. This production is not something you would normally find young teenagers, like me, attending, yet it is something that I feel every teen and young adult should be watching. Whatever your poetry background knowledge this piece remains relate able to everyone. I recommend everyone go view this beautiful piece, it is most definitely another win for the Alliance.
Alexus Anderson
12th grade, North Atlanta High School

Native Guard was engaging. I was surprised that, despite the fact that the entire show was poetry, I was continuously being brought closer and closer to the text. The combination of the singer’s voice (which was so purely soulful), the animations, photos and videos on the backdrop, and the actor’s spoken poetry intensified the poetry and its meaning. The meaning of the poetry is so important especially now. Racial issues are currently at the front of the news, and being introduced into the topic of race in such a way that is inviting and not abrasive is important. Discussions of race are important, therefore segues into discussions of race are needed, and Native Guard was a masterfully crafted segue.
Delly Fears
11th grade, Atlanta Girls School

Native Guard was truly a moving experience. The set was simple, yet interesting and the audience even got to add to the set with their own memories which made this show interactive! The projection was remarkable and kept me totally engaged, it was just enough to add to the poetry, but it did not take anything away from it! The music was also great! The singer and pianist were already playing when we entered and continued throughout the show. Even subtle melodies helped bring the poetry to life. The concept of a different speaker to address the audience for the second act is really creative and added great meaning to the poetry. This show is inspiring and thought-provoking!
Rachel Platt
11th grade, Atlanta Girls School

Never before in my life have I witnessed a performance where the music, set design, and acting came together so seamlessly to focus on the message as in Native Guard. For someone who doesn’t usually read poetry, Native Guard is a welcoming and enlightening experience. Instead of distracting from the prose, the other elements of the show only help emphasize and clarify the meaning and the stories to the audience. Natasha Tretheway’s words are very personal and unique, but the emotions she conveys are universal. I found myself being struck several times by the realization that Natasha Tretheway had artfully put into words the exact thoughts and feelings that I have had, despite our differences. The performance does a brilliant job of tying together all the pieces from Native Guard, including several beautiful moments between the Poet and the Native Guard, my favorite parts of the show. I cannot think of a better way to present Natasha Tretheway’s work than this beautiful performance of Native Guard.
Shelby Bice
12th grade, Kennesaw Mountain
 

Don’t miss your chance to see Bull Durham, now in its final weekend.  Hear what our teen ensemble members have to say about the show:

Holy baseball! What a show! Bull Durham is definite must see. I couldn’t take my eyes off the stage for fear I’d miss the next stage antic. The ensemble was so fantastic it could have stolen the show, had it not been matched with a just as phenomenal group of principal and supporting characters.  The show was well cast to say the least, and I personally thought the coaches were spot on in their roles (everyone was really, but they just stood out to me). This show is just plain fun to watch and I would see it over and over again, because I feel like anything could happen every time. 
Alishia Patricio
12th grade, South Paulding High School
 
I thought Bull Durham was amazing. It kept you on the edge of your seat from beginning to the end. The story line was very sophisticated and was not long and drawn out like most musicals. The actors were fantastic especially the ensemble. Coming from a musical theater background with heavy ensemble work, this show showed me how I could improve the ensemble were sometimes even more interesting than the scene on stage they were not pulling focus but their story was just as interesting. Overall the show was great. Some things that you think they could work on is sound there was a few times when someone’s mic was not on when they had lines but I know it was just a preview so I know it is fixed now. Again and again I keep saying this was a fantastic show I am even paying money to see it again.  
Charles Ellerby
12th grade, Tri-cities High School
 
Bull Durham was a theatrical marvel. Every aspect of the show was engaging. The musical numbers were fantastic, with excellent vocals and superb choreography. Honestly, I spent the entire show clenching my hands to the arm chairs waiting for one of the tons of bats to fall on the ground, and none of them did. NONE. There were SO MANY BAT TOSSES. Amazing. The acting was so realistic and humorous that I was never bored, I felt like the play began and ended far too soon because I enjoyed it so much. I loved this show, from the plot, to the songs, to the set and choreography and acting and every component.
Delly Fears
11th grade, Atlanta Girls School
 
Recently more than ever, turning every classic movie into a big hit musical has been very popular. Having seen the movie before the preview, I was very interested to see if this endeavor would prove itself to be successful as well as entertaining. I’ll admit that I was not at first hooked yet as the show progressed I couldn’t help but to admire each character. From comedic come backs to love, and innuendos to baseball, the cast, crew, and direction were all spectacular. 
Jessie Broz
12th grade, Hillgrove High School
 
When asking the people who saw Bull Durham with me what they thought of the show, the common answer was “I love it!” I feel the exact same way about this musical. So many different factors put into this production are what made it so attractive and amazing. The sets and props, the choreography, the musical score, the dialogue, and actors all contributed to my liking of this show. 
I saw the show twice and had a different perspective on both. The first time I saw it, I was on ground level and it had been my first time seeing it. The second time I saw it; I sat in the balcony and thought I knew what to expect. While seeing the show again, everything seemed so new and refreshing. It was as if I was seeing the same show, but with added surprises and different choices. The one consistent factor was the energy, emotion, and charm that the show radiated. In the different groups I came with to see Bull Durham, they all felt the same ecstatic vibe.
The interactive set up that they had upstairs was extremely cool! I thought it was really interesting to have a display of stuff to further adapt the history behind the main topic of the musical. The Wii with baseball also helped set a fun atmosphere. Overall, that aspect really made you feel ready to watch a musical about baseball.
I absolutely loved the technical part of Bull Durham too. From Annie’s house to the bar they frequented, everything was so well decorated, yet natural. The different lighting choices throughout the musical also helped really set the tone and mood of a scene. A particularly interesting and strong choice was the spotlights in the bar. When one group was speaking, the lights were specifically highlighting the audience’s attention to a certain spot. The characters that weren’t under the spotlight were still entirely engaged with the scene. That leads me to my point of ensemble work. Everyone in the ensemble was persistent in keeping their character alive and animated even when not directly focused on. That allowed the scenes to look that much more natural and realistic.
The music and choreography was great too. I find myself humming and singing the songs regularly. My favorite scene for choreography and music was in scene nine when they did “Winning”. Not only is the song extremely catchy, but the choreography and movement was high-paced and energetic. I loved each time they got into the bus. The sequence and movements were so pronounced and had such strong choices even for them to be confined to a bus setting. My favorite part was when they were playing the music and there were four males that each did something different with their bat but they all fell in rhythm on a four count. Little things like that really tied together the music with the choreography for me and I thoroughly enjoyed that aspect.
The writing for this show was so spectacular because it was right up the alley with the speech of today. It was all so relatable because of the references it made to everyday people, places, themes, and situations. It was easy to understand and comprehend, yet had a sophisticated nature of highly, and well thought dialogue. You could see someone having these conversations with another person and it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.
The last thing to top my sundae was the characters and acting. Taking acting classes at my high school has made me notice several inconsistencies in television blocking and acting, and makes several shows that I’ve seen difficult to watch without critiquing. While watching this show, I didn’t have any of that. I was able to watch Bull Durham twice through without thinking of one evaluation of character connection and could wholly enjoy the performance for what it’s worth. The characters were so enthralling and had such good chemistry. There were several moments in which you could sympathize or empathize with how the person was feeling just by a slight movement indicating body language or facial reaction. It wasn’t a matter of putting on a front for everyone to see. It was like real people in real situations. I commend that because so many television shows and movies have fallen into the trap of “And now I am acting.” Whereas seeing this live, you get an actual sense of real people living the lives of the aging baseball catcher, or the romantically unstable woman. Everyone had a voice that spoke who they were and not who they were trying to be.
Kyla Hunter
10th grade, Pebblebrook High School
 
Bull Durham was a truly unique show that perfectly executed the balance between poignancy and fun. The musical incorporated catchy songs and impeccable choreography that kept even scene changes hilarious, and by the end of the show the audience was inspired to dance and sing along. The sets were also remarkable and really added to the whole experience of the show with clever scene changes, distinctive lighting choices, and time period decorations. Overall, this show was exceptional and was an amazing adaption of a movie to a musical! 
Rachel Platt
11th grade, Atlanta Girls School
 
I absolutely loved Bull Durham. The chemistry between the main characters is so palpable that you forget that you’re watching a musical, and the dance numbers-often including twirling baseball bats high into the air- are all impeccable. It’s a musical that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still deals with some serious topics. From a slow-motion fight to the hilarious set changes, there a lot of little details put into the show that will have you laughing until your stomach hurts. However, Bull Durham addresses topics such as allowing your dreams to change and evolve as you get older and not allowing other people’s opinions of yourself to change what you want to do, which will leave you considering how you view others and yourself. Bull Durham is a fantastic show from beginning to end, and you’ll find yourself wishing it wasn’t over so soon.
Shelby Bice
12th grade, Kennesaw Mountain High School