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Family troupe brings classic to Hackensack
Children's Theater has always been a family affair for Michael
Taubenslag. He and his brother and sister put on shows written
by Dad, Elliott Taubenslag, while Mom worked the box office.
These days, Michael is continuing the tradition with his Taubenslag
Productions, which is bringing a series of musical comedies for
children to Bergen County. "Peter Pan" is the first
show of the series performed at the Bergen County Vo-Tech High
School Auditorium in Hackensack on Sunday.
Taubenslag Productions remains a family affair, with Michael's
wife, Michele Bloom, also involved in the East Brunswick-based
company.
Taubenslag says he follows the old family recipe, originated
by Dad. "We don't talk down to the kids, we play up to their
level. We visually stimulate their imaginations and give them
a great time."
But Taubenslag says adults will not be bored. "My father's
big formula is you have to make the shows very entertaining for
the adults as well, even though its for kids. Like Disney, we
entertain everybody."
The shows scheduled for this season (the company tours the East
Coast) sound a bit like a Disney roster. In addition to "Peter
Pan," productions of "Pinocchio," "Aladdin"
and "Beauty and the Beast" were written before the Disney
productions.
"My father wrote 'Aladdin' in 1965, and we never had an
audience. Then Disney released it and now we sell out." "Beauty
and the Beast" was also a poor draw, until the film version
was released, according to Taubenslag.
In addition to entertaining, Taubenslag says he likes to impart
a message, or moral, to the kids. Sometimes the message is part
of the play, like the ugly but kind beast. And sometimes the message
is in the diversified casting.
In "Peter Pan" the boy who plays little Michael has
Cerebral Palsy. Taubenslag first tried the actor out at a Summer
Theater program he runs in Edison. "All of the kids in the
audience accepted him as just a regular kid, even though he had
a cane."
Taubenslag says his productions are characterized by colorful
staging, original scores, and audience participation. "In
a lot of the shows I am either the narrator or the villain and
I try to get the audience involved. In 'Peter Pan' I play Captain
Hook and a lot of time it's me against the audience."
While he is playing Hook, wife Michele is playing Crocodile.
A core cast of about seven people are in all the shows, some are
playing more than one part. And if he needs an understudy in a
hurry, he knows where to turn. "My brother or sister will
come in," he says. "Last year my 'Gepetto' in 'Pinocchio'
got sick and my brother took the part."
Other performances in the series at the Vo-Tech are: "Pinocchio"
on Jan. 14; "Aladdin" Feb. 4; and "Beauty and the
Beast" March 10.
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