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The Cast
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Zack Ford
(Big Josh) is delighted to return to Apple Tree Theatre where he was seen last season in A Man of No Importance. Other recent credits include Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd at Porchlight Theatre, The Cradle Will Rock at TimeLine Theatre, A Little Night Music , Taming of the Shrew, and The Winter's Tale at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Cymbeline at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, and Titanic! the Musical and Crazy For You at Wagon Wheel Theatre in Indiana. Zach recently completed his BFA in Musical Theatre from the Theatre Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. He thanks his family and friends for their love and support.
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Jon Frazier (Ensemble) was most recently seen on the Apple Tree stage as Eli in The Spit Fire Grill. Other credits include Orange Flower Water (David/Brad us) with Steppenwolf theatre; The Cosmonaut's Last Messege...(Eric) with Collaboraction; Here's Love (Fred Gaily) with Show Palace Theatre; The Rivals (Sir Lucius) at Citi Lit Theatre; and Arcadia (Septimus) with McMahon Theatre. Jon has also appeared in featured roles in the films What Women Want, Stolen Summer, and Confessions. Jon is directing Jean Genet's The Balcony for TinFish Theatre next February. He thanks his wife Lourdene and son Tavish.
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Zach Gray
(Billy) is delighted to return to Apple Tree, where he previously appeared in the TYA production The Cay. Other Chicago credits include Chicago Shakespeare's King John , Peter Pan and The Winter's Tale, Steppenwolf's The Time of Your Life (Jeff nominated best ensemble/production) and David Copperfield, the Goodman's - Galileo Galilei directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, and four seasons of A Christmas Carol. Zach was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Jeff Citation for his work as Arty in Lost in Yonkers (Eclipse Theatre Company). Film credits include Time Served and Stray Dogs (best new actor, Savannah International Film Festival). Zach is in nintb grade at The Latin School of Chicago. Watch for him on a national television commercial this holiday season as the kid who is addicted to Bissell vacuums.
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Trace Hamilton (Young Josh) is happy to be making his Apple Tree debut in BIG. Previous acting credits include Linus in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown with Schaumburg On Stage, as well as Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Fiddler on the Roof, Honk!, The Music Man, and Annie. He is currently in rehearsal for the musical Anything Goes with Schaumburg on Stage. Trace is in seventh grated at Eastview Middle School in Bartlett and thanks his family, friends, and teachers for their support & encouragement.
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Joel Hatch (Mr. Baskin/MacMillan) is happy to be making his Apple Tree debut in BIG. Most recently he played Mr. Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Other acting credits include Doc Gibbs in Our Town, Colin in Benefactors, Gal in Rough Crossing, and Summerhays in Misalliance at Writer's Theatre; Teddy in House and Garden at Goodman; Adolph in The Last Night of Ballyoo; Admiral Peary in Ragtime at the Oriental Theatre; and received Jeff Nominations for Herbie in Gypsy, Louis in Eleanor, Walter Burns in Windy City, and Branch Ricky in The First at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. Off-Broadway credits include Simon Whitehead in Annie Warbucks at the Variety Arts Theatre; and international tours include the role of Windy in Showboat and Maurice in Beauty and the Beast. Film credits include the Priest in “While You Were Sleeping.” He is married to actress Carol Kukendall.
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Bil Ingraham (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his Apple Tree debut. He just finished the critically acclaimed and Jeff Recommended run of Sweeney Todd with Porchlight Music Theatre, where he is an Artistic Associate. Other Porchlight credits include Amadeus (Salieri), A New Brain, Passion, and A Little Night Music. An east coast native, he has enjoyed working in Chicago on Michael John LaChiusa's Wild Party and Hello Again, Secret Garden, She Loves Me, Drood!, Scapin, and Prairie Lights, among others, with such theatres as ATC, Circle, Stage Left, Griffin, and Bailiwick. Other highlights include co-starring in an independent film with Judy Tenuta and performing at the House of Blues opening for Russell Crowe's rock band. He thanks the audience for supporting this vibrant community.
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Sloan Just
(Susan) is a native of Highland Park and is thrilled to return to Apple Tree Theatre where she first began her theatrical career. Sloan has performed on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar, On the Town, directed by George C. Wolfe, and as Estelle in The Full Monty. She also recently completed the National Tour of The Full Monty, which took her to cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Vancouver . Regionally, she has appeared as Louise in Gypsy, opposite Judy Kaye, at Seattle 's Fifth Avenue Theatre, as Demeter in Cats at Sacramento Music Circus, and in productions at Goodspeed Opera House and Maine State Music Theatre. In Chicago, Sloan performed as Bebe in A Chorus Line, as Vibrata in ... Forum at Drury Lane Oakbrook, and in several productions at the Marriott Theatre. Sloan is a graduate of the Theatre School at Northwestern University and thanks the entire Boevers family, her incredible family, and especially Robert, who is truly The Real Thing.
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Kara Konken
(Cynthia Bensen) is a freshman at Maine South High School in Park Ridge and is honored to be on stage at Apple Tree Theatre. Previous acting credits include Kirsten in The American Girl Revue, and as Kit, Kirsten, and Molly in Circle of Friends: An American Girl Musical. Kara also models for American Girl Place Theatre during Afternoon Teas. Other highlights include singing the national anthem and leading the fans in "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" at Wrigley Field. She also performed and sang the national anthem at the White House during their Annual Easter Egg Roll. She has also performed in several community theatre productions, including Louisa in The Sound of Music, and as a lost child in Peter Pan. She thanks her mom and dad for letting her follow her dreams.
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Carol Kuykendall (Mrs.Baskin, Ms.Watson) makes her Apple Tree Theatre debut with BIG. Most recently, she was seen as Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Chicago Shakespeare Theater where she also played Yvonne/Naomi in Sunday in The Park With George. Other Chicago credits include Our Town at Writers Theatre; A Christmas Carol and The Visit at Goodman Theatre; The King and I (Jeff Nomination), Gypsy, La Cage Aux Folles, and Ms. Cinderella at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire; Grand Hotel, State Fair, Proposals, Gigi, Getting Away with Murder at Theatre at the Center; Comfortable Shoes at Royal George Theatre; Chicago's premier of Nunsense, Lost in Yonkers, Rumors, A Chorus Line, Singin' in the Rain and R.S.V.P. Broadway (Jeff Award). Regional Credits include Servant of Two Masters with Repertory Theatre of St. Louis; Crimes of the Heart (Chanhassen Theatres); A Streetcar Named Desire, The Dining Room (Arizona Theatre Company), and Hal Prince's Showboat (Auditorium Theatre, Chicago , and National tour). Carol is married to actor Joel Hatch.
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Jessica Redish (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be making her Apple Tree Theatre debut, having spent most of her childhood taking classes with the Eileen Boevers Performing Arts Workshop. Chicago acting credits include Bebe in A Chorus Line and Agnes in Gypsy at Theatre at the Center; Annie and Lucky Stiff at Drury Lane Oakbrook; The Wizard of Oz at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Everything's Ducky at Northlight Theatre. Direction/choreography credits include The Winter Wonderettes at the Prairie Cabaret Theatre in Peoria, Falsettos at Northwestern University, and And The World Goes 'Round in a co-production with the Next Theatre and La Red Productions, a company she founded last year. Jessica is proud to be a Northwestern grad and thanks her family for their support. She dedicates her performance to Elisa.
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Courtney Rioux (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be making her Apple Tree Debut. After graduating in May from Illinois State University , she spent her summer playing Tzeitle in Fiddler on the Roof at Drury Lane Oakbrook and just finished Sideways Stories from Wayside School at the Vittum Theatre. Other favorite roles include Susana in The Marriage of Figaro and Yasmin in David Edger's Pentecost. She thanks her mom, dad, and Mike for their love and support.
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Matt Robin (Derrek) is thrilled to be in Big, the Musical. Matt, 14, is
a freshman at Deerfield High School. With inspiration from his
grandmother, and a summer with Debbie Shellard & Stevi Marks at Apple
Tree's Spotlighter Camp, he was hooked! Matt has played the roles of
Curly in Oklahoma, Bullfrog in Honk!, Tibia in Wizard of Oz, Mr. Darling
in Peter Pan, and, (his favorite) the Baker in Into the Woods. He has
been a member of the Eileen Boevers Traveling Troupe, and was in The
Music Man with the Deerfield Family Theatre. Matt is also a member of
The Shining Lights, a professional singing group. Between performances,
you'll find Matt on the basketball court on the DHS Freshman team. Matt
thanks Eileen and Joline for this opportunity, and his Mom, Dad
and adorable sister, Alyssa for their enduring support and love.
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Joe Schenck
(Ensemble) makes his Apple Tree debut in BIG, the Musical. Other Chicago credits include (the upcoming) The Comedy of Errors with SHORT SHAKES!, Merry Wives of Windsor with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, West Side Story and Annie Get Your Gun with the Marriott Theatre; Hard Times with Lookingglass Theatre, Singin' in the Rain with the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Kismet with the Light Opera Works; and Quintessential, a one-man show based on Hamlet with the Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. Outside of Chicago, Joe has performed at Philadelphia 's Arden Theatre, the Broadway Palm West Theatre in Arizona, and three seasons at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Indiana. Joe teaches tumbling and children's theatre classes at the Actors Gymnasium and is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.
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Justin Stein
(Billy) is thrilled to be in BIG, the Musical, having previously played the role of Billy two years ago with the Highland Park Players. He is fourteen years old and a freshman at New Trier High-School, and has been on various stages singing and acting since the age of 6. Acting credits include Bye Bye Birdie at the Marriott Theatre, To Kill a Mockingbird at Apple Tree Theatre, and many community theatre productions. Justin has been a soloist on the “Rosie O'Donnell Show” and most recently at The Symphony Center in Chicago. He has also been a member of the Eileen Boevers Traveling Troupe from 2001-2004. Justin thanks his Mom, Dad and brother Jordan for all of their support.
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JAKE STEMPEL (Young Josh) is thrilled to be apart of BIG. Acting credits include Annie Get your Gun, Guys and Dolls Jr., Into the Woods Jr., and Fiddler on the Roof Jr. with the Buffalo Grove Park District; and The King and I, and Bye Bye Birdie with MOS. Other highlights include making the first cut for American Juniors, and currently holding the title for Buffalo Grove Idol. Jake is fourteen years old and is a freshman at Stevenson High School. He thanks his family for their moral support.
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Danielle Treuberg (Ensemble) is happy to be working for first time with Apple Tree Theatre. She was last seen in Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's production of Into the Woods. Other Chicago credits include American Theater Company's Tintypes and Working, the Theatre Building Chicago's The Water Chalice and The Stork Derby, and Emerald City's Captain Virtue. Other favorite credits include La Boheme, A Christmas Carol, Misanthrope and The Boyfriend. She has a degree in musical theatre from the Catholic University of America, and would like to thank her family and friends for their support.
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cast | press | photos | tickets
Press
Pick a review...
Copley News Service Review
Chicago Sun-Times Review
Chicago Tribune Review
Chicago Reader Review
Chicago Tribune Mention
Chicagocritic.com Review
Centerstage Chicago Review
Highlights from the Copley News Service Review by Dan Zeff
There are strong whiffs in "Big" of "Back to the Future," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," and "Bye Bye Birdie." But "Big" rarely captures the wit and imagination of those hits.
The Broadway show tried to get by on some spectacular production numbers, which necessarily must be scaled down to fit the intimate Apple Tree stage. This is a dancing show, and choreographer Marla Lampert has created one vivacious and high rhythm dance after another. ...it's fun to see all the hoofing, especially among the large ensemble of kids. The Apple Tree revival employs dozens of youngsters from its Kid's Troupe to double as a dancing chorus and stagehands. The kids give it their all...
The chief attraction of the production is an impressive performance by Zach Ford as the adult Josh. He can sing and dance and, most important, Ford conveys Josh's little boy mind inside his adult body. Sloan Just is an attractive Susan, and has the best line of the night when she discovers her boyfriend is really only 13 year s old and groans "I'm going to jail."
The adult supporting players are led by Joel Hatch who plays Josh's father and Mr. MacMillan, and Carol Kuykendall as Josh's mother and a starchy secretary at the toy store. Trace Hamilton (who alternates with Jake Stempel) is appropriately cute and as the young Josh.
Zach Gray gives an impressively mature performance as Josh's young friend Billy. Gray shares the role with Justin Stein. Gray is one of the most convincing youngsters I've seen on a local stage in a long time, down to his comfort in tossing off casual verbal obscenities and gestures in teenaged style. And Kara Konken, a high school freshman who plays Josh's young heartthrob, has the looks and stage presence that indicate a promising future in the theater.
Director Eileen Boevers rightly stages the musical as a lark. There are serious undertones about how precious it is to be young, but the moralizing doesn't get in the way of the fun aspect of the show.
This is an ambitious undertaking for the Apple Tree in trying to accommodate a production that relies on spectacle to its limited performing space. The staging scores points for charm and humor and all that energy. ...the performances by the adults are good, the kids are cute, and the dancing is plentiful and exuberant. That should be enough to guarantee a good time at the Apple Tree, even if you don't have a child on the stage.
The show gets a rating of three stars.
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Highlights from the Sun-Times review by Hedy Weiss
When we first meet him, Josh is living in New Jersey with his parents (the likable Carol Kuykendall and Joel Hatch), hanging out with his feisty best friend, Billy (the very polished Zach Gray), and aching for school hottie Cynthia Benson (Kara Konken). Adulthood looks good. Think of the perks: a job, a salary, an apartment, the ability to speak to a girl without bumbling. But as they say, be careful what you wish for. There are reasons a 13-year-old boy needs a good decade or more before trying to handle all that.
Nevertheless, Josh (Trace Hamilton) throws caution to the winds when he and Billy visit a carnival and he asks Zoltar the Magician to grant his wish to be grown up. Before he knows it, he tumbles out of his bunk bed as the adult Josh (Zach Ford), all gangly legs, deep voice and confused hormones.
He heads for Manhattan and lucks into the ideal job -- tester of new toys at the MacMillan Toy Corp., where his genius for play not only attracts the attention of his boss but also of marketing exec Susan Lawrence (Sloan Just), a 32-year-old woman with a history of disastrous boyfriends. Charmed by Josh's boyishness, Susan believes she has found her perfect soulmate and even introduces him to her married friends (in the Sondheimesque song "The Real Thing," one of the show's best). He is, of course, too good to be true.
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Highlights from the Chicago Tribune by Chris Jones
Apple Tree's version of "Big" is a long way from the Broadway show. And that's a good thing.
My favorite is a moving song called "Stop Time" (it's about a parent not wanting her child to grow), here beautifully sung by Carol Kuykendall. Taken all together, it's a decent pop score. It's a pity New Yorkers never heard it.
There's also a lot to enjoy in Eileen Boevers' typically well-directed production, including a pleasantly goofy performance from Zach Ford in the lead role of adult Josh. Joel Hatch (who can do gruff sweethearts in his sleep) plays the king of the toy company with zest. And there's a well-sung and vulnerable performance from Sloan Just as Susan, the MBA who falls in love with a 13-year-old and yet avoids prison.
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Highlights from the Pioneer Press review by Dan Pearson
The second show of Apple Tree's 22nd season is a boisterous bundle of unadulterated joy that fills the intimate Highland Park stage with warmth and laughter and a little wisdom as it explores what it might to like for a shy, self-conscious 12-year-old boy from New Jersey to suddenly be big.
Director Eileen Boevers, the Jeff-nominated Executive Artistic Director of Apple Tree, fully captures the spirit and energy of the source material but skimps a bit by reducing the signature giant piano to a disappointing painted board, which really should have been bigger.
To keep audiences from noticing the downsizing of a principal prop, the performance area is packed with enthusiastic members of the Apple Tree Traveling Troupe, ages 11 to 14, who sing and dance up a storm in "Fun," the lavish toy-store number, accompanying the leading players. More than 30 select members of the Traveling Troupe, who also do double-duty as prop and scenery movers, will be featured 11 at a time over the run of this production.
The lead juvenile roles of young Josh and his best friend Billy will also be shared. At this performance, Zach Gray, who is double-cast in the role of Billy with Highland Park native Justin Stein, proved to a commanding comical presence, while Trace Hamilton displayed his sensitive side as young Josh.
As his grownup counterpart, Zach Ford made us believe he was a kid trapped in the body of an adult, which is essential for the show to work on any level. Ford, who was recently seen in the Apple Tree production of "A Man of No Importance," imbues the adult-size Josh with a sweetness and innocence paired to a keen awareness of not quite fitting into this new environment.
Vivacious Broadway actress Sloan Just triumphantly returns to her Highland Park roots as Susan, a career-minded woman who has been sleeping her way up the corporate ladder. Her world is rocked by the new man in her life who likes to be on top in a bunk-bed and shares with her the wonders of astronomy. She is a pleasure to watch either singing or emoting.
This production also offers choice character roles for stage veterans Joel Hatch and Carol Kuykendall, who are married to each other in real life. Hatch, a four-time Jeff nominee, makes his genial Apple Tree debut as Josh's father and Mr. MacMillan, the success-seeking owner of a toy company in trouble. Kuykendall, a Jeff winner for "R.S.V.P Broadway," anchors the production as both Josh's rightfully concerned mom and Miss Watson, his unflappable secretary.
Choreographer Marla Lampert certainly earns kudos for keeping so many performers in motion without colliding in the space allowed. The big production numbers are all crowd-pleasers, but a personal favorite has to the boogie-woogie beat of "Coffee Black."
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Highlights from the Chicago Reader review by Jennifer Vanasco
...a winsome cast--especially the troupe of about a dozen shiny youngsters--makes this forgettable theater candy go down easy. In Eileen Boevers's staging the performers sing and dance pleasantly to Marla Lampert's sweet choreography, Zach Ford is winningly puppyish as the kid who grows up too soon, and Zach Gray is both wise and vulnerable as his young best friend.
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Highlight from a Chicago Tribune article by Terry Armour
STARGAZING. An occasional look at who's hanging in and around town.
MICHAEL JORDAN (right) dragged longtime driver and confidant GEORGE KOHLER to Crobar last week, where friends, including RICHARD DENT and SPIKE LEE, showed up for Kohler's surprise 50th birthday bash. And what did MJ give Kohler for his birthday? There was a new Range Rover with a big bow parked in front of the club. The following night, Jordan attended Highland Park's Apple Tree Theatre to catch his 14-year-old daughter JASMINE in "Big."
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Highlights from the Chicagocritic.com review by Tom Williams
I'm happy to report that the licensed production which opened to rousing reception of Big, The Musical at Apple Tree Theatre in Highland Park contains the best songs making Big, The Musical a delightful treat.
Big isn't a children's show, rather it's for early teens (12-14 year olds) but is adult friendly also. I loved this whimsical, smart look at growing up too soon and I loved the satirical whack at toy manufactures and marketing MBA's. Big is energetic, looks great with a large cast of adorable youngsters that sings and dances with verve. It is fun entertainment.
Young Josh Baskin (Trace Hamilton) is shy and afraid of the girls, especially Cynthia (Kara Konren) so he and his best friend Billy (Zach Gray) try to help him get the nerve to speak to his love. When they go to a carnival, Josh wishes to Zoltar, an amusement park attraction, that he was “big” and woola, he wakes up the next morning, big---a full-sized adult! The adult Josh (Zach Ford) is still the little boy but inside a man's body. As he and Billy sing “You're a Big Boy Now” we see the two Zach's (14 year old Zach Gray and 20somthing Zach Ford ) click on stage in a cute ‘buddy' song. These two are emerging talents.
Josh realizes that, as an adult, he must work and somehow ends up at MacMillan Toy Company where the owner, (Joel Hatch) hates his over-analytical marketing staff as they keep picking toys that kids don't like. Enter Josh who points out to MacMillan that fun---kids need to have fun with toys---as the key ingredient to reach them. The ensemble number “Fun” dances and sings up a storm. Sloan Just (Susan), a marketing MBA, loves the innocence, the truthfulness and “little boyness” in Josh. Zach Ford has the look, body language, smile, vocal tones going to be believable as an adult-sized little boy. Ford is funny and gives out a sample of his golden tenor voice and shows his dancing talents also.
Ford and Sloan Just have several funny duets and cute scenes as she seduces Josh who only wants to play with his toys. Songs like “Stars, Stars, Stars” offered a warm ballad for the two. Once Josh discovers what girls are for and what being an adult really means, “Cross the Line” manic dance number celebrates his emancipation. Carol Kuykendall as Josh's mother and the secretary lands a heart wrenching song, “I Want to Know” as she misses Josh.
“Coffee, Black” is the hilarious showstopper dance number where Josh emerges after a night with Susan as a proud adult. But soon Josh, with constant reminders from Billy, misses the simple joys of growing up and decides to find Zoltar to ask to be ‘small' again so he can grow up at his own pace. Songs like ‘The Real Thing” and “When You're Big” define the moving story line.
Big is a dazzling high voltage affair with some terrific dancing both by the kids and the adults together with many nice moments that pokes fun at adult seriousness. Big, The Musical spreads the message to kids---have fun and be careful of what you wish for— you just may get it.
Take your early teens to see this show but have some fun yourself since Big's vigor is infectious.
Highly Recommended cast | press | photos | tickets
Highlights from the Centerstage Chicago review by Cynthia Avery
...Eileen Boevers has assembled a top-notch crew of actors to play the adults in the show, and she guides them cleverly throughout. Zach Ford, seen last season in Apple Tree's excellent "A Man of No Importance," is a winning grown-up Josh, and Sloan Just is wonderful as his romantic interest. Carol Kuykendall as Josh's mother hands in a poignant and beautifully done rendition of "Stop Time," while as the company's boss, Joel Hatch has a grand time sabotaging his gruff exterior to comic effect. The ensemble provides strong backup. The kids are appealing, and naturally do their best.
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Photos (by Michael Brosilow)
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"I never had much faith in Dr. Deathstar."
Joel Hatch, Jon Frazier, and Sloan Just |
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"Fun!"
Joel Hatch, Zach Ford, and the Eileen Boevers Traveling Troupe |
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Sloan Just and Zach Ford |
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"I'm a big boy now. "
Zach Ford and Zack Gray |
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Zach Ford |
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