Kristen Robinson of West Windsor appears in her first adult role at Kelsey Theater in the role of Aunt Sponge in “James and the Giant Peach” opening Friday, January 26. The play, based on Roald Dahl’s book, was released as a popular movie in 1996. The family classic presented by Pennington Players features a young boy who was orphaned at a young age and lives with his miserable relatives.##M:[more]##
A native West Windsor resident, Robinson, 15, is a sophomore at High School South. Between dramas at South and Kelsey, she is learning theater crafts including directing, make-up, and acting, on and off the stage. A member of the Pirate Players, she directed “What If?” and is an actor in “Cucumber Phil.” In “The Laramie Project” at South she played numerous roles including a doctor, juror, and the governor.
“I really enjoy directing so I’m looking into that,” she says. “There’s more of a future in directing and make up than acting.”
On Saturday mornings she works with the younger participants in Kelsey Kids Playshops, a creative theater workshop for grades kindergarten to five. Together they read a book and then act it out. “If we are reading about monsters, I tell them all to take out a magical box and put on a scary face,” says Robinson. “Each person gets a role and at the end of session, they would pick the story they like the best and perform it for their parents.”
Her sister, Jackie, a graduate of High School South, Class of 2003, is a junior at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She is studying to be a stage manager.
Their parents, Colleen and Frank, own Cruise One, a home-based travel agency. Colleen has worked in travel for years and Frank is an electrician.
For the past five summers Robinson has been participating in the Tomato Patch theater program at Kelsey. Last summer she was also an assistant teacher with the younger group as well as a student in the master class. Robinson worked in Kelsey shows doing make-up with Hilary Wilkins for “Cats” and was the assistant make-up artist for “Seusical the Musical.”
When the young boy in the show hitches a ride in a giant peach, he embarks on a journey that will change his life forever. “Anybody of any age can enjoy the play,” says Robinson. “It’s really a great show.”
James and the Giant Peach, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, 609-584-9444. www.kelseytheatre.net. $10 for adults, $8 for children. Friday, January 26 at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28 at 2 and 4 p.m.
