For a group that’s been around since 1916, The Garden Players are looking mighty sprightly, preparing for their latest production, “So Far from Home,” set for four performances on May 16 and 17 at The Community House in Forest Hills.
At a recent rehearsal, the stage was filled with enthusiastic young thespians, some still in kindergarten, putting the finishing touches on an original musical about the importance of storytelling and community, inspired by the complex emotions and experiences faced by refugees throughout history.
Oh, yes, it features dragons, Martians, ogres and Atlantis survivors because, as its promotions suggest, “Sometimes our most heartfelt stories need a world of fantastical fun.”
The show is the brainchild of Betina Hershey, the group’s guiding light since 2002, who serves as director, producer, music director, choreographer and even educator.
The latter title comes from Hershey’s role as leader of the group’s musical theater school program, which offers a variety of classes.
Many of the program’s alumni pay return visits, including Aviv Fetaya, who joined at age 10 and is now a senior at Yale University.
“I come back every year to help out in whatever capacity they need,” Fetaya said during the rehearsal, where he was pitching in as assistant director.
Current cast member Abigail Langley, 13, who plays a queen and other roles, said the program provides her with a “space where everyone is comfortable. It’s an opportunity to learn and flourish.”
The Forest Hills resident, who will be attending a professional performing arts high school in the fall with an eye on a career in musical theater, said being onstage allows one to “get out of the struggles outside and become a different person.”
An even younger member of the company, Carolina Faya, 9, who plays a member of a family of dragons, feels just as strongly about the benefits of performing.
“I love to sing and tell stories and I get to meet new friends,” Carolina said.
The moral of the show, which she defined as being “Never give up if things are getting tough,” is one she plans to always follow throughout her life.
Hershey wrote the show in 2016 with input from her young charges at the time. Among the cast was Fetaya, who said, “It’s interesting to see how productions have evolved over the years.”
The show was scheduled to be staged again in 2020, but Covid put an end to that plan. However, as tradition has it, the show must go on, so that year’s group performed songs from the production in a special online version.
The latest incarnation, which runs approximately 60 minutes, features the same basic themes but includes new scenes and songs, Hershey said.
Performances at The Community House, located at 107-15 Borage Place, behind the Church-in-the-Gardens on Ascan Avenue, are on May 16 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. and May 17 at 2 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $27.70 or $17.30, depending on seat location. For more information, call (917) 204-5647 or visit gardenplayers.com.