[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WETHERSFIELD TEEN THEATER COMPANY

 Mr. DODD. Mr. President. I rise today to pay tribute the 
Wethersfield Teen Theater Company, which is about to celebrate its 10th 
anniversary. This company was founded in 1988 by 15-year-old Bill 
Fennelly who was frustrated by the lack of opportunities in the theater 
for young people in the Wethersfield area, and the name of the company 
that Bill created indicates what makes this group so unique and 
special--it is run by and for teenagers.
  Whether it's the director, the choreographer, or a member of the 
lighting crew, every member of the company must be between the ages of 
11 and 21. The company members have complete artistic control over 
their productions, and they are also responsible for raising money and 
doing publicity for each play. Not only has the Wethersfield Teen 
Theater given hundreds of young people an opportunity to express 
themselves artistically and experience the feeling of performing live 
on the stage; but this company also gave many young people leadership 
opportunities that people their age don't traditionally enjoy. People 
who participate in the Wethersfield Teen Theater learn lessons about 
personal responsibility that they will carry with them throughout their 
lives.
  When the theater company was founded there were many doubters. Not 
only were people skeptical that a group of teenagers would be able to 
put on a quality theatrical production, there were questions about 
their ability to raise the money to stage a production. The 
Wethersfield Teen Theater put on a spring review called ``On 
Broadway,'' and they were able to raise the money to stage a production 
of ``Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.''
  ``Joseph'' was major success, and in 1990, the teen theater gained 
the official sponsorship of the Wethersfield Recreation and Parks 
Department. While the sponsorship provides the company with free 
rehearsal and performance space, the theater company is not a budgeted 
program and the teens still must earn all the money required to produce 
each show.
  Since its founding, the Wethersfield Teen Theater Company has put on 
a major summer and spring production every year. In addition, the 
company also sponsors children's workshops that are designed to get 
children interested in theater. They also perform at local community 
events, elementary schools, and hospitals.
  For a decade, people have been enjoying the talent, enthusiasm, and 
creativity of the Wethersfield Teen Theater Company, and on January 3, 
1998, the group will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with the 
performance of a production called ``Our Time.'' I am certain that this 
production will be a great success, and I hope that this wonderful 
theater company will continue enriching the lives of young people in 
the Wethersfield area for many decades to come.

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