Vsevolod Krawczeniuk
Director, Burbank Children’s Theatre Company
Newsletter: November 29 – December 12, 2017
Can you tell us a little bit about what you do?
“Burbank Children’s Theatre Company is a group of very talented and energetic professionals who perform vibrant and engaging plays for children and their families. We select plays that are educational, inspirational, and just plain fun. Many of our productions include audience participation, and children are always welcome to come up on stage after the show to explore the theatre. Our performers love to hang out, chat with the kids, and take pictures with the kids on the set. All of our performers are seasoned professionals with extensive backgrounds in theatre, film, and tv.”
How did you first become interested in theatre?
“My father was a professor at King’s College, a small Catholic liberal arts college in Wilkes-Barre, PA. King’s had a wonderful theatre department that would include one children’s theatre performance in its yearly repertoire. At an early age, my parents would take me to see these shows. Later, they began taking me to the other productions. I was exposed to Shakespeare, Strindberg, Ibsen, and a host of other great playwrights at a very young age.”
How do you think art can enrich our community, and what are some ways people can become engaged with art in Burbank?
“Art is about “Us.” Art is communal and is not exclusive to one group. Art tells our collective stories. When we are hearing a play, watching a dance, listening to music, or viewing paintings and sculptures, we are gathering in a place and sharing a common experience. I think that is marvelous. I think Burbank is an absolutely amazing place. We have a school district and supporters who make teaching the arts a priority. We have a parks and rec department that offers various art classes taught by terrific teachers. The greater Los Angeles area is the media capital of the world. The most talented and creative people from all over the world come here to create their art. Many of them live and work in Burbank. That’s just plain awesome!”
If you could share with our community one thing about art, what would it be?
“If I could share with our community one thing about art, it would be my encouragement to explore. Artists are people who are trying to communicate their visions and passions with others. They are not working to please an elite group of critics; they are talking to all of us. The form may very, but the intention is the same. Please, go out and listen to the many voice out there. Find the ones who speak to you, and find the ones who challenge you. Also, find the artist within yourself. Find ways to express yourself and make your voice heard. You don’t have to be a Da Vinci or Mozart to express yourself to your fellow human beings.”
To find out more about Vsev’s work, visit https://www.facebook.com/BurbankChildrensTheatre/