Arcade Theater’s Penny Arcade expands interactive kids’ shows through grant
The most important thing to understand about the Penny Arcade, says Abby Fudor, is that kids quite literally run the show.
During the 90-minute performance, kids ages 3-15 choose characters and dialogue, make costumes, and paint scenery for a show that the Penny Arcade players then bring to life – with audience help, of course.
“Kids are king here,” Fudor says. “They don’t hear, ‘Be quiet, calm down, don’t be so silly.’ They’re told, ‘your imagination is a powerful tool. Look at this scene – we could only do this because of your ideas.'”
Fudor is the founding creative director of downtown’s Arcade Comedy Theater and the Penny Arcade is the theater’s interactive children’s program.
The Penny Arcade just received a $10,000 PNC Charitable Trust grant that she says will likely go toward expanded programming, marketing and outreach – and to pay their performers for the first time.
The Penny Arcade program has run on volunteer efforts and admission costs since its first performances in 2014, just a year after the founding of the Arcade Theater. Although they’ve seen audiences grow for the Penny Arcade, says Fudor, as a non-profit theater, they’re happy to have some additional funding to increase their reach.
“We need to get the word out. We might take the performers to different parts of the Pittsburgh area, make sure underserved areas are getting this creative outlet for kids,” she says. Arcade’s directors are still making talking about ideas, she adds. “We haven’t had the funds to act on our longer-term plans before.”
Penny Arcade is also looking to enlarge its 2016 cast to between 10 and 12 artists, so the program will hold open auditions for Saturday, January 9, from 12 to 3 p.m., to add new performers. Those auditioning can select one of three 1-hour slots.
While experience in improv comedy, children’s theater or education is preferred, qualities like being fun-loving, playful, and great at storytelling go a long way to becoming a Penny Arcade player, Fudor says.
“These are often the same performers as for our adult shows, and they know how to offer something for both adults and children. Adults need to be silly, too.”
The Penny Arcade is on hiatus while they audition new performers, but will return in February. “This grant is an exciting step in the direction of planning for sustained growth for the Penny Arcade,” Fudor says.
Penny Arcade, 811 Liberty Avenue, holds shows every second Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for kids and $5 for adults. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit their website.
