Of Magic and Monsters

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.

Excitement filled The School of Visual and Performing Arts in Stroudsburg, PA on Saturday October 29^th as an audience filled the venue to its capacity. A performance of The Theater Studio: A Confidence Theater's production of “Monster Soup” was eagerly awaited by the costumed gathering. Family and friends of the cast along with a number of supporters of youthful endeavors eagerly awaited the first line of the play to be delivered.

The appearance of the actors within the school's acting space inspired a hushed anticipation among the crowd as each word uttered by the actors echoed within the corridors of the listeners' loving souls. The play was a delightful one and the young people who played the characters did quite well in this regard. It was enjoyable to watch the performance as well as the emotions of joy and pride it inspired among members of the audience.

The performance of “Monster Soup” was followed by a raffle of items individuals sought to win. The numbers of the winning tickets were read off by members of the cast while each ticket holder eagerly eyed the digits until the final one was announced to indicate the recipient of the coveted prize. Congratulatory sentiments were expressed to each winner and the identity of the next performer of the day was shared at the raffle's conclusion.

Mark Mysterio www.mrmysterrio.com has deservedly gained the reputation of being the consummate magician of the Pocono Region of North East PA. A magical joy spread through the audience as one amusing trick followed another. A number of eager volunteers from the gathering assisted in each prestidigitation. Although the tricks Mr. Mysterio performed amazed the audience with their properties, the real magic was found on the facial expressions of the children who were present. Mr. Mysterio chatted with members of the audience after the show concluded providing an opportunity for selfies to be taken. You'll find more photographs taken during the Monster Soup performance and the Magic Show in The Of Magic and Monsters Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10155412254323761.1073742028.91146283760&type=3.

The Theater Studio: A Confidence Theater was founded in 2010 and encourages confidence, social skills, and friendships through Theater. The theater accepts individuals ages 7 and up of all levels of ability and interests. In addition to their plays and skits, The Theater Studio: A Confidence Theater holds Puppet Workshops with opportunities to participate in subsequent performances. You can learn more about The Theater Studio: A Confidence Theater by exploring their Website at www.theaterstudiostbg.webs.com or their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/TheaterStudioStroud.

The School of Visual and Performing Arts is located at 554 Main Street in Stroudsburg, PA. The school has been part of the Pocono Community since 2000 exposing, educating, and inspiring the public through the arts. They offer a number of classes, outreach programs, and performances throughout the year. You can learn more about The School of Visual and Performing Arts by exploring their Website at www.schoolofvisualandperformingarts.org or their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/schoolofvisualandperformingarts.