ROSEMARY BEACH — George Washington’s brother made an appearance in Rosemary Beach Tuesday morning.
“George Washingtano” arrived via time machine as a character at “Once upon a thyme in Rosemary”, an improvisational storytelling event hosted by the Seaside Repertory Theatre.
Jennifer Cabat’s two children, 3-year-old Katherine and 6-year-old John, joined about two dozen kids of all ages on the lawn to hear George Washingtano’s saga, which was created using suggestions from the audience.
“The improv storytelling, it really encourages the children to draw from their imaginations,” Cabat said. “They stay engaged because they use the (children’s) ideas to tell the story... they do a good job keeping all the ages engaged.”
The 30-minute story time will be held every Tuesday and Friday through mid-August in Rosemary Beach’s South Barrett Square. The performers begin at 10 a.m.
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See a video of the performance. >>
The Cabats visit every summer from Cleveland, and make sure to attend story time when they’re in the area.
John shared memories of stories from the family’s visit last year; one that featured wicked witches of the east and west, and another with a fiddle-playing grasshopper.
“It’s improv for kids, but I think it’s also fun for the adults because we can appreciate their talent,” Cabat said. “The talent, I’m just blown away.”
Tuesday’s talent came from two college theater majors: Kaylyn Carter, a Florida State University sophomore, and Nikki Hartung, a senior at University of West Florida.
“We usually have a base story line we come up with and ask them questions to get them involved,” Hartung said. “It’s a fun way to show them some theater and get them into that mood of having fun and being silly.”
Hartung got involved with the Seaside Repertory Theatre, or “The REP”, through a theater conference last summer. She said the storytelling events present an opportunity to practice a different type of theater outside of school.
“Children’s theater gives you a chance to be really imaginative,” she said.
Carter started as an intern at The REP in high school, and is now working for the summer as a company member.
She said performers aim to really get the kids involved through asking questions, and also through a feature where they tell the original story in fast forward.
Using a timekeeper from the audience, Carter and Hartung ended their performance by telling their story each in one minute, 30 second and 10 second increments.
“We just want to make them feel like they’re contributing and really make the story come alive,” Carter said.
