web1_L__CI-qD.jpg

Their view: Student debt is delaying progress for an entire generation

web1_1940s.garb_.jpg

Golden Age of Radio Players to present three classic shows

<p>As a cast of young dancers waited to rehearse their roles as seahorses, crabs, the plucky Princess Ariel, her royal sisters and other creatures from the briny deep earlier this week, a bystander asked a group of girls if they&#8217;d like to be &#8212; if it were at all possible &#8212; a real mermaid.</p><p>The answer, coming from five or six youngsters in a corner of a studio at Wilkes University&#8217;s Conservatory of the Arts, was a resounding: Yes!</p><p>&#8220;Because they&#8217;re part of the ocean,&#8221; said Aleni Kaupp, 10, of Kingston.</p><p>&#8220;Because I&#8217;d like to see Ariel,&#8221; said Ella Dunleavy, 7, of Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;I would love to be a mermaid because I love aquatic life,&#8221; said Izzy Shoemaker, 10, of Wyoming, adding she aspires to become a marine biologist.</p><p>While Izzy&#8217;s future career is years down the road, the immediate focus this weekend for dozens of young ballerinas is The Degnan Ballet Center at Wilkes Conservatory&#8217;s &#8221;The Little Mermaid&#8221; and &#8220;Waltzes from Vienna.&#8221;</p><p>Show times are 7:30 p.m. June 1 and 2 p.m. June 2 at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts; admission is $22 for adults and $15 for children.</p><p>If you&#8217;re familiar with the story of The Little Mermaid, you know she doesn&#8217;t share the opinion of the young humans who think it would be fun to be a mermaid.</p><p>&#8220;She&#8217;s been stuck in the sea her whole life. She wants something more,&#8221; said Sophia Snell, 15, of Shavertown, who is dancing the title role in the ocean-versus-land fairy tale.</p><p>Yes, Ariel wants legs instead of fins. She wants to live on terra firma. She wants to be with the human prince Eric, whom she once rescued from drowning.</p><p>So Ariel will seek help from the sea witch Ursula, who will exact a heavy price for her assistance.</p><p>&#8220;She wants her voice because it&#8217;s her best feature,&#8221; said Rachael Wooditch, 18, of Dallas, who portrays Ursula.</p><p>Minus her lovely voice, Ariel will be at a disadvantage on land.</p><p>Will she ever get her voice back? Will she be human at the end of the story, or a mermaid?</p><p>The ballet holds the answers, said Snell who, incidentally, explained her costume is &#8220;more like fins, fins around my calves, than a tail,&#8221; to allow her move easily.</p><p>&#8220;There&#8217;ll be a happy ending for Ariel, not so much for us,&#8221; said Stella Rea, 14, of Kingston, who is paired with 15-year-old Paige Washko, of Pittston, to portray Ursula&#8217;s not-so-nice eel henchmen, Flotsam and Jetsam.</p><p>Following intermission, the more experienced dancers will perform &#8220;Waltzes from Vienna.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s just like a party,&#8221; Rea said, explaining one of the segments includes several young women playfully vying for the attention of a young man.</p><p>So who will most enjoy the performances this weekend?</p><p>&#8220;I think anyone, of any age, if you like the arts,&#8221; said Christopher Papciak, 15, of Mountain Top, who partners Ariel as Prince Eric in &#8220;The Little Mermaid&#8221; and is one of two young men who squire the young women about in &#8220;Waltzes From Vienna.&#8221; </p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Two little ballerinas take a brief rest as they watch older dancers rehearse for this weekend&#8217;s performances of &#8216;The Little Mermaid&#8217; at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Two little ballerinas take a brief rest as they watch older dancers rehearse for this weekend&#8217;s performances of &#8216;The Little Mermaid&#8217; at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. </caption0><photoCredit0>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sophia Snell, 15, will be Ariel, and Christopher Papciak, 15, will be Eric, in the Degnan Ballet Center&#8217;s production of &#8216;The Little Mermaid.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Sophia Snell, 15, will be Ariel, and Christopher Papciak, 15, will be Eric, in the Degnan Ballet Center&#8217;s production of &#8216;The Little Mermaid.&#8217; </caption1><photoCredit1>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dancers rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid on Wednesday at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.   Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Dancers rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid on Wednesday at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.   Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dancers young and older rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid on Wednesday at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.     Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Dancers young and older rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid on Wednesday at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.     Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</caption3><photoCredit3>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dancers rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.    Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet5-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Dancers rehearse for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.    Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</caption4><photoCredit4>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dancers glide with grace across the studio floor as the rehearse for the Degnan Ballet Center at Wilkes Univesity Conservatory productions. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet6-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Dancers glide with grace across the studio floor as the rehearse for the Degnan Ballet Center at Wilkes Univesity Conservatory productions. </caption5><photoCredit5>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet7-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Young ballerinas from sit and watch rehearsal for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid.     Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet7-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Young ballerinas from sit and watch rehearsal for an upcoming performance of The Little Mermaid.     Photo by Butch Comegys / For Times Leader</caption6><photoCredit6>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet8-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The younger dancers portray all sorts of sea creatures and flowers in the Degnan Ballet Center at Wilkes University Conservatory&#8217;s production of &#8216;The Little Mermaid.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet8-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>The younger dancers portray all sorts of sea creatures and flowers in the Degnan Ballet Center at Wilkes University Conservatory&#8217;s production of &#8216;The Little Mermaid.&#8217; </caption7><photoCredit7>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet9-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A dancer rehearses her steps for this weekend&#8217;s productions of &#8216;The Little Mermaid&#8217; and &#8216;Waltzes From Vienna.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TheLittleMermaidBallet9-1.jpg</photo8><caption8>A dancer rehearses her steps for this weekend&#8217;s productions of &#8216;The Little Mermaid&#8217; and &#8216;Waltzes From Vienna.&#8217; </caption8><photoCredit8>Butch Comegys | For Times Leader </photoCredit8></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mary Therese Biebel</p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO </strong></p><p><strong>What: </strong>&#8216;The Little Mermaid&#8217; and &#8216;Waltzes From Vienna&#8217;</p><p><strong>When:</strong> 7:30 p.m. June 1 and 2 p.m. June 2</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts, 239 S. River St, Wilkes-Barre</p><p><strong>Who:</strong> Presented by the Degnan Ballet Center of Wilkes University Conservatory</p><p><strong>Tickets: </strong>$22 for adults and $15 for students. Call <strong></strong>570-408-4426 for reservations.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

‘Little Mermaid,’ ‘Waltzes’come to Wilkes stage