Moon Beach PRESS RELEASE
KID SISTER Theatre Collaborative announces staged reading at Good Company Theatre for the World-Premiere of Moon Beach, written by Niko Krieger, Hannah Keating, and Carter Anderson.
Ogden, UT—KID SISTER Theatre Collaborative, under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors Niko Krieger and Camden Barrett, will present the world-premiere staged reading of a devised play called Moon Beach on June 23 at 7:30 PM at Good Company Theatre. Moon Beach will be the second event of KID SISTER’s summer season called, KID SISTER SUMMER. There is an admission fee that can be paid at the venue for $8 via cash or Venmo.
(poster by Makena Chatlin)
What are the consequences when we neglect to teach future generations how to communicate their feelings? Children are inherently so inquisitive and insightful. They bring perspectives that are hopeful and daringly honest. Moon Beach follows the story of a group of children that must survive on a mysterious island and escape their internal fears that have materialized into external forces.
Moon Beach is the fruit of the conversations and world-making activities devised by six creatives in association with KID SISTER: Carter Anderson, Jaden Bishop, Hannah Keating, Niko Krieger, Caden Macfarlane, and Natalie Wren. The collaborators met weekly from January to April for “Art Class:” an evening of character development, dramaturgy, and constructing plot. Then in May, Niko, Hannah, and Carter joined forces to write the play script. Carter Anderson commented, “I grew so fond of our Tuesday meetings to devise the play world with all six of us. Initially, I was scared to write, but that’s how I knew I needed to.” Hannah Keating added, “Moon Beach, at its heart, is an inner child story and I love the kids we’ve brought into the world. I am in awe of the work KID SISTER does and have been grateful to launch into this creative endeavor with them.”
KID SISTER is a theatre collaborative based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Barrett and Krieger met in rehearsals for Krieger’s final directing project at the University of Utah, under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Alexandra Harbold, and their collaboration continued through a summer of international study and vacationing to devise and facilitate a theatre-making workshop in July 2022, which developed into a seven-rehearsal process to produce a new work, called Kite Flyer. Niko and Camden went on to organize a second workshop in October 2022 to gather passionate students and theatre makers in the community to adapt seven of Krieger’s poems into an evening-length work, Everything is About Something, in December 2022 which gathered more bodies than they had seats available. The KID SISTER process is ever-evolving: based on improvisation, experimentation, and what director Anne Bogart calls “exquisite pressure.” KID SISTER is a laboratory space and a classroom for theatre makers to satiate their hunger to play and make theatre that encourages us to dream. Barrett and Krieger have ensured a non-hierarchical dynamic between themselves as co-directors of KID SISTER and their wondrous collective of fellow theatre-makers and artists.
Good Company Theatre, founded by two sisters, Alicia and Camille Washington, “develops and promotes high-quality, eclectic theatrical productions and events, forging new relationships between audiences, performers, and spaces in the process.” Good Company Theatre is dedicated to its community in Ogden, UT, and seeks to honor playwrights, players, production members, and audiences alike. More information may be found on the GCT website: www.goodcotheatre.com/
KID SISTER Co-Artistic Director Camden Barrett comments, “We are tremendously grateful for the opportunity to share space with Good Company Theatre. Alicia and Camille’s [co-founders of GCT…read about our chat with Alicia HERE] generosity toward local and up-and-coming theatre makers is humbling and a wondrous guide for Niko and me as we continue to expand our KID SISTER community.”
ABOUT THE MOON BEACH ENSEMBLE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Caro Ciet (they/them) is an artist, based in Salt Lake City, studying to get their BFA in Acting at the University of Utah, with a love for painting, music, writing, and Mario Kart exclusively on the Wii. Ciet was previously seen at the University in As You Like It and at Salt Lake Acting Company in a staged reading of Let Down Your Hair!. Caro is more than thrilled to be making their debut with KID SISTER at Good Company Theatre in Moon Beach.
Fynn White (they/he/she) is a Salt Lake City native and recent graduate of the Musical Theatre Program at the University of Utah. While his primary focus is musical theatre, Fynn is incredibly excited to collaborate on Moon Beach and continue to expand his horizons. Fynn’s most recent credits include The Prom and Hello Dolly at Pioneer Theatre Company. When he is not at the theater, you can find him making coffee or playing video games and tabletop games!
Emily McKeon (she/her) is a dance artist born and raised in Maui, Hawaii. She attended the University of California, Irvine where she studied Dance Choreography and Education Sciences, and currently resides in Salt Lake City, dancing with SALT Contemporary Dance in their 2nd company. Emily has a strong passion for interweaving different art forms into performance and is beyond thrilled to be playing with KID SISTER for Moon Beach.
Aly Carter (she/they) is a collaborator, actor, and photographer with a love for playing in the theatre world. They are an upcoming senior in the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah. She is looking forward to forging on with friends and collaborators alike. Aly has been seen in KID SISTER’S previous projects, Kite Flyer and Everything is About Something.
Mack Barr (they/them) completed their performance training in the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah this past spring. They have most recently been seen as Ollie in Radiant Vermin and Perry in The Old Man and the Old Moon. They also had the wonderful opportunity to assistant direct As You Like It at the U. Mack is beyond excited to work with KID SISTER for the first time on another one of their amazing projects!
Cade Freiermuth (he/him) is originally from Kansas but moved to Utah for school. He is about to enter his third year in the acting program at the University of Utah. Other than performing, Cade loves the park and yummy food. He is so freaking excited to be working with KID SISTER this Summer!
Hannah Keating (she/they) is a theatre artist from Pocatello, ID, based in Salt Lake City. Hannah’s interests intersect the realms of the creative arts and well-being. She received a BFA in Musical Theatre and a BS in Health, Society, and Policy from the University of Utah in 2022. Since then, she has continued to work in theatre—recently performing in Something Rotten (PTC), A Year with Frog and Toad (SLAC), and 42nd Street (CPLT)...and in healthcare at the U. She is a newbie rock climber, a D&D nerd, and a fan of sad, gay music. She is grateful to all the KID SISTER collaborators for their inspiration and joy.
Carter Anderson (he/him) is a Utah native and has collaborated with theatre and filmmakers from Provo to Ogden. He trained at Utah Valley University, as part of the BFA Acting Program. He loves all things creative and unconventional, with a goal of producing art that reflects that. He, fortunately, has been able to work with the KID SISTER team since the beginning! Starting with acting in both Kite Flyer and Everything Is About Something he has unlocked a whole new passion and understanding of what it means to be a theatre maker.
Niko Krieger (he/him) is the co-founder and co-artistic director of KID SISTER Theatre Collaborative. Niko is a celebrated local artist and photographer in the Salt Lake Valley and an alumna of the Theatre Studies Program at the University of Utah. Niko was recently accepted into the post-graduate program at Rose Bruford College in Sidcup for Contemporary Directing Practice and will be moving to the United Kingdom in September.
Camden Barrett (they/them) is the co-founder and co-artistic director of KID SISTER Theatre Collaborative. Camden is a student at the University of Utah as part of the Actor Training Program and Modern Dance Department. Their most recent credits include: Radiant Vermin (University of Utah/director), Queer the Stage: The Golden Age (Good Company Theatre/performer), and As You Like It (University of Utah/Rosalind). Additionally, they have worked pre-professionally as an assistant director and intimacy coordinator for Salt Lake Acting Company and The Grand Theatre.
