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Winnie-the-Pooh
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
This production of Winnie-the-Pooh is an amazing, heartfelt adaptation by Sean Patrick Nill of the original stories by A.A. Milne.
New to the neighborhood and feeling out of place, Christopher Robin would rather retreat into his room than face the unfamiliar world outside. While a friendly neighbor tries to draw him into play, he finds comfort instead in his cherished stuffed animals. Sensing his son’s unease, A.A. Milne begins sharing imaginative stories inspired by those beloved toys—stories filled with adventure, warmth, and gentle humor. As the tales unfold, Christopher Robin discovers the confidence to step beyond his fears and connect with others. Drawn from A.A. Milne’s original work, Winnie-the-Pooh brings timeless characters to life onstage and reminds audiences of all ages that friendship often begins with a bit of courage.
Directed by Donald Cleland, with assistant director/stage manager Kathleen Lacock, the cast of this production is mainly comprised of youth, ages 8 to 20.
Cleland has lived in Hillsboro for 60 years and taught in the Hillsboro School District for 31 years, building active theater programs in multiple schools. He started directing youth theater in the early 1980s. Cleland says he has devoted his adult life to working with youth, and as a retired educator, directing at Theatre in the Grove gives him the opportunity to continue working with young people. Cleland says that the themes of Winnie-the-Pooh resonate beautifully for both young and old alike. The main theme is friendship, specifically how difficult it is for a young person to leave old friends and familiar surroundings.
Kathleen Lacock has been a teacher for 30 years in Hillsboro, teaching elementary and middle school classes, literacy, and serving as a dual-language specialist. She has worked with Cleland in the past, usually as the music director for the youth musicals. Besides a passion for working with children, Lacock says she really enjoys watching the reactions of kids in the audience, many of whom are seeing live theater for the very first time. Lacock likes this Winnie-the-Pooh adaptation because it toggles back-and-forth between “reality“, and imagination. But for kids, these worlds are not so very far apart. She says they are working hard to create a realistic imaginary world.