Rumpelstiltskin - 1953
Paul Berkowsky '53
Paul Berkowsky, an English major from Newburgh, New York said that he was interested in theater "for as long as I can remember." He participated in many Little Theater productions at HWS, both as an actor and behind the scenes. In 1953 he began the Children's Theater through the completion of his English Honors Project, "Kid Stuff (The Story of A Child as an Actor)" and his 1953 production of Rumpelstiltskin.
After graduating in 1953, Berkowsky went on to become a Broadway show manager and mantained a relationship with the Colleges and Little Theater for many years, occasionally coming back to give talks and connect with students.
Rumpelstiltskin
Rumpelstiltskin was produced at HWS as part of Paul Berkowsky's English 200 Honors project. The stage adaption was written by Charlotte Chorpenning. This first Children's Theater production set the stage for what would come in later years. Berkowsky and his technical director Edward Johnson used Little Theater funding to buy a small portable set, collapsable lights, and a switchboard with only three settings.
Rumpelstiltskin was an incredible success. After an initial performance at the Civic Auditorium for local school officials in January 1953, the group was invited to perform at over 40 schools throughout the spring of 1953. Over the next four months the group traveled over 320 miles and performed for over 6,000 audience members. According to the Geneva Daily Times, "Requests for performances of 'Rumpelstiltskin' have been far too numerous to fill" and Berkowsky had to reject invitations from over 20 schools.
