Reader’s Theatre in Live Performance!
The Marzians! love stories and bring them to life in live performance for children. The Marzians! are a professional children’s theatre troupe performing stories for children of all ages across the southeast. Bring stories alive with a high-energy performance from Marzipan Studios and The Marzians!
Artistic Director : Josh Ruben
Garaxamoor the Goblin
Josh Ruben, holds a Masters in Education from UTC and a B.A. in Professional Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a Wolftrap Artist specializing in arts and education for early childhood development. He spent ten years on staff with the Alliance Theatre as a Teaching Artist, toured professionally with Young Audiences of Atlanta, and for the Georgia Department of Education developed and programmed the ArtsConnect Literacy initiative. Currently Mr. Ruben is head of the Theatre Arts program at Northwest Whitfield County High School.
“Hearing stories read aloud puts children on the fast track to better reading and better learning. Seeing stories come alive can be the spark that lights the reading fire.”
The Company
Garn the Goblin : Emily Killian
Ms. Killian is a theatre major at Rollins College in Florida. She attended Girls’ Preparatory School where she was President of the Honor Council, Assistant Director of GPS Camp Kaleidoscope, and starred, completely airborne, as Peter Pan in Peter Pan. Clearly perfect credentials for creating a wickedy goblin! Ms. Killian’s latest Chattanooga performance, as Shelby in Steel Magnolias at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, garnered her a Miss Annie Award Nomination.
“Garn is the rottenest creature I’ve ever played! And the most Hilarious! The screechy voice, the puerile name-calling – Garn makes it fun to be wicked, that is - theatrically speaking, of course!”
Spore the Goblin : Kelsey Adams
Ms. Adams is a member of the Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State. She attended Girls’ Preparatory School where she was a GPS Diva, Editor of the River Review Literary magazine, and a big wicked star playing Evillene in The Wiz! Yeeees, the ULTIMATE goblin. Arguably the goblin maker.
“Spore is lucky to remember his name. He’s not so much eville as goblins go, more like spectacularly stupid. The Artistic Director said I was perfect for the part.”
Coozoo the Goblin : Sarah Kate Neall
Ms. Neall is a junior at the University of Virginia majoring in writing. She attended Girls’ Preparatory School where she was Senior Honor Council Representative and May Queen. We think you’ll agree that the clear sweetness required of a May Queens shines through in her performance of the honest and kind Coozoo.
“I think a lot of people find themselves in circumstances that they didn’t create. I like Coozoo because he doesn’t stand around thinking he’s ohso pitiful. He makes some mistakes, true. He also decides what kind of person he wants to be and moves immediately to be that person. Takes guts. We could all use a little of Coozoo’s guts.”
Liverwort the Goblin : Jasen Durrence
Mr. Durrence is a sophomore at the University of Tennesse, Knoxville studying writing. He attended The McCallie School where he starred in many productions including as Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, and our personal favorite, Vince Fontaine in Grease. In fact as Liverwort, he’s really just playing Vince Fontaine with wilder hair. This last summer Mr. Durrence starred as Jack Gable in the Ken Ludwig comedy Leading Ladies at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. He received a Miss Annie Award Nomination for his work.
“Liverwort is the finest role I’ve been offered to date. The shallowness of character, the truly obnoxious laugh. To prepare I didn’t comb my hair for three days.”