For booking
information call
704-973-2808

Tarradiddle Players, the Resident Touring Company of Children's Theatre, spreads the joy of live theatre across the Southeast. In addition to appearances on CTC stages, this four-person troupe travels from Virginia to South Carolina performing in schools, community centers and towns big and small for audiences who might otherwise never see a live play. Tarradiddle Players has performed for over one million children during its 37 years!

The Tarradiddle Players return from the road to start their season in the Wachovia Playhouse with A Thousand Cranes (Oct. 24-Nov. 2). Here the 2008-09 cast members introduce themselves and talk about some of their favorite stories.

Ashby Blakely

I started acting at Gaffney Little Theatre in South Carolina when I was 5. My family has always encouraged everyone to become involved in the arts and that's where my interest in acting came from!

Growing up my favorite story was "Miss Nelson Is Missing." I have always loved when Miss Nelson comes back as Miss Viola Swamp. Most of all I love the lesson the kids learn: not to take advantage of what or who you have close to you because you might not realize how much they mean to you until they are gone! I think that is one of the most important lessons I have ever learned.

Leslie Ann Giles

I am originally from Anderson, SC. I started seeing theatre with my school when I was 3 years old, and I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do with my life! There is something about seeing something LIVE that fills me with excitement and awe. Performing for an audience makes me happy, and I hope my audiences are having as much fun as I am!

I have two favorite stories. One is "The Three Musketeers" by Alexandre Dumas. I love classic literature, and this story has EVERYTHING! Action, romance, adventure, friendship ... something for everyone. I like stories that both boys and girls can enjoy. My favorite fairy tale, however, is "Thumbelina": a story about a girl who is smaller than everyone else around her but ends up doing big things. I've always been short, so I really identify with this story!

Darlene Parker-Black

I was born and raised in Madison, NC. I have always loved singing and acting out stories. When we were in elementary school, my big sister and I used our imaginations more than our toys. We would make TV shows, three ring circuses out of hula hoops, commercials and horror movies and mom would patiently watch whatever we created.

My favorite story is "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien. I had read it six or seven times by the time I was 13, and every few years I read it again. I love the beautiful and scary world the author made - the details are so clear that I can see pictures when I read.

Stephen Seay

Originally from Spartanburg, SC, I became interested in acting when I was really young. My older sister and I have always been "performers" at heart. However, I didn't decide to actually act until I saw my sister in her high school performance of School House Rock Live!. I can remember every costume, set piece, prop, musical number - I was very much blown away and inspired. I started taking acting classes and haven't stopped since.

My favorite story is "Aladdin." I always thought it would be really cool to have a genie to grant wishes and to fly on a magic carpet. I think the hardest thing about being Aladdin would be deciding what to wish for. Do I use it for myself? Do I help someone else out? Is wishing for a pet kangaroo really a good idea?

2008-09 Tarradiddle Players
(L-R: Leslie Ann Giles, Stephen Seay, Darlene Parker-Black and Ashby Blakely)
Photo by Donna Bise