An Interview with Darren Critz, Director of Performing Arts
Today I want to introduce you to Darren, who not only runs the Performing Arts division of Symphony Space, but also programs and produces our weekly family series, “Just Kidding.” Enjoy!
How did you become involved with kids programming?
I come from a theatre background, and came to Symphony Space to produce our theatre events as well as the music, dance, and family programs. My daughter, Regan, was born shortly after I started here, so it was a very natural transition into producing shows geared toward kids and their parents.
What is “Just Kidding” and how would you describe your programming philosophy?
Since Symphony Space is a multi-arts venue, I believe that our family program should reflect the same diverse programming that we present for adults, incorporating music, theatre, dance, literature and more. By having diverse shows every weekend, there is always something new to see every week. This makes it easy for parents to either plan ahead or just show up, knowing we’ll have something great. The arts should be an integral part of our regular lives, not something that should be relegated to special occasions like holidays.
What characteristics do successful performances have?
They engage the kids and their parents. When the kids are going wild and parents are dancing too, it’s obvious that the performance was successful. With someone like Elizabeth Mitchell, however, the room is so silent you could hear a pin drop because the audience is listening so intently.
Are there any memories from past performances that stand out to you?
There are a ton. We have families that come to every show, and one of them, whom I’ve gotten to know a bit, has a very shy child that prefers to sit in the back of the house, as far from the stage as possible. During a break dancing show a couple of years ago, the performers asked for a few kids to come up and learn some moves. Suddenly that super shy kid shot up on stage and danced up a storm in front of the entire audience. His parents were amazed, a bit shocked, and ultimately thrilled that their kid found the courage to put himself out there in such a bold way. And they had no idea he was even interested in dancing!
What are some of the performances you’re most looking forward to this season?
Rennie Harris’s RHAW will be here in December. This is going to be a great show — Rennie Harris is a legendary hip hop choreographer from Philadelphia and RHAW, his young company, are very athletic and high energy. This is their first appearance at Symphony Space.
“Lollipops for Breakfast” is a fantastic puppetry show also coming up in December. The puppeteer, Bonnie Duncan, is as good as they get and always creates beautiful, magical shows.
“Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey,” coming next March from Lightwire Theatre, is performed completely in the dark using electroluminescent wire to create glow-in-the-dark sets, costumes and masks.
And we always have amazing music events for kids. You can see the best kids’ bands in the country at Just Kidding throughout the year.
