Christine Dehne, Provost and Executive Vice President of Manhattanville College, contributed to two Spellbound Theatre productions, recently produced and performed at the New Victory Theatre in Midtown Manhattan.
Spellbound Theatre is one of the few theatre organizations dedicated to creating work for children ages 0 to 5. Using storytellers, puppeteers, musicians, visual artists, and physical theatre performers, Spellbound has become well-known for its innovative and often immersive productions. The New Victory Theater is located in the heart of New York’s Theatre District and is dedicated to producing family-friendly shows targeted at young audiences. Run by New 42, New Victory has been nationally recognized for its leadership in arts education and youth development.
In addition to her role at Manhattanville, Dehne is an active multimedia artist. With Spellbound, Dehne has been awarded residencies at the New Victory Theater and Miranda Arts, and grants from the Westchester Arts Council, Brooklyn Arts Council, and Jim Henson Foundation. She was the artist/co-creator of the show The World Inside Me, which was co-produced with the Chicago Children’s Theater and staged at the Chicago Children’s Theater, Miami Theatre Center, and then in the New Victory Theater in New York City.
This season, Dehne was responsible for the animations in “Wink,” a show inspired by Eugene Field’s 1889 poem “Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.” “Wink” is a more traditional theatre experience with a focus on shadow puppetry and tells the story of a young girl and her teddy bear as they adventure across land, sea, and air. A preview of Dehne’s animations was posted on New Victory and Spellbound Theatre’s Instagram Reels.
Additionally, she was a devising artist for “Shakespeare’s Stars,” a multisensory experience that incorporates many of The Bard’s famous lines about the stars. The show is staged in the theater’s lobby area and is designed to be an open and safe space for children to express themselves. “Shakespeare’s Stars” has been created specifically for the toddler age group and is designed to be an exciting introduction to theatre.
“I’m thrilled to be associated with these projects, which provide quality entertainment to young children and their caregivers,” says Dehne. “The goal is always to encourage exploration and play, and in addition to capturing the attention of young children we strive to make sure their caregivers are equally engaged and delighted.” At Manhattanville, Dehne oversees Academic and Student Affairs and is a senior member of the President’s Cabinet. She is currently working with teams of staff, faculty, and students on curriculum revisions as well as designing student-centered approaches to processes.
Featured cover photo courtesy of New Victory Theater
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