Kids get acting roles in Symphony New Brunswick's new show Carnival

Symphony New Brunswick will be visiting three cities with Carnival, a show that caters to the whole family and includes some kids.

The symphony will performCarnival of the Animals, but children from a New Brunswick performing arts school will be taking on the characteristics of the animals.

Kate Elman-Wilcott, founder and artistic director of the InterAction school in Saint John, is directing the students, who arenine to 11 years old.

"We listened to the music a lot," shesaid. "We've been working on this since September."

Carnival of the Animals was composed by Camille Saint-Sans in 1886 and features 14 pieces of music, each devoted to an animal.

Elman-Wilcott said the music offered a lot of opportunity forcreative choreography.

Choreographer likes kids' creativity

Elman-Wilcott'sdaughterSophie Wilcott was in charge of the choreography.She said the kids who are in the performancefelt inspired.

"One of the great things about working with kids is that they're absolutely fearless interms of contributing their ideas," said Wilcott.

She said much of the structure of each section was created by the children.

"They always surprise us," she said.

1 actor in 4 roles

Carter Russell is one of those kids. He plays a few roles in Carnival.

He's a donkey, a bystander, a fossil and an elephant.

"I like thinking of ideas to go with the scenes," he said. "I'm really grateful to be in this class."

Both Elman-Wilcott and her daughter toured with Symphony New Brunswick when it performedProkofiev's Peter and the Wolf.

Carnival will hit the road this month, stopping in Fredericton and Saint John on March 16 and in Moncton on March 17.