You may already have a copy of The Three Javelinas on your child’s book shelf. Written in 1992 by Tucson author Susan Lowell and filled with glorious illustrations by Jim Harris, it was named a “One Book AZ” for children a few years ago, designating it as a suggested read for every 3- to 8-year-old in the state. Building on the original story of the three little pigs, this story is set in the American Southwest and explores sibling relationships as well as life lessons on “preparation, teamwork and common sense.”
When Jenny Millinger, Childsplay’s director of strategic initiatives, read the book and its sequel, Josefina Javelina, she could envision an exciting play for Arizona children that would incorporate a familiar fable, yet give it a contemporary, local flavor. She met the author and was granted the rights to develop the two stories into a cohesive theatrical experience that has turned into “a 90-minute Broadway musical,” Jenny says with a laugh.
The particular job Jenny holds at the award-winning theater company was created especially for her. Twelve years ago she started out as their development director. While she enjoyed that position and was able to bring in some sizeable donations, she knew she really wanted to be more involved in the artistic end of things. After all, she’d loved theater since she played a pilgrim in her kindergarten Thanksgiving play.
She dabbled in performing through her preteen years, but by high school realized she loved all the production aspects of the art: directing, designing, dramaturgy. She devoured scripts to the point of creating a “Dramaturgy degree in English literature” at Scripps College in California, where she read, dissected, discussed and reviewed hundreds of classic and contemporary scripts. She also spent six months in London at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she continued her script analysis work.
Plus, she loved teaching. David Saar, the founding artistic director of Childsplay, knows creative excellence – and knew that Jenny had a perfect combination of interests and abilities to help the company increase and expand its outreach. Jenny is now in charge of all the educational outreach programming the company offers.
“Childsplay is such a wonderful and inspiring place to work,” Jenny says. “By devoting our energies to ‘strikingly original theater,’ we strive to keep up with the rapidly changing audience. Children today see the world much differently than children of just 10 years ago, for example, and Childsplay insists on keeping up and showing respect for the child’s world and points of view.”
Childsplay performs in the arena of “Theatre for Young Audiences,” with adult professional actors. Over their 35+ years they have developed an ensemble of some of the most talented and creative theater artists in the Valley, a number of whom have been with the company almost since it was founded. David knows how to nurture his company members, allowing them freedom to pursue outside acting and teaching opportunities when possible. When Jenny wanted to create a script from the books, David encouraged her to do so, even though she had not had a script produced prior to this.
“I talked to Susan Lowell and explained we would need to make changes and ‘fill in the story,’ and she enthusiastically endorsed the project,” Jenny explains. “We brought in Todd Hulet, a wonderful composer who understood the best in tonality and rhythms that exemplify the Southwest. We wanted to be sure to celebrate the best of living in the Southwest visually, textually and musically.”
Jenny wrote the lyrics to the songs as well as the script. “No pun goes unturned,” she says laughing.
The traditional story has been changed a bit – and includes segments from the second book in which Josephina wants to be a ballerina. She “packs up her concertina and leaves her favorite little cantina to go to Pasadena to visit her cousin Angelina.” And of course the former big, bad wolf is now an Arizona coyote.
Jenny grew up in the greater Phoenix area, attending the Valley Jewish Day School and Phoenix Hebrew Academy. She grew up at Har Zion Congregation, and when that shul closed she became a member at Congregation Beth El. “In talking about my play to Rabbi (Arthur) Lavinsky the other day, I reminded him that javelinas are not from the pig family, but rather are peccaries – and I assured him that this whole play is about NOT eating pork!”
