RIT’s School of Performing Arts, NTID Performing Arts, and Dance at RIT will present ‘Pure Imagination: The Magical Candy Shoppe,’ April 17-19

Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Performing Arts, National Technical Institute for the Deaf Performing Arts Department, and Dance at RIT have teamed up to create and produce an original production, “Pure Imagination: The Magical Candy Shoppe,” April 17-19, on the RIT campus.

Set in a small futuristic Art Nouveau–style town, the story begins in a magical candy shoppe where the town’s magic is slowly fading. In the opening scene, the main character sends a Golden Bird across the world in search of Magic Makers. The Golden Bird travels to seven far-off lands, each with its own unique terrain and dance styles. Once the Magic Makers are brought back to the town, they must learn to work together to restore the magic to the Candy Shoppe.

Conceived and directed by RIT/NTID Professor of Practice Thomas Warfield, who also provided choreography, the production features original music composted by Yi-Ning Lo, assistant professor in RIT’s College of Liberal Arts.

Warfield, who has been a mainstay in the performance and artistic community at both RIT and throughout the Rochester area, is retiring this spring. This will be his final production at the college.

“I am reminded of the many students over these 28 years who have journeyed with me exploring, creating and using dance to bring what we've imagined into reality,” Warfield said.

Suitable for all ages, the production features ballet, tap, jazz, modern, Afro-hip hop, and acrobatic dance, alongside animated avatars and cutting-edge projection technology—seamlessly blending old and new. Set, costume, and lighting designs by Erin Auble, Amanda Doherty, Rosie Mazique, and Nic Minetor, with sound and projection design by Dan Roach, bring the story to life.

As with all RIT and NTID Performing Arts productions, the story is told through a vibrant fusion of dance, music, American Sign Language (ASL), and multimedia.

Performances will take place at the Robert F. Panara Theatre on the RIT campus at 7:30 p.m. on April 17-18 and 2 p.m. on April 18-19.

Tickets are $5 for students, youth, and senior citizens (60+), $10 for RIT faculty, staff, and alumni, and $12 for the public. Purchase tickets at the RIT University Arenas box office, by calling 585-475-4121, online at RIT Tickets, or by emailing arenas@rit.edu.