Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times. Jai-Din Tinsley, 13, Javonte McNear, 18 (VCU student), Ishmel Paige, 17, Ny-Chelle Lawrence, 10 (tree), and Nyave Willis-Rodriguez, 10, during a rehearsal of the play, "Hey, Rip!, What's Been Happening?," a spinoff of Rip Van Winkle performed by the YOYO Players, a youth theater group that has reformed after being dismissed by Total Action Against Poverty. They practiced in the June M. McBroom Theater at the Community High School. Performances will be June 20-22.

Roanoke’s YOYO Players have landed in a new space.

The theater company for children will perform its first play in a year in the June M. McBroom Theater at the Community High School of Arts & Academics in downtown Roanoke.

Though the theater hasn’t been designated as a permanent home for the YOYO Players, the company’s director is delighted nonetheless. “I couldn’t think of anything better to happen to us,” said Lisa Turpin-Gabourel, who has been a part of the YOYO players since 2001 and has written many of its plays.

“They are a great group doing important work in the community, and we are proud to be able to help out,” wrote school co-director Josh Chapman in an email.

Starting July 20, a cast of 20 children ranging from ages 6 to 19 will perform “Hey, Rip! What’s Been Happening?” The musical is Turpin-Gabourel’s humorous modern update of the story of Rip Van Winkle, last performed in 2007 at the Dumas Center for Artistic & Cultural Development.

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