Child's Play: Children's theater productions offer broad foundation

BY CYMBRE FOSTER Special to the Record-Eagle
Photo by Jan-Michael Stump

TRAVERSE CITY -- Geoffrey Wallace, 15, delivered his lines with confidence and charisma during a recent rehearsal of "The Headless Horseman" at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City.

The play is one of three Traverse City Children's Theater productions currently underway.

The troupe presents "Ms. Courageous" on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Traverse Area District Library and will tour it in area schools. Next up is "The Headless Horseman" on Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Old Town Playhouse Studio Theatre. After that, it's "Mulan" on the mainstage Dec. 7-9 and 14-16.

More than 50 students ages 8 to 18 are not only learning their lines but the intricacies and art of theater while they prepare for the three very different productions.

Wallace said he discovered theater about four years ago as an elementary student.

"I heard about the children's theater and thought I would try it. I took to it and loved it," said the student at Traverse City College Preparatory Academy.

The theater was a perfect fit for Wallace, as it is for other students looking for some sort of after-school outlet.

"I like to become one with a character and become someone else," explained Wallace, who was cast in the lead as Ichabod Crane.

Wallace, who is also a cast member in "Mulan," has been in some 30 performances at the playhouse. He said he has not only learned how to become a better actor, but has done backstage work like lighting as well.

Claire Olson came to TCCT about a year ago after a friend told her they needed more students to audition.

"I wound up getting a really good role and they told me I was good at it," said the 16-year-old student at Traverse City St. Francis.

Playing Ichabod Crane's love interest Katie in "The Headless Horseman," she has also had parts in several other productions.

"I just think that it's a lot of fun, and it's not hard for me," she said.

Under the tutelage of Luis Araquistain, who stepped into the role of director in 2003, the children's theater program has grown.

He saw what had worked at the Spindrift School of Performing Arts in Pacifica, California where he taught, and expanded the TCCT to include the L'il Broadway program, educational outreach with area schools, opportunities for students with special needs and more.

The L'il Broadway series is now one of TCCT's most popular programs. Araquistain designed it as a program where students can take a series of classes to lead up to something big, he said. Including dancing, singing and acting classes, L'il Broadway is formatted to culminate in a Broadway hit play adapted for students.

"The success of it depended on getting kids excited about something," said Araquistain. "If they take these three classes or equivalents somewhere else, they can audition. It doesn't necessarily guarantee you a part though."

This program is part of his goal to dispense with the negative preconception of children's theater, which often involves watching kids miss their lines accompanied by polite clapping.

"I've always been quite proud of the quality of the shows we've been offering, but decided to push the envelope," said Araquistain. "I want people to walk out and say 'Wow we couldn't have seen a grownup show done any better.'"

Down in the studio theater on a Wednesday afternoon, instructor Michelle Dungjen takes a break from "The Headless Horseman" script and asks Olson and two other cast members to do some improvisation. Olson is to walk into a scene and completely change the subject and the other actors will respond accordingly.

This exercise is an example of TCCT's philosophy, which focuses on education even while students are learning their lines.

"Our directors don't just direct, they have the added responsibility to teach," said Araquistain.

Teaching is also the goal of the school touring productions.

"The purpose of this program is to make history, science, social study lessons more palatable to students and it meets the goals of the schools' curriculums," said Araquistain.

"Ms. Courageous" is the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman in the U.S. to become a doctor with a medical degree, and Marie Curie, who won two Nobel prizes for her work in physics and chemistry. The production explores the difficulty the pair had in a male-dominated field.

For those who are more comfortable behind the stage than on it, there's a new program called "On the Scene" that is designed for those 9 and older.

"We want to expand training beyond the performing arts by teaching skills like set painting, choreography, set building and design, directing, costuming and more," said Araquistain.

His goal is to put the kids in all of these classes together next year to create a student production, which will be "James and the Giant Peach" based on the popular children's book by Roald Dahl. The play will have a student director and stage manager, as well as student lighting technicians, prop master, costume designer and set designer, said Araquistain.

There will be one public performance of "Ms. Courageous" on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Traverse Area District Library; admission is free, though donations are welcome.

"The Headless Horseman opens Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at The Old Town Playhouse; admission is $6 for everyone, with tickets available only at the door. "Mulan" runs Dec. 7-9 and 14-16 on the mainstage.

For more information, visit www.tcctheatre.org or call 947-2210.

TCCT is a subsidiary of Old Town Playhouse
© Copyright 2004 Traverse City Children's Theatre | Site by hipcat design