Community Theatre helps youngest actors develop skills

When last week’s play productions began at the Newton Community Theatre, there were likely some nervous young actors on stage.

Those nerves would easily be understood by most of the spectators. After all, some of the actors and actresses have only been on the planet for about five years.

That’s why Melinda Worthington seems excited to be helping young actors gain stage experience. The Newton Community Theatre Children’s Summer Workshop allows school-age children to participate in short productions, complete with costumes.

Last week, the youngest group completed its three-week workshop with a Friday-night production, as children who have just completed kindergarten through the fourth grade showed off their skills. This week, the fifth- through eighth-graders are beginning their three-week workshop, and both that group and a high-school group will present productions on July 31.

“With the grades K-4 group, one big difference was having only two weeks to work with,” Worthington said. “The middle group has three weeks, whereas the high-schoolers have four to six weeks.”

Naturally, the youngest performers needed the most guidance, and the older high-school and college-age performers were around to help assist with their instruction. The K-4 finished out their workshop last Friday night with three performances Worthington described as having elaborate costumes, and, especially, sets.

They performed three short one-act pieces, entitled “Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat,” “How The Camel Got His Hump” and “Snow White.” “All three went by very quickly,” Worthington said.

The grades 5-8 group will be performing a adapted play called “Sinbad” that culls from the tales of Arabian Knights, but with some unique twists that allow for hijinks. Worthington said the play, written by Craig Sodaro, is mostly a flashback to Sinbad’s earlier times and adventures.

There is a scene where Sinbad needs to escape from Paradise Island, as a society of cannibals had tasty plans for him. He also ends up on Diamond Island, inhabited only by women pirates, who shrink humans down into Barbie-doll-like toys.

Many of the grades 5-8 actors are veteran performers who have been in at least one Berg Middle School production directed by Worthington. The high-school group will perform a fractured fairy tale called “Little Red Robin Hood.”

In the farce, Little Red Riding Hood takes a comical detour through Robin Hood’s Nottingham and Sherwood Forest, and runs into characters from other stories along the way. Worthington said the high-school group is using the full usual six weeks to rehearse.

The July 31 dual production is set to begin at 6 p.m. Each student’s fee for the workshop allowed for two complimentary tickets per student, and tickets will also be available at the door for $5 each. Worthington said parent volunteers are needed and welcome.

Each young person was required to try out for parts, and was given a script and asked to learn their lines before the first day of rehearsals. Maxine Clark, who is about to enter the fifth grade, said she’s been acting since before she was old enough for regular school.

“I really like acting,” Clark said. “I’ve been in a lot of plays, but mostly just as an extra person.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at
641-792-3121 ext. 6532
or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com