How to Eat: First Rehearsal

It always amazes me what kids can do!  

Working in children's theatre is not just about teaching kids about theatre, but also about important life lessons, like how to stand still, how to listen, how to be aware of what you're doing (you'd really be surprised), how to not be mad at your neighbor because your neighbor thinks it's fun to permanently place his/her feet on top of your feet, and how to teach neighbor to keep his/her feet to themselves!  It really can be exhausting!  The smallest tasks seem to take a while to accomplish when kids seem to want to do their own things.  

Children's theatre also exposes kids to new things... New people (different cast every time), new place, new choreography, new lines...etc. For some, new things can be scary.  For some, new things are overwhelming.  The new things we ask these kids to do are small so they are easily accomplished and can show kids that new things don't have to be scary.  Yesterday, we talked about an important life lesson when teaching the movements to a song.  After going over it once, some were complaining that it was too hard.  We had a discussion about life and how even when things seem hard, it is important for us to try, try again and then, when the task is mastered, we can feel such a sense of accomplishment.  

With all that being said, after nearly 3 hours of work, we finished blocking and choreography of 3 songs.  

Again, it always amazes me what kids can do!  Rehearsal may look like herding cats, but the kids can pick up and learn and REMEMBER so quickly, it's shocking especially when we have people standing on other people, doing back rolls or push ups on the stage, taking multiple trips to the bathroom and complaining that their feet that are so tired they may literally fall off from standing (for five minutes).  

And that's after ONE rehearsal!

This show is one of my favorites and after yesterday, seeing how well the kids did, I'm even more excited to rehearse and share it with Texarkana October 22-24!

 

Aesop's Wrap Up

Well, that's a WRAP!  Last night we finished our final week of camp with a fun show!  Aesop's Fables was memorable learning experience for everyone involved!

At Silvermoon Children's Theatre, we strive for excellence.  That seems like a lofty goal when sometimes (most times) working with kids feels like herding CATS, but after each performance I am usually still surprised and the level of excellence and professionalism that can come from KIDS!  Are things perfect?  NO, but that is the beauty of live theatre...things go wrong and it's about how you adapt and think on your feet.  

Our kids for camps learned everything they needed to put together a show for the public...in FIVE DAYS!  It's truly amazing to watch the progress and see what the kids are capable of.  

During the week there are lots of things to remember...  

Here is a list of a few things we teach (and remind) the kids about working in the theatre.  See how many are applicable to LIFE in general.

1. If it's not yours, don't touch it...neighbors, props, etc

2.  Even if you are nervous, especially when you are nervous, plant your feet and look confident

3.  Use diction when speaking...make your words sound like chips and not spaghetti mashed potatoes

4.  Listen and show respect to those who are speaking

5.  Leave things better than you found them

6.  Take care of things that don't belong to you

7.  Keep hands and feet to yourself and off walls, curtains, and neighbors

8.  Face the audience and project your voice so people can hear you

9.  Don't steal focus from others...wait for your turn to have the focus.

10.  Work as a team

11.  BIG FACES

12.  Be engaging with the audience

13.  Focus on what you are doing with your body...facial expressions, body positions etc

14.  Remember everything you have to remember

15.  AND...Don't forget to have fun!

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it gives you a taste of all the things we ask our kids to remember and do while working with us in our pursuit of EXCELLENCE.

OPA!!!
L to R Standing:  Ariana Charitonenko, Layton Redick, Abby Farren, Sydney Williams, Abby Sanderson, Karadyn Alamond, Erin Eppinette, Brycen Bailey, Warren Carroll, Christian Conway
Sitting:  Alex Schneekloth, Emma Burks, Isaac Linnett

Celebrating the FANTASTIC cast of Aesop!
Back:  Layton Redick & Christian Conway
Middle:  Abby Farren, Emma Burks, Brycen Bailey, Ariana Charitonenko, Karadyn Alamond, Abby Sanderson, Sydney Williams
Front:  Leah Linnett (our fantastic USHER!)

The Art of Storytelling

Doing research for our upcoming Drama Camp Mini Show, I have realized many things.

1.  Aesop was the king of storytellers.  Aesop was born around 620 BC and his stories are still some of the most well known stories.  They had to be passed down through the art of oral storytelling and still have stood the test of time.  I'm thinking in order for his stories to be remembered and retold years and years and YEARS later, he must've been something to listen to.

2. The art of storytelling isn't as important as it used to be.  People are so quick to jump on social media and post snippets of thoughts and quick photos that tell the minute to minute story of their lives.  The need to communicate orally is becoming more and more diminished (This comes from a hermit of sorts, who would rather text or answer an email than talk on the phone or face to face. Realizing this helps me to remember that oral communication is important and I should work to improve those skills even if it's not my favorite form of communication.)

3.  Theatre arts is helping to preserve the art of live performance and oral communication.  Teaching kids to be able to tell a story and perform for an audience helps them to think about other people and how to engage an audience and keep them engaged.  This is important in everyday life in so many aspects.

4.  Realizing the Art of Storytelling is an important aspect of theatre that we haven't specifically touched on in the past.  Though in teaching kids to perform in theatre arts, we had to do this to a point, but an in depth study of this and teaching storytelling to kids isn't something that we have done...until this next week.

5.  I'm excited about teaching kids about ancient stories and helping them to realize that ancient stories can have modern appeal.  The type of stories we are working with next week are classic and timeless and through creativity we can add our own fun twist on these timeless classics.


Aesop's Fables showtimes are Friday, August 14 at 6pm and 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the theatre this week Monday - Friday from 9am - 2:30 pm.  Email us at silvermoonchildrenstheatre@gmail.com for more information.

-Meredith

Dream a Little Dream

I have always loved theatre.  My parents raised me to have a love for live stage shows.  As I was growing up, my parents worked to put many local shows 'on their feet' by performing in shows and or working in support staff in costuming, music, set construction, marketing or just being theatre patrons.   I even had opportunities to be on the stage myself.  After those opportunities, I was able to see the passion my father and my younger sister, Susannah, had for being on the stage and I realized that I just didn't have it.  I still continued to love being in the audience and especially supporting my family of theatre stars.  

From Texas High School production of Sound of Music 1988
From left to right:  Rebekah Scurlock Minter, Susannah Morriss Linnett,
Meredith Morriss Farren, Robert Phillips, Laurie Gass Throneberry

Fast forward to having a daughter who caught the familial trait of the 'theatre bug'.  I wanted her to have a place to shine and to teach and inspire her to be the best she can be, with the hopeful thought that through this, she would find confidence and a place to belong.

The Birdie Girls in Silvermoon Children's Theatre's 2014 production of Seussical Jr.
From Left to Right:  Eleanor Hornok, Abby Farren (my baby), and Sydney Sheek

Our perfect little theatre!

This need/desire coupled with my supportive and theatre loving family led my sister and I to start   Silvermoon Children's Theatre in October 2013. A few years before, my parents had poured their heart into their dream of revitalizing a few adjacent buildings in downtown Texarkana, named Silvermoon on Broad.  With my dad's love for theatre, he designed and built a small theatre in the new buildings.  It was the perfect place for this new partnership.

Supportive Family is EVERYTHING!

In the past 2 years, we have had 5 main stage shows (with casting already done for the 6th show), 4 mini show drama camps (and another planned for next week), several Turbo Days (one day workshops), and many opportunities to be in the community through writing contests, parades and other public appearances outside of our theatre.

Susannah and I have learned so much in the last 2 years, and are constantly reevaluating the way we do things to make things run smoother for all involved.  One of the biggest things I have learned personally is that just because I don't enjoy being on the stage or have the experience to direct someone on the stage, there is still a place for me to be a producing member of the theatre.  Susannah calls me Company Manager Plus, for lack of a better name.  She jokingly says this means she is our Executive Director and I do everything else.  In actuality, this is TEAM WORK.  More so than ever before, I believe that putting together a show, should be about TEAM as much as any baseball or football team.

Sisters make the best friends - Christmas Parade 2013

Theatre is such a great place for all kids!  Kids that are good at singing and dancing and kids can't carry a tune in a bucket especially while 'dancing'...Kids who have numerous shows under their belt and kids who have never stepped foot on a stage....Kids who have self confidence and kids that would rather be a wall flower...Kids who have a flair for the dramatic and kids who like to craft, sew, run lights and sound or even express ideas through creative writing.  There is a place for everyone!

Cryin' Wolf cast - Summer 2014

While most kids who become part of our family probably won't end up professional actors, we know that the training that they get while at Silvermoon Children's Theatre can teach them more than how to act on stage.  We believe there are so many life lessons to be taught through the exercise of putting together a show that we have acquired the mantra that at Silvermoon Children's Theatre we practice 'Life Training in Disguise'.

Join us in this blog for our musings about upcoming events, things we are teaching and things we are learning!

- Meredith Farren