Theater Expanding Children’s Programs

By John Gore

Posted: November 5, 2009 at 4:15 a.m.

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ROGERS — Rogers Little Theater is expanding its ability to provide theatrical training for youngsters.

The theater group began KidWorks several years ago to give children and teenagers the opportunity to learn acting, dance, other theaterrelated crafts and to perform for an audience.

The program is so successful the organization is leasing a storefront at 204 W. Walnut St. to expand the program, said Ed McClure, a member of the Board of Producers.

“We received funding from Cox Communication and the Walmart Foundation to expand our children’s programming,” McClure said Wednesday.

The theater stages several shows each season at the Victory Theater, 116 S. Second St. That stage is also used for rehearsals and the facilities are rented for other events such as the annual Gridiron production.

Theater officials wanted to expand children’s theater offerings to include afternoon classes, musical theater classes for teens and to create new performance opportunities for the students.

“The problem was fi nding time to use the stage for children’s programming in the Victory Theater,” McClure said.

The building leased for KidWorks is a former dance studio that will provide the additional rehearsal and classroom space needed for an expanded children’s program.

Lisa Anderson, executivedirector of Rogers Little Theater, said finding additional space was a necessity.

“Our summer camp has been so successful, last summer we had to cap the class at 60 students because we didn’t have enough room,” she said.

“The high interest in the summer program showed there was a need for more kids programming and afterschool classes,” she said.

Beginner and intermediate classes will be o◊ered. Each class will be eight weeks. At the end of the class students will perform at the Victory Theater, she said.

“I think this first semester they will break it up by age and interest. Long term, we are a community theater and we need to listen to the community, so if there is enough interest we could offer a comedy class, an improv class, or adult classes, whatever the community wants,” Anderson said.

The new location will be known as Spotlight Studio, she said.

Expanding the children’s programming is a win-win for every one, she said.

“The kids get to learn and perform and it attracts new people to the theater, who may not have known we even existed. Some fi rst time visitors maybe come back for another show. Besides we’re growing a new crop of performers to participate in the little theater for years to come ” she said

News, Pages 6 on 11/05/2009

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