Opportunities offered by youth theater program

Youth actors at Pullman Civic Theatre rehearse for the July production of James and the Giant Peach.

Gazette Staff

Pullman Civic Theatre (PCT) and Regional Theatre of the Palouse (RTOP) provide year-round opportunities for adults and children to experience the benefits of participating in theatrical production. In the summer and early fall, both groups offer programs tailored for youth involvement. From set and costume design to live performance, community theatre gives kids an opportunity to explore the performing arts in a supportive environment.

Kristin Lincoln, Kami Cornwall and Jessica Cross, all long-timers with PCT and with decades of combined theatre experience, emphasize both the emotional and educational benefits of theatre and try to include as many of the children as they can who audition. They all agree that the positive experience begins with the audition. Many of the children start out timid about singing in front of the group but quickly become exhilarated by the kudos and support.

“Our goal is to be inclusive, and we require that our adults who work with the kids must be welcoming,” said Lincoln. “And when kids walk in here, all the school cliques just disappear, and they are just themselves. You can't be 'not yourself' and do theatre, and this fosters life-long friendships,” she added.

Cross, who got her start in acting as a youth a decade ago at PCT, believes her “theatre family” and the opportunity to step out of her comfort zone in a supportive environment helped her to gain confidence and overcome being painfully shy.

“It was a huge change in my life,” said Cross. “I don't believe I'd be where I am today without it.”

Cross has done a little bit of everything at PCT, from acting to directing to makeup to stage management, another common thread in small theatre. Even the kids have a chance to learn a variety of production aspects, including electronics, lighting, sound and set-building.

“Each production brings an opportunity for educational experience. In addition to the technical skills, the bookwork involved in researching character, setting and context requires exploring aspects of history and language arts,” added Lincoln.

As a psychologist, Cornwall is especially tuned-in to the emotional benefits of the theatre environment.

“Kids get to step outside of themselves a bit and explore a range of emotions. Exploring a character and how to act that character naturally promotes emotional empathy,” said Cornwall. “And kids experience it as play, but it is play with a purpose, and that is empowering.”

These benefits of theatre were echoed and expanded on by Michael Todd of RTOP.

“The skills that come from participating are translatable to all other parts of life, from work to personal. Kids build confidence, empathy, manners, respect and trust. They learn about deadlines, timing and team-building,” said Todd.

Todd emphasized that when working with the kids on productions, camps and workshops, RTOP tailors the experience to the skill-level of the participants.

“We set them up to succeed,” he said, “but they always surprise us and go further.”

And taking his theatre experience further is just what 17-year-old Rosalia native Collin Pittmann did last year when he founded Rosalia Community Theatre Organization and then went on to produce, direct and act in the organization's first play, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Pittmann has gotten most of his theatre exposure by traveling to Colfax to take part in the yearly fall stage productions at Colfax High School, and he credits Colfax High choral and music teacher Cary Cammack for inspiring his initiative to bring theatre to Rosalia.

“Mr. Cammack gives us total enthusiasm during the fall productions, and it only takes one person like that to make a difference in someone's life,” said Pittmann.

It is this philosophy that Pittmann carries over into the theatre in his hometown.

“I realized that not everyone has the opportunities I have, and I wanted to change that,” Pittmann said. “If by bringing theatre to Rosalia I can make a positive difference in even one kid's life, that makes it worth it.”

It was no small undertaking. Pittmann worked with the mayor and with local contributors to secure funding, stage space and the show package with scripts and licensing. Then there were the hasty few weeks of wrangling the rambunctious group of K-8th grade students through practices in preparation for showtime.

“There were people who said I'd never get it done in such a short time, and there were moments I thought that, too. But we kept pushing, and we did it,” said Pittmann.

If your children might be interested in giving theatre a try, there are many opportunities this coming year.

RTOP is currently offering week-long Summer Theatre Camps for children, teens and young adults.

Camps culminate in family-friendly Friday performances, free to the public.

RTOP hosts year-round acting workshops, as well.

PCT partners with Pullman Parks and Recreation to offer spring break acting camps, and they plan to expand their offerings to coincide with additional public school breaks this coming school year.

Also, PCT is set to give its summer performance, James and the Giant Peach, in July, a good opportunity for families to see first-hand what youth theatre is all about.

Finally, in the late winter/early spring, the Rosalia Community Theatre Organization will be gearing up for its second production, which will cast K-12.

Although Pittmann is not yet ready to reveal the play they have chosen, he hints that it is going to “take flight”.

Those interested are encouraged to contact the theatre box offices or the Pullman Parks and Recreation office for the most current offerings and details.