Workshops and rehearsals for upcoming shows continue at least twice a week, giving the restless kids something to look forward to and interaction with their friends from the safety of their homes.
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When Gov. DeWine’s shutdown order meant cancellation of scheduled workshops, it also disheartened Arts Council arts education director Krissy Brown too.
“You’d go through Facebook and you’d see these posts that were heartbreaking. Kids’ school musicals were canceled and their workshops and were asking what can we do,” said Brown. “March and April are very busy times for us.”
Networking with fellow arts educators from across the country Brown met through the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival, they brainstormed how to best reach kids. The answer was online.
While it’s difficult to do music, there were other areas of concentration. The group started with a cold reading workshop, followed by one on choreography led by Paul Smith, a regular instructor.
“This was also a way to get the kids up and moving,” Brown said. “We even had some parents move to it too. They’re getting a little stir crazy too. We have an incredible group of parents who are always helping with props and costumes and whatever we need for our shows.”
Ambassadors Evie Oehlers and Kayla Collins leapt at the opportunities.
“I am so happy we can continue to do theater and interact with each other,” said Oehlers, a student at Roosevelt Middle School. “(This is) extremely helpful and keeps us connected to the arts while being stuck at home.”
Collins was to perform in Springfield Civic Theatre’s since postponed production of “Matilda” in April. Having this outlet “has been tremendously helpful to my mental health.”
“It’s so amazing to have a time every week when I can forget about all the craziness in the world and just focus on theater,” said Collins, who attends Kenton Ridge. “It’s my happy place, it helps me cope with all of the big changes going on and is helping me to learn new skills. It’s also really fun to be able to virtually meet with my friends since I can’t see them in person.”
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Work can also continue on future shows, such as an original musical called “Sticky Note” being written by Ambassadors Tim Compston and Eleni Linardos, set to debut on July 7 at the Summer Arts Festival.
The group did its first read-through on Zoom. Auditions are tentatively set for April 25. Members are also scheduled to perform in the community musical “Disney’s Newsies” at the festival, June 25-27.
The public won’t have to wait until summer to see the Ambassadors perform. On Thursday, April 2 at 5:30 p.m., the group will present its “60 Second Talent Show” where several Ambassadors will have a minute to perform or contribute talents from drawings to an original poem.
Oehlers will perform a new song called “Glitter and Be Gay” she’s been practicing “1,000 times a day with a YouTube Karaoke video.”
Ambassador Kolton Rice is also working on an upcoming virtual concert. Information on these shows and how to watch will be available on www.facebook.com/youthartsambassadors/.
It’s a way the group can also give back to the public. Brown said the brainstorming continues and is a good outlet given we don’t know how long quarantining could last.
“Everything I read these days is so negative and this is a way with my work to keep things positive,” said Brown. “We’re trying to keep the kids busy and entertained as possible. The excitement about things has been even greater, they are all so excited to stay in contact with each other and the focus is even more there, you can see it on their faces.”
Collins couldn’t agree more.
“When the world is turning upside down, it’s nice to know that theater is still there,” she said.
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