It thrills me to hear that young people are participating in community theatre. Here in NJ, it is a dying hobby. I still look back fondly on my community theatre days. Sometimes I thnk they were more professional than the professionals I now work with.
‘_________then the professionals I now work with.’
So sorry - I - rather, my WEBTV system - lost the ability to comment on FR just about a week ago. I just re-upped, and see you replied to the KISMET subject.
Last Feb./March, our 250 seat community theater, presented ‘Oliver!’ Six week run, Fri., Sat., and Sun.
12 year old granddaughter got to play a werk ‘ous orphan in opening number, and then Charley Bates, Dodger’s pal, the rest of the show. Yes, girls were cast, for as we know, few boys show up for theater!
Granddaughter was ready to jump in as Dodger, because ‘stuff’ was ‘appenen! You know, theater politics . . . not ‘Dodger’s’ fault, tho.
Granddaughter is somewhat a natural, and constantly charmed the audience - great smile, good singer, and did lots of made up bits, allowed by the director (can’t think of the real term)!
G-ma bragging, but totally true!
Then her mom directed about 18 homeshool kids, 8 to 18 this summer in most of the songs from
‘Joseph,’ and once again, granddaughter plays a boy! Performed in a backyard!
This is the 4th year for broadway in the backyard here!
Do you go into Manhattan (my birthplace! then raised on L.I.) to work/act?
In the ‘30’s, my uncle was a kid actor on Broadway. Went to Children’s Professional School. Toured in the ‘Dead End’ kids - think he was ‘Spit?’
Keenan Wynne helped him with homework - actually, I heard ‘did his homework,’ from the family! He went to Hollywood briefly - did ‘Penrod and Sam,’ at Warner Bros.
Scottish-born, ‘Bertie’ went to Canada to join up with their army, and served as a commando in WWII. Took some rifle butts to the kidney’s and don’t know what all, brought back to a Montreal hospital, where he ‘clowned’ ‘till the end. Died in 1943 in that hospital.
So, there’s a ‘theater gene’ in our family!