I'm Looking At You Mama Rose...
Here's the thing about doing a youth musical: children (you can read more about them here). Children are unpredictable, have a 2 second attention span, and while they can be darling angels, are easily swayed by one naughty child who craves attention. Most community theaters offer a youth musical, and most community theaters accept just about all the children who audition. In every activity designed for kids, there are undoubtedly a few who don't want to be there. Their parents make them come (because Little Susie has inherited her mother's angelic voice, and won't it be great to carry on the family community theater tradition?), and while I'm all for exposing children to a wide variety of activities and culture, a three month rehearsal schedule, +3 days a week may not be the way to introduce Susie to theater. Maybe take her to see a show first. Here's why I think children's theater should be left to those who enjoy it:
There are a huge number of children who do want to be there. They love to sing and dance, and they have no problem being quiet (most of the time) and listening to what they're told. Add to this equation a child whose parent is making them come to rehearsal. Children aren't always the most articulate when it comes to expressing their feeling completely, and instead, they choose to act out to let us know they're unhappy. This causes the other children to follow that one kid, and soon you're left with a wild group of insane demons who were once angels. The end result of this catastrophe is an unhappy creative team and a half-baked disaster of a musical.
The creative team that's working with your child spent the last year planning this theatrical endeavor. We go to meetings, our organization invests a lot of money to make a show, and if I'm being totally honest, most community theaters don't make a huge profit on youth productions. We are simply artistic adults who want to bring a love of theatre to the rest of the community.
Parents, I'm not saying that we aren't happy to spend time with your children, or that you're bad parent if you send a less than enthusiastic kid to rehearsals, I'm merely asking you to consider the other half of the equation. I do, however, have a few alternatives for exposing your child to theatre.
1) Acting camp:
Not only is this super, super fun for kids, but they'll get a taste of what a full length production might feel like, and they can see if they want to commit. I spent many a summer when I was small at theatre camps all over the place.
2) Seeing a show:
I know I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves a little more attention. I was personally bitten by the theatre but when I saw The Phantom of the Opera at age 6. Of course, then I wanted to be an opera singer (because wasn't that what they were doing?), but that's a story for another time.
3) Classes:
This goes along with #1, but having your child go to an acting or dancing class is a great way not only to expose them to the arts, but to also help them nurture the talents they would use in a full scale production. They'll know what it's like to work on something long term and have a wonderful time doing it. Plus, it's easier to quit a dance class than a show that depends on the participation of its cast.
There are a huge number of children who do want to be there. They love to sing and dance, and they have no problem being quiet (most of the time) and listening to what they're told. Add to this equation a child whose parent is making them come to rehearsal. Children aren't always the most articulate when it comes to expressing their feeling completely, and instead, they choose to act out to let us know they're unhappy. This causes the other children to follow that one kid, and soon you're left with a wild group of insane demons who were once angels. The end result of this catastrophe is an unhappy creative team and a half-baked disaster of a musical.
The creative team that's working with your child spent the last year planning this theatrical endeavor. We go to meetings, our organization invests a lot of money to make a show, and if I'm being totally honest, most community theaters don't make a huge profit on youth productions. We are simply artistic adults who want to bring a love of theatre to the rest of the community.
Parents, I'm not saying that we aren't happy to spend time with your children, or that you're bad parent if you send a less than enthusiastic kid to rehearsals, I'm merely asking you to consider the other half of the equation. I do, however, have a few alternatives for exposing your child to theatre.
1) Acting camp:
Not only is this super, super fun for kids, but they'll get a taste of what a full length production might feel like, and they can see if they want to commit. I spent many a summer when I was small at theatre camps all over the place.
2) Seeing a show:
I know I mentioned this earlier, but it deserves a little more attention. I was personally bitten by the theatre but when I saw The Phantom of the Opera at age 6. Of course, then I wanted to be an opera singer (because wasn't that what they were doing?), but that's a story for another time.
3) Classes:
This goes along with #1, but having your child go to an acting or dancing class is a great way not only to expose them to the arts, but to also help them nurture the talents they would use in a full scale production. They'll know what it's like to work on something long term and have a wonderful time doing it. Plus, it's easier to quit a dance class than a show that depends on the participation of its cast.
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