By Linda Whitmore
“All the world’s a stage, and the men and women merely players …” wrote William Shakespeare in As You Like It.
Don Kelley, Silverton attorney and theater aficionado, sees things similarly. He firmly believes that as people move through their various roles in life, they benefit from early exposure to theater.
Soon local youths will have an opportunity when Missoula Children’s Theater returns with its summer program.
In addition to gaining on-stage and back-stage knowledge, the participants develop organization, discipline and responsibility, Kelley said. The children learn “if they don’t do their job, everybody suffers for it.” And they gain “a lot of self-reliance, a lot of poise,” through the experience, Kelley added.
These qualities are carried through life, no matter what the person’s eventual occupation.
Students from second grade through
high school are welcome at
Silverton High School, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Monday, June 21. Rehearsal schedules
will be set at that time. No advance registration;
no fees. Pinocchio, will be
presented Friday and Saturday, June 25 and
26, 7:30 p.m. in the high school theater.
Admission to the show is $5 for all ages
“I don’t foster the idea that every participant should be an actor (when he grows up) but they will be the well-educated and supportive audience. They will work in our churches, clubs, art departments, music departments – I could talk forever about why people who are involved benefit,” he said.
“If I was in a business that required short-term business management, I would hire a theater graduate,” Kelley said.
A play is a short-term project – in this case five days from audition to performing a 1-hour 15-minute musical – but the complex planning began months ago and after Missoula Children’s Theatre leaves, there is much follow-up. This is coordinated by Center Stage community theater group.
“Opening night comes on schedule. That’s what short-term project management is all about – integrating all of the people and pieces.”
This year’s production is Pinocchio. Participants can be from those entering second grade through high school, with the high school students serving as assistant directors.
In the past there have been about 100 children involved in a production. Since this will be the first year the program takes place in the new Silverton High School theater, there may be more.
“I’m excited about the kids getting to perform on that stage – a real stage finally,” Kelley said.
The space allows room for those who are not on stage all the time, whereas the old, much smaller, facility meant that kids had to wait in a hallway.
And the sound should be better. “I’m very interested in seeing how the acoustics work with children’s voices. I think it’s going to be wonderful,” Kelley said.
Theater “brings richness to our community,” he said.
This is the 27th year Missoula Children’s Theater has come to Silverton – one of the longest standing venues of the tour. Don Kelley estimates about 3,000 students have participated locally.
The non-profit theater organization from Missoula, Mont., travels all over the world, bringing its summer and artist-in-schools programs to about 300 communities and military bases each year.
Kelley has a long-standing relationship with its founder, whom he has known since the two were involved in college theater. He says the local production has a special feature. “We’re the only city in the world that gets to use every kid that goes out.”
