By Emily Williams
School is out for the summer and camps are in full swing, offering unoccupied students a chance to spend a few weeks learning something new just for fun.
For kids who are looking to take to the stage and hone their acting craft, Birmingham Children’s Theatre offers a summer theater camp. For participants such as Homewood Middle School’s Danielle Eggers, a couple of weeks during the summer can lead to long-term involvement in BCT’s productions.
Since she was about 10 years old, the theater has played a part in Danielle’s life. Her recent involvement includes a role in last October’s production of the original fairy tale “Dance of the Grizzle,” work as a stagehand and the role of Peter Pan at the theater’s annual fundraiser, the Curtain Call Ball.
To provide a camp-like option for kids at a higher level of ability, BCT auditions kids for professional summer productions. This year’s show, Aladdin Jr., will be directed by Autumn Brown, BCT director of education. Instead of having traditional rehearsals, the staff has created a schedule that combines professional acting experiences and a camp-like learning process.
“We treat them like professional actors to teach them about equity, which is the actor’s labor union,” Brown said. “Just like the union requires, we give them scheduled breaks, but it’s all part of the educational process.”
Not only do the students get a glimpse into the life of a professional stage actor, they make connections in the Birmingham theater community.
Danielle’s involvement in BCT productions led to a close relationship with volunteer choreographer Jessie Kiser, who teaches choreography and dance instruction at the Jefferson County Academy of Theatre and Dance, at Shades Valley High School.
“I’m auditioning to join the school,” Danielle said. “Jessie is the one who told me about the school and I’ve been looking for a way to get out of Homewood.”
Danielle said she finds that she is more successful in a fine arts environment.
“This is a community where I can totally be myself and I feel more accepted for being different, because everyone else is a little weird too,” she said.
Some of Danielle’s favorite moments working with BCT aren’t on the stage, but in rehearsal.
On her cell phone, she has photographic evidence of a brief moment in rehearsal when she caught Kiser lying across ballet bars in the studio, taking a nap. She said it displays everything great about the eccentricities of thespians.
Brown said part of the reason she’s so passionate about working with children’s theater is that she wants to create a place where artistic children can feel comfortable.
“It’s great if they learn something new, but it’s even more important that they have a place to come and feel safe being totally themselves,” she said.
That support extends to projects BCT does with other theater and companies around town.
Charlotte Clemmons of Vestavia Hills balances a schedule with BCT as well as Alabama Ballet.
Charlotte’s mother said the two organizations work together and make allowances for Charlotte if she has to skip a production to accommodate other commitments.
Charlotte forged a relationship with the theater after attending the Camp Spring Academy during the school year.
“Every time I walk into the room with (Brown), I always learn something new,” she said.
Danielle added that rehearsal time is spent wisely and run efficiently.
“At some places, you are just standing around waiting for an hour and then you get to sing for two minutes and then it’s over,” she said. “When we are here, there is always something to do.”
As the cast prepares for the production, Brown said she hopes the two weeks of rehearsal will run as smoothly as any professional production, though she has made allowances for road blocks.
“When people come to see this production, they are seeing it on our main stage in a 900-seat house,” Brown said. “The kids get to experience the weight of that.”
The performance will use the same union stage hands who work on professional productions the company performs throughout the year, adding another layer to the educational opportunity for the young actors.
“When people purchase tickets to Aladdin Jr., they are supporting so much more,” Brown said. “They are supporting our young actors’ theater in addition to all of our productions throughout the year, our outreach programs within the community, our educational programs, our master classes – everything.”
For more information or to purchase tickets to the upcoming performance, visit bct123.org.
