The Wellington Children’s Theatre is getting everything ready for its productions of “The Wizard of Oz” on May 15 and 16 and “Cinderella” on May 23 and 24.
Founder Karen Braunstein, who started working with children in musical theater 25 years ago, saw a niche in Wellington.
“There wasn’t a program for children that offered quality training in theater skills and I wanted to provide that,” she said. “I wanted to increase the children’s self-esteem and self-confidence, and give the children a love of the theater and expose them to theater and musical theater.”
The Wellington Children’s Theatre, 13889 Wellington Trace, #A22-23, is broken up into different acting groups according to age. Classes and workshops are also available with the youngest class starting at 6 months old with Broadway Babies, a mother and baby class, the oldest being Musical Theatre Workshop for 10- to 19-year-olds.
The first play, “Wizard of Oz,” will be performed by the younger group of 6- to 10-year-olds. One of those actors, Emma Allison, a second-grader at Panther Run Elementary School, is excited for this month’s production.
“I was a little nervous when I first started then I got used to it,” Emma said. “My favorite part is that I get to wear ruby slippers and they have heels on them.”
“I want them to be able to learn how to have fun with acting and how acting can help them in general,” stage manager Camila Acosta said. “Theater taught me how to go past that and socialize more. There are shy kids but when they get on stage they commit to the character and I love seeing the transformation on stage.”
“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will be performed by the older group of 10- to 14-year-olds.
“The program is tailored to different age groups to age-appropriate materials,” Braunstein said. “We take our teaching very seriously; to understand the process of doing the show and improving their focusing and dramatic skills.”
Both plays will be performed at the Community Christian Church, 521 Jog Road, in West Palm Beach. While Braunstein is grateful to the church for allowing her to lease the spot for the plays, she thinks Wellington could have better places for theater shows.
“The greatest challenge in running the theater is finding appropriate venues in the community,” she said. “Wellington does not have a performing arts center. This community is in desperate need of a performing arts center.”
Still, Wellington Children’s Theatre is looking forward to a great couple of shows before its 2015 Summer Theatre Camps begins.
“It’s gratifying watching the kids grow,” Braunstein said. “The joy in directing these children is sitting in the back of theater and watching everything fall into place and [they] get that self-confidence. That’s why I do this.”
“The Wizard of Oz” is at 7 p.m. May 15 and 2 and 7 p.m. May 16. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students and children under 17. Visit wellingtonchildrenstheatre.com.
