Children’s Theatre Workshop celebrates 25th anniversary at Everett

    The Children’s Theatre Workshop at The Everett Theatre is a mix of a whole lot of work and even more play.
    This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the workshop, and the play “To be or not to be … a pirate” is the first production for the workshop since the theatre ceiling collapsed in March 2008.
    Gina Valania, workshop coordinator, said in the spring of last year the group started discussing the Children’s Theatre Workshop for that summer, but the Everett’s closure postponed production.
    Valania said in the past, today and for years to come, a big goal is for the kids to enjoy the workshop and experience it.
    “The goal is not to have a perfect production,” she said, “but that the kids develop an interest in theatre.”
    Now that the ceiling is restored and the theatre has reopened, the workshop returns with around 44 aspiring child actors and stage crew members, and eight teenage volunteers that help with choreography, music and more.
    Middletown resident Nikki Fernandez directs “To be or not to be … a pirate.” The play and lyrics are written by Pat Lydersen, and music is by Wendy Woolf.
    The play is about the musical adventures of Cap’n Frank and her crew, and takes place during the Elizabethan era. In the plot, actors put on a production about pirates until real pirates overtake them.
    Characters include Cap’n Frank and her crew, and others such as Esmeralda and Mr. Smee.
    Monica Keszler, who plays Cap’n Frank, summons her zombies to haunt pirate impersonators.
    “She is very offended by fake pirates,” Keszler said.
    This is Keszler’s fourth year at the Children’s Theatre Workshop and she joined because family and friends recommended it to her.
    “I really liked acting and thought I was good at it,” she said.
    Keszler said over the four years she’s been with the workshop, her favorite part has been watching the actors improve. And she’s glad to have the ceiling back.
    “Normally you see the actors in their shell at first, but then they blossom,” she said. “[Also] I have raised money for the new ceiling.”
    Danny Livingston, who plays Keszler’s rival, Frank, said this is his fifth year with the workshop. His neighbors informed him about participating.
    “I tried it and I liked it,” he said. “[My favorite part] is all my friends being here and hanging out with them.”
    The workshop is a three-week session during the summer for children 7 to 14 years old or in grades second to middle school.
    The children attend rehearsals and activities Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The cost is $100 for the three weeks, which funds the production and helps the Everett.
    Every child enrolled becomes part of the magic of theatre whether it’s on stage or behind the scenes. Kids attend registration day to sign up and fill out a questionnaire on whether they want to play a part or be actively involved with all the other elements of the stage production.
    Valania said there are no auditions prior to enrollment, but children interested in acting sing a song of their choice, such as “Happy Birthday.”
    “We get a brief idea of who will go where,” Valania said. “We try to give everyone on stage a line.”
    Ana Lopez said she plays Gimpy Gert, a woman pirate with a peg leg and crutch who has quite a bit of attitude.
    “She shows no mercy,” she said.
    Lopez said this is her first year participating in the workshop, but she has already been in a couple plays for the Everett.
    “I like to act and sing,” Lopez said. “This is a good way to socialize with people who are interested in acting too.”
    She said her favorite part of acting is blocking – the process to decide where and how the actors will move on stage with the set.
    “I also like the costumes because everything is pirate,” Lopez said.

25 years of Children’s Theatre
    The 25th anniversary celebration will include the performance plus a video montage of previous year’s shows.
    The Children’s Theatre Workshop at the Everett started in 1985 with its first production, “Going West,” directed by Robert Wallace.
    Valania said throughout the years, the workshop had a series of mosaics.
    “We have had musicals, versions of fairy tales, Disney and Broadway montages,” she said.
    Happy Fox, a volunteer who has helped with the workshop and the Everett for 19 years, said the workshop wasn’t funded by federal grants when it first started.
    “It has become so popular, it doesn’t need grants,” she said. “[The workshop] has helped the theatre financially.”
    Valania said the director previously paid for the necessities of a production, but now the Everett is able to provide those funds.
    She said although the kids do play theatre games at the workshop, in the past the program specifically focused on playing theatre games. Now they focus on productions.
    “Now it is the production we work on,” Fox said. “It is now more emphasized on theatre.”
    In previous years is the workshop gave all the lines to the older kids.
    “It evolved so that you have a line if you want to be heard,” Valania said.
    Fox said today workshop members teach the children more history involved with the shows and have formed it into an educational program. She said the workshop is important because it is an educational tool for the community as well.
    “It gives them an exposure to theatre life,” she said. “It attracts and introduces the community to theatre.”
    The performances will be Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, at 7 p.m.
    Tickets are $8 in advance for adults and $5 for children. They can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., now through Friday, July 10 in the Annex. Tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for children at the door.
    For more information, call (302) 737-8216.