Stepping onto the stage: Local students get dose of the arts

The theater can have an amazing impact on individual students.

Those who are naturals for performing on stage find ways to develop their talent. Outgoing students who have no acting experience at all may discover a new passion. And the shy kids who struggle with self-confidence often emerge from their shell to surprise themselves and others.

Missoula Children’s Theatre tour staffers have seen it all. Through a new program implemented just this year, Troy elementary school students and New Horizons Learning Center participants this week expanded their knowledge of the theater arts.

“We go to a lot of small towns where we can expose the kids to so much more,” said Mandi Jung, a tour actor and director who helped lead workshops over two days in Troy. “Theater is good practice for real life. You get to practice as a mom, practice as a sister, that’s what I get out of it.”

New Horizons received a Montana Out-of-School Time grant through the Department of Health and Human Services to help fund such activities. Troy Public Schools, True Value Hardware and Kootenai Drug also contributed.

“It’s a grant to get the kids to become immersed in art,” said Ralph Stever, New Horizons program director. “I think it helps the kids step outside of the box a little bit.”

The new program is called “Performing Arts Workshop Medley” and is available to schools in two-, three- or five-day durations. MCT has developed a reputation over the years for its weeklong residency programs that culminate with a stage performance.

“A lot of parents remember going through it themselves,” Stever said about the residency programs, now in their 17th year visiting Troy. “It amazing what comes together.”

For this week’s mini-workshops, Jung and fellow actor/director Joe Godburn led various activities.

For example, the “Three C’s” offered humorous examples and theater games while teaching the three basics of performance – communication, creativity and concentration. Jung and Godburn also led a stage makeup activity as well as acting through improv.

Jung, who hails from Rapid City, S.D., and Godburn, who calls Richmond, Va., home, have both spent extensive time on the road working with youth.

“Every actor is different but I connect better with third-graders on up,” Jung said. “I’ve always been into being a good role model and I think that works better with the kids who are a little more cognizant.”

Godburn said the workshop medleys were organized to offer schools a shorter week with less of a commitment.

“We can reach more kids that way,” he said.

It’s not unusual to reach 1,000 students with a full week. In Troy, the student body numbers around 440 while the New Horizons program attracts an average of 60 to 80 students per day.

Currently, 23 two-person teams from Missoula Children’s Theatre are conducting workshops.

New Horizons is finding other ways to benefit children through their grant sources. On Dec. 12, the after-school students will take a field trip to the Whitefish Theater for a performance of “The Secret Garden.” On Jan. 23, NHLC’s middle and high school students will take another field trip to Whitefish to see “Of Bodies and Elements.”

Stever also said there will be a rebirth of Troy’s annual Spring Carnival along with Morrison Elementary’s talent show, which this year will expand to the high school. Monthly events then continue through June.

Stever reported on the success of the recent Halloween carnival.

“With the support of over 30 middle and high school students along with many parent volunteers we had an evening of Halloween games, free food and prizes that brought over 250 family members through our doors,” Stever said. “They cleaned us out of food, prizes and 100 cakes created by after-school students for the cake walk. The event also helped raise money for future activities.”

The project’s goal is to foster more parent involvement with the after-school program.

“Keeping the ‘Lights On’ after-school is important for Troy families and the NHLC has grown in the past two years to now have over 200 students enrolled in the program,” Stever said. “Our students are excited about showing up each day and enthusiastic about helping to create our community events. We continue to reach out to community members for both volunteers to work with students and ideas for future classes.”

The Missoula Children’s Theatre will be back in Troy on Feb. 7 for a full week for a production of “King Arthur’s Quest.” Libby is also routinely included on MCT’s regular tours.