By Amy Iori
Orphan Number 2, Townsperson, and Cloud…as in the storm variety. What do they have in common? They were the earliest roles that three of my brothers played in children’s theatre. Decades later, they have made names for themselves with credits in blockbuster movies like The Help, Lincoln, and The Social Network; popular television series including Only Murders in the Building, How I Met Your Mother, and Life in Pieces; and one is an award-winning choreographer, playwright, director, and performer who has entertained audiences around the world. To this day, however, they remember being the youngest cast members in Oliver, A Christmas Carol, and The King and I, respectively.
Theatre in the Triangle is vibrant and thriving, and children who experience their first audition, dress rehearsal, and curtain call often can’t resist the exhilaration of the spotlight. Some will perform in school; others might end up on stage at Raleigh Little Theatre or in a North Carolina Theatre production. I might be biased because of my brothers, but I believe that a community benefits tremendously from children’s theatre as it lays the groundwork for teamwork, self-discipline, patience, confidence, and communication—not to mention an appreciation for play through make-believe.
Right here in Holly Springs, we have Carolina Children’s Theatre (CCT) whose mission is “to provide a safe, fun and creative environment for children and families. Blending global theatre, classic stories, and visual art with a dash of limitless imagination to support our brave new learners and future leaders.” Now in its sixth year, CCT offers options for a variety of age groups. For the youngest of our budding performers, Dramarama on Saturdays is appealing to little ones ages 4-6, as is Drama Kids for ages 6-8. Two summer drama camp shows and two main stage productions are a big hit with children ages eight and older. This summer’s camps are World Fairy Tale Camp—The Rainbow Fish (July 5-9 for ages 6-10) and Disney’s Descendants: The Musical (July 18-23 for ages 10-18).
Through movement, language, music, puppetry, and art—all with global influences—kids explore both the written, scripted side of theatre as well as the technical aspects of sets, props, and costumes. There are even opportunities to be a backstage assistant or to help audience members in the “front of the house.” In fact, to Artistic Director and CCT Founder Christina Cass Catton, the process is more important than the performance.
“One of the greatest gifts I’ve received is watching our CCT kids grow in confidence. They love to be in a safe place to socialize and be creative and goofy and work as a team to create magic.” She also credits “working with an amazing creative CCT family—Maria Villarroel, Rachel Andrew, Laura Martin, and Tori Shue—who help each cast member to find their light.”
That light shines brightly onstage in the Holly Springs Cultural Center and the Fuquay-Varina Arts Center where audiences have been delighted by familiar tales like Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, Around the World in 80 Days, Babes in Toyland, and A Christmas Carol as well as three productions written by Catton exclusively for CCT.
As I make plans to attend an upcoming performance, I can only wonder if one of the young actors I see will someday walk the red carpet and remember when they got their start onstage at Carolina Children’s Theatre.
I hope you will support our local children’s theatre by following CCT on social media and visiting their website (https://www.carolinachildrenstheatre.com) for information about camp registration, auditions, and tickets for an upcoming production. If you have other questions, email christina@carolinachildrenstheatre.com.
