The curtain will go up tonight (Thursday, Feb. 18) on The Aristocats. (Photo by fontplaydotcom on flickr)
by Kristin Tennant
I was a parent volunteer at my daughter’s theater rehearsal Tuesday night. Only two days separated us from the opening performance, and the kids were wound extra tightly with excitement. Keep in mind, these aren’t just 31 typical elementary-aged kids—they’re 31 extra-dramatic kids, with voices that project and big personalities that crave the spotlight.
I refer to them as kids, but as I type Tuesday night, they’re actually being transformed into cats and dogs, which makes them even harder to keep in line. They’re putting on four performances of Aristocats starting tonight (Thursday), Friday and Saturday, as part of the Champaign Park District Youth Theatre program.
Backstage there’s a clearly-defined area for each group: One for the Napolean and the other hounds, one for Thomas O’Mally and his Alley Cat pals, one for Dutchess and her kittens, and another for the geese, the mouse and the two human characters. My job is to keep the kids in their specified areas, relatively quiet and still, so costumes stay intact. It’s not as simple as it sounds. While some take turns getting tails and ears pinned on, and whiskers painted, their cohorts expend nervous energy in whatever way they can—spinning, wandering, chasing and giggling. It’s a bit like herding cats (sorry, I couldn’t resist).
But despite the chaos, when the dress rehearsal begins I’m amazed by how far these kids have come in five short weeks, under the leadership of their talented director Sarah Malone. Five weeks ago, my daughter and the other kids were deciding which parts they wanted most, and nervously preparing for auditions. Three weeks ago, when I was also volunteering at rehearsal, the kids were carrying scripts around, reading lines and making notes about where they were supposed to be standing, and which arm movements went with a certain dance step.
Today, not only do they know their lines and blocking, their entrances and moves, but they’re also full of confidence and personality. They’ve worked hard memorizing lines, learning choreography, and keeping track of their entrances. They’ve expressed their creativity, collaborated as a team, and generally stayed on top of a fast-moving production. When it’s all said and done, it makes me smile—even laugh out loud—to see them let loose, have fun, and be so comfortable in their own skin. As a parent, there’s not much more I could hope for my daughter to experience in six weeks.
What: Champaign Park District Youth Theatre presents Disney’s The Aristocats Kids
When: Feb. 18-20 at 7 p.m.; Feb. 20 matinee at 2 p.m.
Where: Class Act, 114 S. Neil St., downtown Champaign
Ticket info: Tickets are $5 and can be bought at Class Act before each performance. Doors open a half hour before the production. It’s recommended that you arrive at least a half hour early, as seats are limited.
Recommended for: Children age 4 and up. The show is 40 minutes long and filled with singing and dancing.
Are you taking your kids to see The Aristocats?
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