Young actors will experience a heap of drama at the annual Children’s Summer Theater Workshop.
The workshop will begin Monday and run to June 19 at the Iola Community Theatre Warehouse, 203 S. Jefferson. The students will perform for the public at 9:30 a.m. June 20 at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center.
John Higginbotham is the director for the workshop this year. Higginbotham grew up participating in the workshop and helped direct the young actors last year with Susan Raines. Higginbotham is the Bowlus’ assistant technical director.
There are separate classes during the workshop. Children going into third through fifth grade will meet from 8 to 10 a.m. and students going into sixth through eighth grade will meet from 10 to noon.
Students will learn the basics of theater. Higginbotham would like to introduce stage tech to the students as well.
“I was a kid who didn’t want to be on stage but I wanted to help,” he said. “This is a way for them to learn new skills, make a new friend and learn the tech side of theater.”
Higginbotham said Jeff Jordan, Bowlus facility manager and technical director, also will give guidance for the students.
Students will help write the performance. They will give ideas for lines and stage directions.
The student teachers will write the scripts. This year Higginbotham has Madison Luken, Olivia Bannister, Maddie Carlin and Maggie Wilson helping with the workshop.
The workshop will year the performance will be on the Bowlus stage.
“The community theater gets really packed and it is standing room only,” Higginbotham said. “The Bowlus is sponsoring us so I thought we should be a good patron and use it.”
The show is also sponsored by the Whitehead Trust.
Students who wish to enroll can do so online at www.bowluscenter.org or they can enroll Monday before classes begin. Registration is $30 and students receive a T-shirt that they help design.
As children’s summer schedules quickly become packed with camps and activities Higginbotham would like students to consider theater as an option.
“I just want to remind the kids that the arts can be important too,” he said. “It can make you a well rounded person.”
Children’s Summer Theater Workshop opens Monday
