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Preschoolers see free program in arts outreach
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2009
Parivash Naini knows the reality of the situation.
And in Naini's eyes, that's why the fantasy offered Tuesday morning for nearly 170 preschool children at the Five Points Head Start I program was so wonderful.
''These are all young kids who just don't have the money to experience things like live theater performances,'' said Naini, a Head Start site supervisor. ''We were lucky to get this experience for free and we are very thankful that the grants were available to make this experience possible. The kids absolutely loved it.''
The two 45-minute performances of British playwright Brian Way's The Mirrorman, first published in 1964, were put on by a crew of four professional actors from the West Akron-based Illusion Factory.
The Illusion Factory is putting on 12 such free performances for Head Start programs over the next month, according to company founder Bunny Ballance.
The effort is made possible by a $16,000 grant by the Akron Community Foundation and another grant from the County of Summit Regional Arts and Cultural District.
''Live theater and arts are always important,'' said actor Daniel McElhaney. ''TV has become the fourth wall, and a lot
of kids never get past it and now computers.
''Here, they see us. And it was really up close because of the size of the room.''
Aside from a few moral lessons, the kids learned some new words, like ''plunkoof, oofplunk and pumpumpum.''
The words might not come in handy on the next spelling test, but organizers said they helped draw the kids into the performance.
The children were called upon to help the Toymaker, played by Jim Volkert; the Mirrorman (McElhaney); and Beauty the Doll (Caralyn Doerge) ward off the Green Witch (Donna Bica).
''It was really a wonderful experience for everybody,'' Doerge said. ''It's so great for the kids' imagination because it's so much better than just sitting in front a TV all the time.''
Doerge, a Buckeye High School graduate who is attending Lorain Community College, believes this experience is a potential building block for every kid — a building block she wishes she would have had as a youngster.
Doerge caught the acting bug in high school. ''One of the biggest benefits of theater is developing self-confidence,'' she said. ''I could just see it in the kids' faces and eyes as they summoned the courage to join in.
''They all had a great time, and so did we as actors.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Parivash Naini knows the reality of the situation.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 08:36 AM, 01/14/2009
More of these stories, pleaase. More manifestation of Urban Renaissance.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:37 AM, 01/14/2009
please.
