How an Educational Theatre Tour Changed my World

Children love to be engaged, they love stories. In this digital age where constant entertainment can come from a little 3” x 4.5” device, children still love to be told stories in person. Theatre captures those little eyes and throws the imagination into a whirlwind of possibilities that include educational benefits, creative growth, and cultural appreciation. The stats and details will have to come in another blog because this is all about the feel-good.

My First Theatrical Experience

I remember the first time I saw theatre--I mean theatre with beautiful costumes, creative lighting, and an engaging story--I must have been in late elementary school and my parents took me to a “special performance” at a church. This wasn’t our church, so this was a big deal. We found a seat and I waited impatiently for the show to begin. I studied the scenery that was on the stage, I looked at the props, and I tried to project what the story would be about. I remember the lights in the auditorium going down and the stage lights coming up. Here is the silly thing. I don’t remember the specifics of the actual story though I do remember the message of being kind to one another and me being amazed and mesmerized by how this story was told though the magic of theatre.

Right Here in Walton County

Obviously I believe in the benefits of a show that travels around the area, setting up in cafeterias throughout the county, because we are doing it. Thanks to the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County we are taking the craft, art, and educational benefits of theatre to every elementary school in Walton County.

My Educational Theatre Tour Experience

Putting all of that aside though, there is a very personal reason I am passionate about educational theatre tours. Early in my acting career I worked in a couple educational theatre tours. This is how many young actors launch their career and gain confidence on stage. I did a “Shakespeare’s Comedies” tour in Tennessee and here in Florida I toured “One Hundred Dresses” with Eckerd Theatre Company out of Clearwater, Florida.

We took “One Hundred Dresses” all over Florida. Down to Naples, up to Jacksonville and even over to Chattahoochee. It is at Chattahoochee Elementary that I had my most memorable moment as a young actor on an educational theatre tour.

The cast and I completed our show and we were invited to interact with the children and have lunch with them. The teachers were going to let the children have some time away from their studies to meet the ACTORS. It was a big deal to these sweet kids. There really is something special about the children in a rural community. They see the world a little differently than our children in more urban settings.

During this interaction and lunch time there was a boy that just almost attached himself to me. Like most young boys he was full of energy and vivacity and the teacher kept telling him to be easy on me and to leave me alone. I assured her that I was fine and enjoyed my time with him. It was obvious this child needed attention and I was the honored guest that was privileged to fill the need. We were like immediate friends.

During our time together I noticed these small circular scabs and scars on the boy. I would not have thought twice about it but because there were multiple places it caught my attention. Soon it was time for us to hit the road and for the children to resume their studies. As the teacher was gathering up the children I quietly asked her about the scabs. Her answer changed my world in an instant. She told me that his mother, as a form of punishment, had extinguished her cigarettes on his skin.

Sweet Connections

I value the statistics on the number of children served, the educational goals that we expect to accomplish, the mass impact that we hope to have with our educational theatre tour. But I hope as we tour this county we can have moments where our full attention on one child will help them know that they are special, cared for, and worthy of imagining the best for themselves.

This is how an educational theatre tour changed my world and my hope is that we will do the same for our children right here on the Emerald Coast. At ECTC we want the children of Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties to experience an Educational Theatre Tour. A donation of $1,700 covers the costs of ECTC visiting one school and doing two performances for that school. On average we will see 400 to 500 children at one school. That is less than $4 a child for them to experience theater. Donate at www.EmeraldCoastTheatre.org or call 850-687-1837 for more information.

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