The Pocket Community Theatre believes that to build a future for community theatre, young people of today must be involved. To further that aim, the Board of Directors, at the March 24, 2002 meeting, approved a Children's Summer Theatre Workshop. This Workshop has been held every year since 2001, with the exception of 2005 when the theatre moved to its present location.

Twenty-four students, ages 7 to 12, attend a two week learning experience in June which introduces them to the mechanics of developing a play to be shown before a live audience. The students learn theatre from the ground up. Almost everything associated with play production helps with the development of skills, feelings, attitudes, and beliefs that can be used now but will be found useful in adult life. Areas of learning and activity will include stage performance, set design and construction, props, costumes, publicity, poster design and distribution and more.

Previous Children's Plays include:

The 2009 Children's Summer Theater Workshop will begin June 8 and run Monday through Friday from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and continue the following week, June 15, Monday through Friday, also from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

This year's theme will be Wizard Bootcamp, where students will get a chance to learn all the songs and dance routines from THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. They will also do a few of the scenes from the show. All Bootcamp participants will receive a certificate at the end of our two weeks. This certificate will assure them a spot in the Fall Production of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ should they choose to redeem it.

Many of the props and set pieces for the Fall production will be made during Bootcamp. The students will collect a series of recycled items and construct needed props,etc. Some examples are: using the bottom of pop bottles for the "emeralds" in the Emerald City, and making giant red poppies form tissue paper, trees from paper bags, etc. Thus, we will "go green" during the workshop and save money and time for the Fall production by "recycling" the set, costumes,etc., while giving the students some experience being the set crew for a theatrical production..

A showcase of what was learned will performed by the students on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2pm, June 20 and 21 with a sneak preview of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ. Tickets for the performance will be $5 for adults and $2.50 for children.

Cost for the workshop will be $50 per child.

Sponsored by grants from Weyerhaeuser and Hot Springs Area Community Foundation.

Application forms will be available in April 2009. At that time you can call the theatre at 623-8585 and leave a message as the office is not staffed full time, or to generate a copy of the application form yourself, click here, or if you would like the form in a Word document, click here. There is limited space so apply early to reserve your spot!

Parents will need to bring children to the Pocket Community Theatre at 170 Ravine by 2:00 PM sharp and to pick them up at 5:00 PM. For the complete set of rules, click here, or if you would like the rules in a Word document, click here.

For more information, contact Marti McWilliams at 262-5887.