Many of the
students who participate in Wayside Theatre’s Education in Action programming
aren’t able to contribute financially to our campaign. They asked what they could do, and the answer
was this: you can help Wayside with your words.
Tell people your experience, share it with the world, and tell our
community why this little theatre with a big heart deserves their support—now and in the future. Today’s post is the first in a series, where
you’ll see videos and testimonials that are in our kids’ own words (or in some
cases, their parents’ words).
I hope you
enjoy these—they are heartfelt, and truly thought-provoking. If you’re wondering what the EiA programs
offer, here’s your answer.
“I started taking classes at Wayside when I was pretty
young, and now I am a part of the Young Ambassadors Guild (YAG). I love the
theatre, and all of the friends I have made there, and I don’t want to lose it.
At Wayside I have been given the skills and opportunities to participate in
professional theatre in the same way an adult would. I have never been given
less responsibility or trust than the adults I have worked with, because it is
assumed that I can and will do my part. The experience I have gained has been
invaluable, but that is not the only thing the theatre has done for me. As a
part of YAG, I feel like part of a family. The other kids are my friends, and
we don’t have the mean competitive streak that I see in high school drama
departments. That’s not to say that we aren’t competitive, because we certainly
are, but we support each other."
“I have been able to experience all parts of theatre,
from acting and working backstage, to running the concession stand and
fundraising. Because of this, I have an understanding of the amount of work
that goes into a production that is never even seen. Sets are built, costumes
are made, props are lost and found, dishes are washed, hair is put up, stages
are swept, lines are forgotten, lighting and sound cues are set, and all the
audience ever sees is single, polished version of what took months of
preparation. Maybe ticket prices cover what you see that one night, but what
about everything else? The people who work here are real people. They aren’t
movie stars, but this isn’t just a hobby either. They are real people, and this
is their real job that they go to every day. I don’t know what I want to do
when I graduate college. I’m not even sure what I want to do in college. But I
love theatre, and I think it is amazing that something I do for fun could
actually be a job.
"As a young child I was very shy around people I didn’t
know. Even now, I am reserved in new situations. But somehow, I have never had
a problem performing on stage. I have just been cast as Miranda in the Tempest
and I don’t expect to have any problem fully immersing myself in the character
and sharing the story with whoever comes to the performances, but I have been
given bad grades on school presentations for not speaking up or making eye
contact. There is something about the magic of taking on another person’s life
as your own and stepping into another world that has always pushed aside any
shyness I might have had. Wayside has taught me, encouraged me, and given me a
place to have my voice heard.
“I would be devastated if Wayside had to close and
future opportunities for young actors were lost. I know many kids my age who
call the theatre their home-away-from-home, or their second family, and I feel
the same way. There is a strong connection between everyone who works together
at this theatre, and it deserves to be supported and protected.”
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