After the long audition and rehearsal process, the Starlight Theatre Company’s TYA shows took place at the Starlight Theater this past weekend. Students prepared for these shows by going over their lines and making sure they saved up enough energy to perform.
“For show days, I prepare by getting a good rest of sleep, eating a lot, and most importantly, drinking lots of water,” sophomore Marin Lawson said. “Before my call time, I always review my lines and go through the blocking. Once I am in costume, I check my props and costumes.”
Students heavily anticipated their chance to perform the shows at Bowie and across AISD. Every year TYA shows go on tours during the school day to different elementary schools to perform these shows for kids.
“Performing at different schools teaches us about enjoying the moments and making someone’s day,” Lawson said. “We get the privilege to go to elementary/middle schools to perform, and yes, it can be scary. But all of it is worth it to get to see that little kid’s smile during the performance.”
President of the STC and senior director Jayden White shares the benefits of touring, after three years acting in TYA.
“Through touring to different schools, students learn that these young kids, who may not even be too far off from our age, look up to us,” White said. “Thus, we also learn how to be role models and maintain respect for our spaces and for others.”
Students said that TYA shows are beneficial for young audience members to watch because it teaches them valuable lessons and gives them a sense of what theater is.
“This isn’t the case for every kid out there, but I really do believe that seeing these shows sticks with these kids,” junior Aidan Schexnaydre said. “I remember being in elementary school and having students from Bowie perform for us, and thinking “that’s so cool, I hope I get to do that one day!” And now I am one of those people up on stage performing for children, hoping to create the same spark in one of them.”
“It’s also beneficial for them because instead of just reading or watching television, they are experiencing active storytelling in person,” White said. “This will help them with visualizing things they are exposed to as they grow up.”
Not only is it important that younger audiences watch TYA shows but it is also valuable to the students that participate in the shows. Students can take away a lot from these shows, especially knowing that kids can be the toughest and most honest audience members.
“It is beneficial because we actors can play with funny characters and be more childish,” Lawson said. “Many of the shows we do here can be very professional and serious, but this show block allows us to have fun and get so connected with a small cast.”
“I think that everyone who wants to go into performance needs the experience of acting in front of children. Kids are a tough audience, if you don’t capture their attention from the moment you step on stage, you’ve lost them,” Schexnaydre said. “Performing for younger groups of kids teaches an actor about how to keep an audience engaged in a way that nothing else in live theater can.”
Performing in a show can be very nerve-racking and cause lots of anxiety but I had a chance to talk with some students before their shows and they seemed to be more enthusiastic and excited for these shows than expected.
“I think my show will go very well because my actors are dedicated to performing at their best,” White said. “We’ve rehearsed a lot over the last few weeks and they’ve all taken my notes wonderfully and have produced such a fun retelling of Peter Rabbit.”
“I am confident in our show and my castmates, so I think our show will go great. My director, Audrey Cullinane, has put so much work into this show, and it is going to be such an amazing, silly time,” Lawson said. “Everyone knows their lines, and everyone is on top of it, I can’t wait!”
The shows at Bowie just ended and the students could not be more proud of themselves! This week their touring days start and students are very optimistic about the opportunity to perform in front of the elementary schools! Students learned useful strategies and tactics from this experience and they hope that the kids that watch these shows will learn from them too.