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Children's Program A Class Act

Tribune photo by D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

Abby Huetteman, on the right, kneeling, a veteran Music Showcase actress with five productions on her list of credits, garnered the lead role in “Annie.” She rehearses with fellow actresses, from left, Taylyn Olney, 8, Ashley Picanza, 6, and McKenzie Boyer, 8.

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By D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 16, 2008

BRANDON - Ten-year-old Ashton Lowry realizes that acting out and acting up would never be tolerated in any of her regular classes at Alafia Elementary School.

Nativity Catholic School student Claire Wendt, 8, agrees her school wouldn't put up with that kind of abominable behavior, so she has learned to follow the classroom rules.

But the girls do so knowing there's one classroom where they can break certain rules, where acting out is not only accepted, it's encouraged. Where students are applauded for busting out in song and even coaxed into using a louder voice at the appropriate time.

Joy Rodgers said that's what she loves about teaching musical theater at Music Showcase, 402 Oakfield Drive.

"The students are always eager to come to class," she said. "And they love the time they spend here."

That's not to say there are no classroom rules. Rodgers would find it next to impossible to get anything done with a class of 30 to 40 energetic youngsters without structure.

"Kids want structure. They aren't comfortable with chaos," she said. "But you provide it in a way that's fun. We laugh a lot when we're together."

Rodgers, who holds a bachelor's degree in music education, has spent her career working with children as a school music teacher, including 16 years at Nativity Catholic.

She was raised on a farm in Illinois and loved to sing at home but was extremely shy, she said.

"My teachers at school and church were wonderful in giving me the confidence to perform in front of an audience," she said. "I try to pass this experience on to my students."

That childhood memory, combined with concerns expressed by parents of Nativity students about their own children's performance anxiety, led to the collaboration between Rodgers and Music Showcase in spring 2003. Since then, Rodgers has been offering after-school and summer programs there, all of which culminate in a musical performance - complete with costumes and sets.

"My goal was to give each child a positive experience. Every child would have a role, plus they'd learn about acting, singing, choreography, props and set design," Rodgers said.

Acting Up is geared to children 4 to 8, and the Junior Showcase Players is for children 8 and older. Rodgers sometimes mixes the groups, depending on the musical.

"Annie," for instance, needed an experienced actor to play Daddy Warbucks. So veteran showcase player Tyler Meany, 12, stepped forward.

That proved a big relief for Tammy Walls, who registered her 4-year-old son, Avery, for the summer program, only to find out he was the only boy in the class.

"He's always been very outgoing, and we wanted to see if acting would be an experience he would enjoy," Walls said. "Now, with Tyler playing Daddy Warbucks, he doesn't feel out of place."

"This entire experience has been incredible," Rodgers said. "With each class, we've ended up with a waiting list. Parents have told me it's been a great confidence booster for their kids, and one of the fringe benefits I've seen is the development of very close friendships among these kids."

Even the parents have caught the class' spirit, helping with the sets, props and costumes.

"My dad works on almost all the sets," said 10-year-old Abby Huetteman, referring to her father, Scott. Abby was cast as Annie, the production's lead role.

This will be the fifth production for Abby, a St. Stephen Catholic School student who said she felt ambivalent about the program when her parents registered her and sister Katie, 12.

"I thought it was going to be dumb, but it turned out to be awesome," she said. "You get to be anybody but yourself."

Abbey Duty, 12, who will attend Rodgers Middle School in the fall, just completed her eighth musical at Music Showcase, "High School Musical." She said she aspires to become an actress, but even if she didn't, the experience has given her much more self-confidence.

"I can write an essay and read it in front of a class with no problem now," she said.

Tyler, also a St. Stephen Catholic School student, said the experience has helped him in the traditional classroom setting as well.

"Reading and memorizing scripts has helped me learn how to memorize for tests," he said. "And I'm less nervous in front of people and crowds."

Kathryn Ochalek, 7, declared she has forsaken the piano and is destined for a career onstage, even though her mother, Heather, is president and owner of Music Showcase, which specializes in musical instruments.

"Annie" is her ninth musical theater production with Rodgers.

"You get to dress up and be someone different," Kathryn said. "I just love it."

INFORMATION

•"Annie" will be performed at 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday at Music Showcase, 402 Oakfield Drive, Brandon. Tickets are available at www .musicshowcaseonline.com.

•The class performing the August production of "Aristocats" is full. However, two Christmas musicals are planned for the fall. For information about the schedule, go to the Web site or call (813) 685-5998.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524 or dlwhite@tampatrib .com.

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