Children's Theater For All
Growing up, my elementary school class was bused each year to a local production of Peter and the Wolf. We sat in the dark, nestled by twos in the plush theater seats, listening to orchestral music, and watching the drama unfold. The memories stuck with me for two reasons. First, the experience was in marked contrast to any other entertainment I could locate on my familys three-station rabbit-eared television. And, second, the characters were played by actual people, not cartoon characters or Muppets a revelation at the time. Todays children, so accustomed to super slick animation and the magical world of Disney, are bound to be awestruck by a trip to the theater. And here in Austin, the Austins Scottish Rite Children's Theatre ( www.srct.org) stages kids theater that youll like too.
Founded in 2004 by the Scottish Rite organization, the Scottish Rite Children's Theatre is a newcomer to the Austin arts scene. While the Scottish Rite, an offshoot of the Freemasons, has been building theaters and performing plays for adults since the Civil War, the organizations membership had been in a downward spiral since the late 1970s, and its theater programs suffered greatly. In 1995 the Austin Scottish Rite got a second wind and started staging family-oriented productions. In 2004, Gordon Kelso, his theater manager wife Rita, and playwright daughter Gwendolyn, took the helm of the Scottish Rites Childrens Theatre, steering it on a clear course to success.
Built in 1869 as a theater, gymnasium, bowling alley, and beer garden, the building that now houses the theatre was acquired by the Masons in 1910. While the stage has been replaced since, many of the original hand-painted backdrops are still used to this day. The stately building, with its ornate details including the blue painted ceiling festooned with stars, for all its elegance, is remarkably child-centered. At the beginning of each play children are welcomed and reminded to "not scream in our production. If any of you have parents who scream or cry, please take them to the lobby."
The Theatre employs professional adult actors, many playing multiple roles, in productions of well-known tales with a modern twist. For instance, the Theatres version of Jack and the Beanstalk follows the traditional storyline, but instead of its somewhat disturbing finale (think back do you remember the fate of that pesky ogre bully?) the theatre offers a hopeful, happy ending. While productions are generally geared towards children age 4-10, each has a certain cross-generational appeal; some of the snappy lines and humorous moments pass over the heads of children before hitting their mark on the funny bones of adults. Plenty of audience participation is the norm and the plots always move along at a pleasing clip. On February 3rd, the curtain rises on a rousing rendition of Pinocchio, which runs until March 11.
Great family theater has been a PR boon for the Scottish Rite in Austin and membership, especially among younger men, has started to climb. And the Scottish Rite Childrens Theatre is a boon for Austin, bringing children and families together to enjoy the arts the way they ought to be enjoyed, live.
Pinocchio at the Scottish Rite Childrens Theatre
www.srct.org
472-7247
West 18th and Lavaca Streets
$10 Adults, $5 Children
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