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Scene & Heard - Enthused: Exposing kids to theater
Ed Brown Photo
Chowing down at the fundraiser at Pig Pickin’s are Annie Fulk (left) and Jimmy Toole. Dean Toole, with his mother, Christine, shows a dramatic flair.
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Published: November 4, 2008
Updated: 11/03/2008 08:15 pm
Mayor Allen Joines of Winston-Salem and news anchor Cameron Kent of WXII-TV waited tables last Tuesday night at Pig Pickin's on Deacon Boulevard to raise money for the Children's Theatre of Winston-Salem. Joines proved that he can tie an apron. Kent needed some help.
While Kent tried hard not to spill anything, he talked about introducing children to live theater. "I'm a strong proponent of the performing arts for all ages," he said. "And, unfortunately, arts are getting hurt right now."
To help, the restaurant donated 10 percent of its proceeds to the fund that provides free or discounted tickets for theater productions. Equity Plus schools, economically disadvantaged schools, and families benefit from the scholarships.
"Scholarships make it possible for children who might never get a chance to experience live theater to have an opportunity to do so," said Karen McHugh, the administrative manager for the Children's Theatre. "It's those early impressions that can change a child's life and possibly send them in a direction they never thought imaginable."
McHugh thanked the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, the business sponsors and the individual donors who continue to support the Children's Theatre.
"We couldn't exist without them," she said. "When I see those children who attend our shows dressed up as a character from the show or have the book the show is based on in hand, it makes it all worthwhile."
The Children's Theatre of Winston-Salem was founded in 1940 by the Junior League. Its mission is to present children with theater experiences and with educational programs. During its 2007-08 season, it gave out more than $6,500 in tickets to more than 1,600 children. At least 17 schools benefited, McHugh said.
McHugh is one of the few women who can look gorgeous even with her arm in a sling. She took a tumble from her bicycle during a trip around Salem Lake recently. But she hasn't let that stop her. On Tuesday night, she passed out pictures for children to color while they were at Pig Pickin's. She promised to scan them onto the organization's Web site.
The folks serving as the hosts of the fundraiser were Shawn Black, Travis White, Austin Dotson, Michelle Kosier, Dawn Lambert and Sabrina Myers. They took over Pig Pickin's on Oct, 14 and hope to sponsor monthly benefits for nonprofit groups.
Black said he thinks that it is very important for children to have theater experiences, something that Lambert knows personally. Her son Andrew, 11, had the opportunity a couple of years ago to see a play sponsored by the Children's Theatre. "He came home all excited and told about every detail," Lambert said. "But it's more than entertainment, it's a learning experience."
Joines agreed about the value of theater. "It can reach kids in ways that traditional educational opportunities don't hit," he said. He said that his grandchildren have been "mesmerized" by performances presented by the Children's Theatre. "It helps to broaden children's perspectives on life and makes them want to explore," he said.
But bringing live theater to children takes money. Helping with the fundraising message were board members Mindy Bloom and Kathy Mabe. As soon as they arrived, McHugh put them to work stuffing envelopes with letters asking patrons for support.
Jim Toole, the board's vice chairman and his wife, Christine, brought their children to support the cause. The Toole brothers, all students at Sherwood Forest Elementary School, seemed to enjoy their supper. Robert, 8, is a third-grader. Between mouthfuls of macaroni and cheese he told me that his favorite Children's Theatre production was Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Jimmy, 9, and a fourth-grader, added If You Give A Pig A Party to the list. And Dean, 6, a first-grader, put down his hot dog to talk about performing as a cat at a summer camp.
Robin Fulk and her daughter Annie, 3, came straight from a ballet lesson. Still dressed in her pink tutu with a perky pink bow perched atop her head, Annie dived into a hot dog with great enthusiasm.
A couple of weeks ago, Fulk took her daughter to her first production: Madeline and the Bad Hat. "I want her to love the arts," Fulk said. "It's such an important part of life, and they don't do enough in school. We have to get it in elsewhere." Annie's father, Chris Fulk, was not able to join the family. He was across town working at his own restaurant, Christopher's New Global Cuisine.
The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem was well-represented by Norman Ussery, the executive director; Matt Gutschick, the education director; and Patricia Oldis, the marketing director. They said they look forward to moving back into their offices in the Arts Council Theatre building on Coliseum Drive. Renovations are expected to be complete in a few weeks.
McHugh will move upstairs from her former office in the basement to join Ussery and Gutschick on the ground floor. But there will be more change than merely the physical move. Ussery said that the Little Theatre and the Children's Theatre are working on a "collaboration."
"In the past we had separate missions," he said. The Little Theatre provided plays for adults, as well as plays for children performed by children. It also provided acting classes for children. The Children's Theatre has brought in professional companies that performed children's plays and offered a summer acting camp.
Ussery said that the Little Theatre conducted a study that showed that people were confused by the roles played by the two organizations. "We've decided to join forces by taking all the children's offerings and put them under one umbrella," he said. "This way, we're not duplicating efforts. We're finding more common ground and can cross-market."
Tuesday was a nice way to start that new collaboration.
By accident, Ken Hayes, Nan Anderson, Rick Brown and Donna Smith ended up in the middle of the fundraiser. When they agreed to meet for some Cheerwine wings and onion rings, they never suspected that they would be served by the mayor.
This will go down in our memories," Smith said.
■ Have a social or charity activity that you would like Scene & Heard to share with Journal readers? E-mail features@wsjournal.com and type "Scene" in the subject line or call 727-7339. You may contact Leigh Somerville McMillan directly by e-mail at leigh@studiomcmillan.com.
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