The fruits of the most recent theater program will be on display Dec. 8-10 as the group presents its winter musical production, “Holiday Heist,” which was written by director Emily Kallenberg and her husband, Stephen. The story follows Detective Kane and Sgt. Tinsel as they search the world to find who stole a Christmas Star before its magic runs out.
The musical will be presented at the Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave. Dayton. Tickets at $15 are available online at www.vandaliayouththeatre.net.
The youth theater began as a summer program for 20 local children in 1991 in a partnership involving some parents and the Vandalia parks and recreation department, said Becky Herzog, a theater board member. That year, one show was performed.
Herzog said the organization is somewhat unique in having every child who auditions for the roles cast in the show in some capacity. There is an audition waiting list.
The theatre produces five shows a year with four in summer and one in the winter. The upcoming show features 70 young people from across the Miami Valley. The summer shows involve around 250 children. The nonprofit program is for children age pre-kindergarten through high school seniors.
“The commitment of the families makes this last. We have children that have been in this organization over 10 years. We now have second generation families, two alumni on the board and several on the staff,” Herzog said.
Matt Silver, current Vandalia Youth Theatre board president, participated in a then-smaller youth theater while a student at Vandalia-Butler High School. When he returned home five years ago, he was drawn to the theater along with his family. “Everybody gets to participate. Everybody gets a spotlight,” Silver said of the program.
“It’s fun because you are always singing and dancing and having lots of fun,” said Gavin Poronsky, 11, of Tipp City, in his third year in the theater group.
“Many of these children find their voice, develop presentation and speaking skills to carry through their whole life. Education and inclusion are fundamental to our mission,” Herzog said.
The program also encourages healthy relationships through team building exercises and the team project of a full-scale production, Herzog said.
A few participants have moved on to study musical theater.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
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On Facebook: For more information on the theater program, see the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/vandaliayouththeatre.
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