All individuals auditioning should be available to attend each of the rehearsals and performances throughout the week. While the Dickson students will rehearse at the center, rehearsals for the other counties will take place at a school of one of the participating counties. Assisting Leavitt in this year's outreach program are Pacer Harp, choreographer, who also portrays Michael Faraday for field trips in the Faraday Science Theatre and is a member of the Dinner Theatre company, and Jan Dial, director of The Renaissance Repertory Co., who has a role in the play. Damon Stevens, director of piano, arranged all the music for the play. The center's technical director, Tom Stanziano, is in charge of lighting and sound for the performance.
Theatre helps build their self confidence and teaches good communication skills and stage presence.
There is no better sound than applause and kids feel a great sense of accomplishment and pride when that applause is for them. Theatre, and particularly the outreach program, is a wonderful tool that helps kids to feel good about themselves. They work so hard throughout the week with four 3-hour rehearsals. We schedule two performances for them so they have two opportunities to perform on a real stage, with real lights, and real costumes. It also gives their family and friends two chances to see their performance.