By Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
Participants of Houlton’s Star Bright Theatre are busy rehearsing their lines for their upcoming performance of “Blather, Blarney and Balderdash” and “Peggy the Pint-size Pirate” to be performed at Houlton High School.
The cast includes 60 students from the greater Houlton area under the direction of Ann Barnes, Pam Chernesky, Barbara Hogan, Susan McMann and Mary Miller with several support personnel working on props and costumes.
This performing arts group originated back in the 1960s with students at our local Ricker College and even though the college is now just a memory the theatre group has lived on and recently been renamed Star Bright Theatre. It provides an opportunity for the youth of the area to experience being on stage.
Here is a glimpse through the eyes of a child of what they experience as they participate in their rehearsals and look forward to the big show.
Cassie Shaw
12 years old
Home-schooled
“I love performing and it’s really fun. To learn the script, I read it over and over.”
She thinks the best part of being in the play is meeting new people.
Sydney Lorom
11 years old
Southside School
“I decided to be in the play because a lot of my friends were doing it and I thought it would be fun.”
She thinks the best part is being with friends and using all the props. She said that being in the play will make her more confident since she has always been shy.
Brittany Hagan
10 years old
Southside School
This is Brittany’s second time participating in the Star Bright Theatre group.
“At first I was shy, but now I have a bigger voice. I want to be in plays at the high school because a lot of people go to them.”
Sam Ellis
11 years old
Southside School
Sam said that the best part of being in the play is getting to be someone you are not.
“I like to do things that I don’t usually do, like being mean if that is what the character is supposed to be. My cousins and siblings have all been in the show choirs and jazz groups and some of them have had the leads. So as I grow up I want to be in them, because I am tired of watching.”
Kelsey Sewell
11 years old
Southside School
Kelsey has participated for five or six years. She loves the arts and thinks it’s fun to hang out with friends.
“This performance is spectacular and learning the lines is just fun.”
She thinks that memorizing her lines will also help her memorize more facts for tests she takes at school.
Emalee Collins
6 years old
Houlton Elementary School
Emalee loves being an actress and meeting new people. She said that the hardest part about being in the play is using a loud voice, exaggerating and trying to make it look real.
Launa Jay
7 years old
Houlton Elementary School
“This is my first time to be in the play. I really like acting and my sister did it.”
Launa said that she thinks as she gets older she will be better in front of people because right now she gets nervous in front of a big crowd.
Acelia Kelley
7 years old
Greater Houlton Christian Academy
Acelia said that the best part of being in the play is that her lines are funny, but the hardest thing is to pay attention, because she usually doesn’t. When she is older she would like to be a movie director.
Anna Hogan
9 years old
Houlton Elementary School
Anna said that the best part of being in the play is getting on stage and that there are a lot of people in the audience watching to see how good you are.
“The hardest thing is learning your lines. I have to practice a lot. I think that if I take acting classes when I am older I will already know the basic rules.”
Mariah Peterson
8 years old
Wellington Elementary School
Mariah has fun at practices and she likes meeting new people.
“The hardest thing is to memorize a lot of lines and stay in action when I am off the stage. I think by being in the play it will help me when I get older and try out for the high school plays, because this way I will already know what a play is really like.”
Gage Bartlett
9 years old
Houlton Elementary School
This is the second year for Gage to participate in the theatre group.
“This year I have a big part, I am a sea monster. I have a lot of lines to learn, so at home I read the script over and over and my mom helps a little. I think by being in this play it will help me when I get to high school because I might want to be in a musical there. I think the most exciting time will be the night of the performance.”
The students will be performing at 6 p.m. Friday, April 26 and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and $15 for a family.
