Hannah Gauthier is a bit intimidated: Kenmore has her number and needles are her nemesis.
The seventh grader plans to dive into the Traverse City Children's Theater's new On the Scene program this fall to learn the ins and outs of back stage work — even sewing. An enthusiastic participant on stage in multiple shows over the past year, Gauthier is ready to delve into the theater happenings out of the spotlight.
"I get to learn more about what goes on behind the stage and not just on the stage,” said the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton student. "I want to learn more… magic happens backstage.”
Last spring she and other members of the "Alice in Wonderland” cast had a sneak preview of the new On the Scene program when they dabbled in sewing, set design and prop construction. Older students pitched in with lighting, sound and stage managing.
This fall, as Gauthier enrolls in Level II of three levels, she will learn more about prop making, costuming, stage managing and set design. Her experience with "Alice in Wonderland” allowed her to place out of Level I, which will cover painting, prop making and respect for the stage.
One goal as she rises through the levels — where Level III is directing, choreography and lighting — is to master the needle, whether manual or electric.
"I'm really bad at it, I had a hard time sewing on buttons,” she recalled ruefully.
With an ambitious goal of having students run the spring production of "James and the Giant Peach,” On the Scene program Levels I and II kick off September 29. Level III will start in January and will be geared to students ages 16 and up who have completed the previous two levels or have equivalent experience.
Adult mentors will help the students throughout the program and during next June's adaptation of the famous Roald Dahl novel.
"The kids who will be in charge of the more technical aspects of the show will have a mentor who will be supervising them,” said Luis Araquistain, director of the Traverse City Children's Theater. "The technical aspect has gotten high tech, certainly when the Children's Theater started they did not have computerized lighting boards and computerized sound boards like we do.”
Araquistain noted that the One the Scene Program is the next logical step for the growing Children's Theater offerings, which boasts a number of students who have 'done everything.' It harks back to the founding days of the theater in the early 1990s when a lot of that training was covered.
In addition, the On the Scene program is another way to keep older students or those not interested in acting engaged in theater.
"This is a new way to keep them involved, the middle schoolers and high schoolers,” he said. "Definitely we want to get more older kids interested and, as always, we want to get more boys interested.”
For more information on the children's theater, call 947-2210 or see their web site at www.tcctheater.org.