Theater Kids follows 40 courageous young students through auditions, rehearsals and the performance of their school play, Seussical Jr.
In a particularly emotional scene, Mason, who was not cast in the musical last year, leaps and weeps alongside his mother when he finds out he has the lead role of Horton. “This is such a big step up!” he gasps in shock.
Under the guidance of their beloved director, Ms. Tyra, the cast and crew attempts to build from virtually nothing into a formidable cooperative bunch of actors aged 6 through 11. Anticipation builds, nerves are cranked up and ultimately, on the first Friday of March, the school’s small gym fills with students, faculty, families and friends to see if the kids can actually pull it off.
Six charismatic kids are filmed at home in the weeks of prep prior to auditions.
Tear-jerking reactions accompany learning who has what role.
Ms. Tyra and her fellow directors huddle to make difficult casting decisions.
Over four months, at least 30 rehearsals are filmed.
Amidst massive cuts in funding for culture and the arts as well as challenges to public school systems, it is imperative that we uplift community pillars that are fighting to stay alive.
The timing is excellent for Theater Kids because it is a poignant reminder of what it means to be in community and part of a supportive team, to express awe and excitement and to take on a challenge bigger than one’s self.
This film is a proclamation that diverse kinds of education matter, the arts are an integral part of society, respect and constructive dialogue are staple values, and community bonds must be strengthened rather than broken.
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