Theater is my sport

I’ll never forget the first time my daughter asked, “When will I be in a play?” She was seven years old. I told her that, when I was in elementary school, there was a class play every year. Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore. There are many opportunities here for soccer, lacrosse, football, and cheer. But in order to find a play for her to perform in, we had to do some searching. And driving. Lots of driving. That’s when we found Spotlight Studios.

We all have dreams for our children, sometimes even before they are born. I knew that my future kids were going to dedicate themselves to one sport and one instrument of their choice. I knew I wanted for them all the benefits that would come with it: the built-in friends, exercise, and confidence.

When we enrolled our daughter in her first soccer league, everyone was running in opposite directions. Kids were scoring on the wrong side, there was always someone having a meltdown, and my girl was, of course, off chasing butterflies. But it was for fun. And it was fun. She loved being on a team and the feeling of scoring a goal. We continued for several years, but then something shifted. While she was good, it stopped bringing her joy. I realized I had pushed her to stay with it past the point of enjoyment due to my preconceived notion of what her childhood should look like.

So, I let her quit.

Because theater was her sport.

At this point she had been active in theater for a few years. We all enjoy musicals, and my daughter loves to dance and sing. So it was a natural fit. What took us by surprise was what the husband-and-wife director and choreographer dream team were able to do with a large group of tiny children in just ten weeks.

Theatre was a major influence on director John Barthelmes as a child, shaping who he was into adulthood. So much so that after running a threeweek summer theater camp, he quit his job as a software engineer and started working toward opening Spotlight. Since 2007, and now with wife Kaitlyn, he’s been providing children with the same opportunities and experiences he had.

We love to say our daughter found her people. Her band of weirdos. They are all obsessed with Broadway shows and get each other’s references. They fit in while standing out as individuals.

Here are just a few of the things my child has gained from theater:

SELF-ESTEEM. After projecting on stage in front of dozens of people, standing up to give a report in school is a piece of cake. My daughter will carry the communication skills gained here into her future. She has found her voice. Many rehearsals of complicated dance routines and scenes have built her strength and stamina.

TEAMWORK AND FRIENDSHIPS. Kids learn to rely on each other and work as a team as they look and listen for cues, follow difficult dance moves, or navigate a mistake made in real time in the middle of a performance. They feel proud of themselves and each other as they taketheir final bows. Some kids are great singers or phenomenal dancers. Others know just how to deliver a joke. Just as a sports team is made up of different kinds of athletes, so is a cast.

SPORTSMANSHIP. Nothing says “life’s not fair” like the night the cast list comes out. Not everyone can play the lead role. After the disappointment fades away and the rehearsals start, children realize that each part is special and brings something important to the show. My daughter once played a headlight. Yup, she was one fourth of the car. She ended up making friends with those three other car parts, and it was one of her favorite roles.

INCLUSIVITY AND LEADERSHIP. No one is turned away from a part or separated based on gender or age. My daughter has performed with her younger siblings and her male friends. At Spotlight, actors in older grades help with the younger children and are able to lead dances, scenes, and songs with them. The most magical shows I have ever watched have been K–12 productions.

PERSEVERANCE AND DISCIPLINE. It takes discipline to spend weeks preparing for an audition. Memorizing lines and dance routines is hard work. Putting children in these high-pressure situations builds coping skills. I have seen children fall and keep going or flub a line and ad lib their way through a scene. Learning to balance rehearsals with family life, school, and work prepares children for adult challenges.

HOW TO RESPOND TO CRITICISM. Constructive criticism and feedback can be tough to take but help children grow. In theater kids get used to being given “notes” after every rehearsal and learn to not feel rejected but take those notes and improve their performance. Sharpay and the Sharpettes rehearsing High School Musical, Spotlight Studios

EMPATHY. Theater kids are allowed to feel all the emotions and can put themselves in someone else’s shoes. Literally. Shoes, pants, wigs—they share all the costumes. There is an incredible opportunity for them to develop their emotional intelligence. They are exposed to cultures and ideas that show them how the world is bigger than their tiny view of it. They lay their hearts on the stage.

In the end, we found much more than a theater. Our daughter joined a big family of theater kids and now has a “home away from home.”

LOCAL THEATERS FOR KIDS

• Best Foot Forward bestfootforwardkids.com
• Bravo Creative Arts bravocreativeartsproductioncompany.com
• MT Ed, Rochester musicaltheatreeducation.com
• OFC Creations ofccreations.com Spotlight Arts spotlightarts.com
• Stages mjtstages.com