For many children in our community, The Studio of The Sooner Theatre has become a place to grow their creative talents, but for Dinah Joyner Gantz’s 10-year-old foster daughter, CW (full name withheld to protect her identity), the Studio has become a welcome new family full of opportunity for her to find her voice.
“When CW came to us, she had no social skills. All she knew was to take care of her autistic sister and making sure they are both safe from their parents,” Dinah said. “Nobody cared about the talents hidden in this child.”
So, Dinah, looking for ways to allow CW to explore and be the child she is, enrolled CW into classes at The Studio of The Sooner Theatre. Over the next several months, CW took a dance class, voice lessons and participated in a production class that ended in a full-scale production of The Little Mermaid JR.
“Since she has become a part of (The Sooner) theater family, she has learned to relax, trust adults, make friends and be a part of a group, Dinah said.
“She is learning to regulate herself around peers as she explores the fact that good things come to you if you work hard.”
CW’s hard work had to start where most of her other peers already were: in learning the basics of social interactions and trust. Those foundational skills were being honed as she also learned how to express herself through imaginative play, song and dance.
“CW has started taking pride in herself and her behaviors while working hard to become better at singing, dancing and acting that she loves so much,” Dinah shared.
Jennifer Baker, CW’s voice instructor and Sooner Theatre executive director, said, “I have had a front-row seat watching CW’s fight to find the talented little girl she is. Her joy and confidence have really grown this year as her trust in us and in herself has grown.”
This summer, CW’s hard work paid off as she auditioned for and earned a role in The Sooner Theatre’s production of The Music Man JR, and CW’s foster mom has nothing but pride for the little girl who has learned so much.
In an email, she wrote, “Thank you to everybody who has helped CW find her spark, and thank you for always making her feel at home.”
The Studio of The Sooner Theatre begins enrollment for school-year classes in musical theatre, full-scale musical productions, acting, tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop and magic Aug. 18 for returning students and Aug. 20 for new students.
School-year classes at the Studio are for students age 3 through high school, with special needs classes available for students in 6th grade and up. The Studio of The Sooner Theatre’s scholarship program is available for students who need assistance; last year, $68,000 in scholarships was awarded to 334 students.
For more information on programs, classes and productions at The Sooner Theatre, please visit SoonerTheatre.org or call them at 405.321.9600. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.