The lights go up and a child steps to center stage to deliver their first line.
The moment is a product of weeks of rehearsal, coaching, and behind-the-scenes work from kids and adults. This is Treasure Valley Children’s Theater (TVCT).
Led by founder and executive director Autumn Kersey, the company has performed across the Treasure Valley for a decade.
“We believe really strongly that the arts, and theater arts in particular, prepare people to be great citizens,” Kersey says.
Guided by the values of courage, commitment, respect, enthusiasm, and excellence, TVCT has been helping kids ages 6-17 to explore their best selves.
“You don't need to be the best singer. You don't need to be the best actor,” says Kersey. “You just need to be yourself. And if you don't know who that self is yet, we're going to give you lots of opportunity to figure out who you are and what you bring to the community.”
The kids are aided in this process by TVCT’s professional adult acting company.
“That company does a lot of touring to elementary schools and libraries and community spaces with stories,” Kersey says. “It was so important to our core mission to have adult performers who performed for young audiences. We know that not every kid wants to be on stage, but we believe every kid needs to see live theater and the impact that watching live theater can have on a community.”
Aside from working with school districts to provide drama club programs, and their own theater camps, TVCT brings free shows to all ages.
“In 2021, we procured a mobile stage,” Kersey says. “It's a 30-foot trailer that transforms into a performance space. We take that around the Valley and do free performances with young actors.”
Recently, that included performances of David Shannon’s A Bad Case of Stripes.
“We were the first company to produce that story in its full staged version," Kersey explains. "We leaned into the story about Camilla Cream and her struggle to be brave and honest about who she is in front of a peer group. We look at these stories in a way that says, ‘How does this reinforce the values that we embrace and teach, and are they values we want to see reflected in our community?’”
While Stripes has wrapped, you can catch Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.! at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 and 11 a.m. Aug. 13 in Reid Merrill Park in Eagle.
“Schoolhouse Rock is the very first musical we produced 10 years ago, so we’re going back to the beginning,” Kersey shares. “I’m amazed that over all that time we’ve never strayed from our mission. I knew that wouldn't falter, but I never would have been able to predict the way we’ve grown and adapted to the needs of young people over these past ten years.”
For more information on TVCT programs and auditions, visit TreasureValleyChildrensTheater.com.
“Our theater space creates an opportunity for young people to try on different roles: whether that's on stage telling a story, backstage supporting others in the telling of that story, or in bringing the community together to enjoy a positive story with a strong message.”