By Joan Gross
It is every girl’s dream to be a princess, and for 12-year-old Karla Tobar, that dream has come true, Karla will play the princess, “Atlanta,” one of the short stories from “Free to be you and me,” in the Hillbarn Theatre production on July 24 at 2 p.m. with free admission for the community. Karla is a participant in Star Express conservatory for the global special education program at Hillbarn. This Cinderella story was made possible by the Rotary Club of Foster City.
“I could hardly believe it. I felt so happy and excited that I went home and started jumping up and down on my bed. This is the first time I have learned about acting. I like being able to show emotion, lots of movement, and playing many different roles. I have learned that I can do my own thing,” Karla said.
“Free to be you and me,” first published in 1974 by Marlo Thomas (“That Girl”), has short stories, poems illustrations and songs to help children feel free to be who they are and who the can be. It honors and accepts the uniqueness of everyone and is a celebration of diversity, hope, love and community. Contributors to the book are children’s authors, actors, illustrators, and celebrities.
You can’t help but notice Riley Allen, 12, who is always smiling and animated. “I like acting because I can be and feel a lot of things. My favorite part is being a scary and hungry tiger. I can be strong on stage,” Riley said. Another participant, Danielle Henderson, 15, likes the song, “Ladies First.” “I’ve made a lot of new friends and would like to do more theatre,” Danielle said.
These students, ages 10 to 15 years old have been meeting four hours on Saturdays for seven weeks. Directors are Virginia Musante and Leslie Stupple.
Musante, who has been teaching and directing stage productions for children at Bowditch Middle School in Foster City for 28 years, has also been an active improvisational actress in the San Francisco Bay Area. Recently completing her master’s degree in teaching at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, she has done extensive research on modifying drama for various groups of students. “I have found that more and more children in public school are mainstreamed into elective classes. The teacher must have knowledge to modify the program for various needs. This program has been a learning experience where we have tried new methods to achieve our goals. Students have learned many forms of movement on stage, they have listened to tapes of songs modeled after what they have heard, and seen just how high they can go,” Musante said.
Stupple, conservatory director at Hillbarn, has been working with children professionally for more than 20 years. “Working originally in New York programs, I used theatre arts with my kids for a variety of purposes: to teach life skills, build confidence, and entertain. I’m very determined that everyone should have the opportunity to experience life to their maximum potential,” Stupple said.
Stupple has been artistic director Bay Area Educational Theatre and currently holds that position with the Pied Piper Players. She is also director of the Conservatory at Hillbarn Theatre.
“Both Virginia and I believe that through theatre arts, children learn communication, teamwork and respect,” Stupple said. The two directors work with passion and determination to build this program from the start. They researched many projects throughout the country.
“Our goal in offering this session is to provide an experience for those who don’t normally have the opportunity. We want the participants to succeed and reap the benefits from exposure to theatre arts with confidence, acceptance, accomplishment and fun,” Stupple said.
Assistant director Mandy Silber, a former student of Musante at Bowditch, has participated in many theatre events. After productions at Bowditch and San Mateo High, she attended Harvard, where she directed, acted and taught fifth and sixth graders. “I enjoy working with these children, pushing their limits to see how far they can grow. The growth in this group has been dramatic. It feels like this is a great medium to watch them blossom,” Silber said.
Also helping is Kate Rozzi, a recent graduate of San Mateo High. Rozzi is coaching the group in movement and singing. This past year, she has spent many hours during school time as an aide in the special day class at Horall School, “I have enjoyed opening the world of theatre, singing and movement. I feel so good seeing the children wanting to learn and absorb everything. I look forward to coming to Hillbarn on Saturdays, helping the students memorize their words and dance. The group has done well; they have achieved beyond our expectations,” Rozzi said.
…When Lee Foster, a Rotarian and executive director of Hillbarn Theatre, talked to Jon Grant, who is in charge of Rotary Foundation funding about the program, they decided to write a grant. Funding came from the Oktoberfest by the Foster City Club, matched with funds from the Foster City Rotary District and the Rotary Club of Mazatlan. These monies were all matched with funds from the Rotary International Foundation, totaling $35,000.
In addition, Foster City Rotary has contributed to the theatre lighting, light boards, curtains and sound boards. They have also provided low cost tickets to productions for children and seniors. “We want to create theatre with community for our community,” Foster said.
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