Alpine Kids! builds confidence and fun
<p>Costume detail for one of the undersea scenes in Alpine Kids! Theatre Project's production of "The Little Mermaid Jr." Oct. 16 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>Jasmine Matern and others rehearse for the Alpine Kids! Theatre Project production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid Jr." Oct. 16, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>Betsi Morrison, Alpine Theatre Project's artistic director, calls all the children to their stage positions for the Mysterious Fathoms Below scene Oct. 16 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>Luke Walrath, executive director of Alpine Theatre Project, shares a laugh with Chloe Kasselder, who is playing Ariel the Alpine Kids! Theatre Project production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid Jr." Oct. 15 at Muldown Elementary in Whitefish.</p>
<p>From left, Prince Eric, played by Ansen Ingrahm, the Pilot, played by Sophie Phillips, and Grimsby, played by Braya Hobson, gather with the cast for the Mysterious Fathoms Below scene Oct. 16 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.</p>
<p>Emily Freudenberger as Flounder, center in white, and others cast members rehearse for the Alpine Kids! Theatre Project production of Disney's "The Little Mermaid Jr." Oct. 15 in Whitefish.</p>
Creative chaos might be the best description of what’s happening after school these days in Whitefish’s youth theater community.
It’s a natural outcome when 115 elementary and middle-school students study lines, sing familiar songs and learn choreography to bring Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” to life. These scores of youths have been working on the junior version of the play for the last few weeks through Alpine Theatre Project’s youth education program.
While Executive Director Luke Walrath readily admits keeping that many children on task can be a challenge, he also insists it’s worth it. Alpine Kids! Theatre Project accepts every child who tries out and, if necessary, splits them all into two casts.
“The whole purpose was, we wanted to have an all-inclusive program,” said Walrath, who started the youth theater program four years ago with his wife and Alpine Theatre Project’s artistic director, Betsi Morrison. “A lot of these kids, it’s their first time on stage. Our goal isn’t necessarily to breed the next Broadway star. It’s to build kids’ confidence and creativity through working in theater.”
Although it is based in Whitefish, many students from surrounding communities have found a place on the Alpine Kids! stage. Since its inception, the program has attracted youngsters from all over the valley, which allows Morrison and Walrath to complement arts programs in several schools.
It’s also good for the young actors, Walrath said.
“They get to meet kids from other schools and make new friends,” he said.
The program regularly draws more than 100 students. Last year a record-high 156 youths participated in the fall session, Walrath said. Alpine Theatre Project also offers a spring session for high-school students.
And while the program is definitely all about the kids, the real heart of the theater group is their parents, Walrath said.
“Betsi bucked tradition with this when we started it,” he said. “A lot of directors and teachers don’t want parents involved — or at least involved in this way.”
Getting parents involved was a product of Walrath’s and Morrison’s inexperience in one key area. When the pair founded the youth program in 2008, they weren’t parents. (They’ve since had twin boys, Gabriel and Elijah.)
“We knew very little about teaching children,” Walrath said. “Betsi felt the best way to understand things was to get parents involved.”
It worked better than either could have expected, he added. “We have actually found the parents not only have been respectful of us and what we’re trying to do — nonintrusive — but they’ve jumped in wholeheartedly. They get really involved in their kids’ arts education. It really speaks to the parents in this valley.”
Working with youths seemed a natural outlet for the community-minded couple. Unlike many other local theater groups, Alpine Theatre Project brings in professional actors and singers for its summer season. While that makes for quality productions, it means Alpine Theatre doesn’t have the same ready-made link to the area as community theater groups.
Bringing that breadth of professional experience to young people seemed like a good way to bridge that gap, Walrath said.
“We want there to be as much opportunity for kids in this valley as possible,” he said. “Where you live should not dictate the opportunities that you have. ... Kids here should have the same artistic opportunities, the same benefits from being involved in the arts, as a kid in Chicago. If we can help do that, let’s do it.”
Kristi Albertson, editor of This Week in the Flathead, may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.