Moody children take center stage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Spencer Gallien
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Forty-eight children from the Moody community recently took part in a theatre camp, where they learned and performed play in only one week.
 
Three tour actor directors from Missoula Children's Theatre traveled to Moody from Missoula, Mont., to help the children learn and perform the "Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."  The week-long class finished with a performance of the show to family and friends in the Base Theatre June 20.   

This is the seventh time the theatre company has been invited to Moody to perform a play with the base children. Past years plays included "The Frog Prince", "Robin Hood" and selections from Hans Christian Anderson.

The week began with a tryout where the visiting directors cast the actors for their parts in the play. Afterward, the children immediately begin learning their lines and songs for the play.

"This was really a great experience for us," said Melissa Briner, Missoula Children's Theatre tour actor director. "It's really interesting being on an Air Force base; I can't get over how great the kids are."

Ms. Briner pointed out that she was continually amazed when the kids would say their parents were overseas in war-zones.

"The kids are so strong," she added. "I was really impressed by all the children we've worked with this week."

Angel Brown, 23rd Force Support Squadron community programmer, also participated in the play and performed the part of Mother Crusoe.

"The Missoula directors really impressed me throughout the week," she said. "They were great with the kids and created a safe, fun environment for everyone."

For Megan Frazier, who played Robinson Crusoe, this was the first time she had been in a play.

"This has been a great week," she said. "I made a lot of friends and the Missoula coaches were really cool, good actors."

Megan also said that this experience has sparked her interest in the performing arts, and she would now like to learn more about acting and possibly participate in more school plays. 

Her enthusiam perfectly demonstrates the benefits of the theatre program, said Mrs. Brown.

"I can't stress enough how great this program is for the kids," she said. "We're very lucky to have a group come to Air Force bases and host this kind of opportunity for the children.

"The girls from the theatre company are extremely good with the kids," she added. "Being able to handle all those children and teach them to perform a whole play in a week is amazing."