If you walk into Pacific Repertory Theatre's Golden Bough Playhouse this Thursday night, not only will you see the newly renovated stage, but you'll also see more bouffant hairdos and beehive wigs than ever before in the history of PacRep.
That's because Thursday night is the opening of PacRep School of Dramatic Arts' first offering of the season: the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit "Hairspray."
Set in 1962 Baltimore, overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's dreams come true when she wins a spot on a local TV dance show.
But as she's confronted with the racial injustices of the time, she rallies for racial integration and at the same time proves that the only thing bigger than her hair is her heart.
Directed by PacRep executive director Stephen Moorer, the show features more than 40 top high school and university-level performing arts students.
The legendary lead male-in-drag role of Edna will be played by Scott McQuiston. With Don Dally as musical director of the onstage five-piece band, and Jill Miller (assistant city planner of Pacific Grove) as choreographer, this show should break in the new stage in a rockin' way.
The opening of "Hairspray" corresponds with the beginning of a new SoDA season — and this show exemplifies the theater skills that kids learn in the program.
"It's so all-encompassing," said Moorer. "The ensemble is singing almost the entire show. Also, there are lots of different styles so the kids can learn
And this, said Moorer, is the magic of theater. Even though the majority of kids from the SoDA program won't go on to pursue careers in the performing arts, the life skills they learn from theater are invaluable.
Organizational skills, interpersonal skills, the ability to present themselves professionally in public, team work, self-confidence, creativity without self-judgement, and a love of theater, literature and art — these are traits that will take them far in life, said Moorer.
Some of them do decide to pursue a career in performing arts, however, said Gracie Poletti, the new director of SoDA — and that's why she's made it one of her goals to re-organize the program around a strong core curriculum of theater fundamentals.
"We have a relatively small population on the Monterey Peninsula and a disproportionately large amount of youth interested in theater," said Poletti. "I attribute that to PacRep's School of Dramatic Arts program. A lot of these kids want to be professionals. So one of my goals is to prepare them with a really strong skill set."
Students can start the SoDA program at the age 4 or 5 in Pre-Musical Theatre, where they'll learn stage etiquette, how to be comfortable on the stage, movement and music.
At ages 6-8, they can start Beginning Theatre, where they'll learn the basics of stage technique, acting, singing and dancing.
Intermediate Theatre, for ages 8-11, will teach them more in-depth acting technique. In Advanced Theatre, for ages 11-12, they'll go deeper into acting technique, scene analysis and character analysis.
"The SoDA program is very well-structured in that we offer both classes and performance opportunities," said Poletti. "So kids can come to the class, learn the skills and then use them right away."
After "Hairspray" (the teenage show), this year's SoDA offerings will include "Aristocats" for younger kids, and then "Beauty and the Beast" as the summer family production.
The SoDA program also offers several elective classes, including Glee, Improv comedy, Film Acting and Shakespeare. In an attempt to collaborate with other arts organizations in the community, SoDA has reached out to guest artists to teach classes.
Brittney Buffo, who runs HARA Film camps on the Peninsula, will teach the film acting class. Stevie McKim, the owner of RockStar Dance Studio in Pacific Grove, will share teaching duties in the beginning theater class as well as teach some dance classes.
"I'm really excited about this," said Poletti. "I was able to make a few changes, while keeping intact the integrity of the program. It is a comprehensive theater program with singing, stage combat, costume, set design and even playwriting. There are so many things that people can do in theater that you've got to go through exploration to find out what suits you."
It's this process of exploration — and the subsequent discovery — that Poletti finds most rewarding when teaching theater to children and teenagers.
"It's really great working with these kids," she said, "watching them discover theater and, even more important, discovering themselves through theater."
Lily Dayton can be reached at montereybaylily@gmail.com. GO!
THEATER OPENING
·What: Pacific Repertory Theatre's SoDAonStage presents "Hairspray"
·Where: Golden Bough Playhouse, Monte Verde between Eighth and Ninth avenues, Carmel
·When: Opens at 7:30p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26; Continuing at 7:30p.m. Thu -Sat nights and 2p.m. Sundays through Feb. 19
·Tickets: $7-$20 (discounts for seniors, children, students, teachers, military) at Golden Bough Box Office, Carmel (Tuesday - Saturday, 11a.m.- 4p.m.), 622-0100 or www.pacrep.org
·Information: 622-0100 or www.pacrep.org; for info about the SoDA program, call 622-9175
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