Submitted by: Vickie Reid

ACT 2003 Summer Educational Youth Program has come to a successful end.  In three weeks, the young people in the program learned theatre concepts, team building, self-confidence, trust, stage directions, script analysis, character studies, and performance skills. Their work culminated in a production of The Tolstoy Stories.  It is a celebration of the art of storytelling through the writing of Russian storyteller Leo Tolstoy.

The production showcased a group of young actors (ages 5-14) to an audience of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and community members. The atmosphere was exhilarating, lighting effects were outstanding, and the desire to perform was intoxicating.  The Elkhorn City audience laughed and cried as they were led on a journey of oral stories and fables.  Proud parents flashing pictures was almost as entertaining.  Having designed the performance space with the names of community members who had stories of their own and had in some way helped to give the town of Elkhorn its identity, the young company asked the audience members “What’s your story?”

Three short weeks had given the students permission to be true and honest to the story, the emotion, and the action of the characters.  Self-assurance and delight in what they had created and were eager to share with others was evident in every second.  The performances were enthusiastic, dazzling and imbued with passion. The young actors were adept in their movement as they worked the audience from every angle, showing their proficiency in theatre-in-round style acting.  Comfortable in their physicality, uninhibited by speaking to the audience directly and totally connected to each other as an ensemble, the young actors worked their magic on the very village that has helped to raise them, their home community of Elkhorn City. The production took place in our newly renovated library, thus setting the stage for what is possible and yet to come in our community.

Many gifts were shared over the course of the three-week session.  Students taught as much as they learned.  Moments of pure truth given by a child is golden.  Laughter, tears and much hard work brought the group closer to themselves as well as each other.  Community members rediscovered the beauty of youth involvement. Ruby Thompson, Yvonne Adkins, Patricia Rife, and Eugenia Adkins volunteered their time and energy daily and gave so much of themselves to the program and students.  The only pay they received came in the way of love, hugs and gratitude.

Ms. Richards is to be applauded for her caring, nurturing love that came through these young performers. Our area children are fortunate to have this opportunity to study with a professional who is from this community and has such love for her native home of Elkhorn City.  Her energy becomes contagious and all of the students and community were lucky enough to experience it Friday night.  As a community, we can hardly wait for the next wonder to perform.

2003 Educational Youth Program Ensemble
Jordan Adkins, Kea Deshae Adkins, James Allen,
Laura Allen, Bailey Coleman, Maggie Creech,
Jacob Gilbert, Derek Franklin Mann, Kasey McCarty,  
Mercedes Potter, Anna Jean Ratliff