Roanoke Children’s Theatre Ready for New Season

The Timeless Cat in the Hat
The Timeless Cat in the Hat

The new season for Roanoke Children’s Theatre – the company’s second at the Dumas Center on Henry Street – opens later this month with an all-time favorite that several generations will remember fondly. The Cat in the Hat, the Dr. Seuss favorite, runs from October 16-26, with 7 pm evening performances and weekend matinees.

Later this season there is Madeline’s Christmas in December, Eat, Its not about the food in late February and Fancy Nancy in May-June. “Eat,” about how young people view their bodies, is another in a series of annual collaborations that RCT has taken on with organizations like the Prevention Council of Roanoke County, RAYSAC and Family Service of Roanoke Valley – a yearly play where artistic director Pat Wilhelms and company tackle a serious issue affecting today’s youth and their families.

RCT, now in its seventh season, is doing fine at the Dumas. “We were kind of wondering if people were going to follow us over [from the Taubman Museum],” said Wilhelms, “but we had our best season of shows and classes ever, with more participants. Not only do we have a beautiful stage but we have our own dressing rooms … and offices.” The move also meant RCT picked up an additional 30 seats they could sell, going from 150 at the Taubman to 180 in the Dumas Center auditorium.

“Our mission is to use the art of theater to help kids learn,” said Wilhelm, “and for families to have a place where they can go to share something they always know is about families …and about life.” Seeing a play that inspires discussion – or giving kids the opportunity to perform – can foster skills that can come in handy as adults she added. “Those skills are things that will carry you through life.”

The Cat in the Hat was originally produced by the National Theatre of Great Britain, staged in what Wilhelms calls a “clever” mode – not a lot of words, but with plenty of music and lots of style. “Its just very different than anything else you’re going to see…lots of voiceover [and pantomime]. Your imagination is engaged.”

The Madeline book series is now 75 years old. We try to pick [Christmas shows] that the whole family will remember.” As for “Eat, Its not about Food,” where Lewis-Gale and Carilion Clinic are also partners, Wilhelms said, “it does take a village” to get the message out on serious topics.

“Parents have a hard time bringing up subject matters that you know your kids need to hear about…this time it’s eating disorders. Schools [often] don’t have the time.” Wilhelms said it’s really about being healthy. They’ll stage a 5K race in conjunction with the play’s run. Eighth graders in Roanoke City and Roanoke County will also come to the Dumas to see the play, with counselors on hand for a talk-back session afterwards. “We want to make sure we’re armed with the right answers [for students]. They’re amazing what they bring up.”

RCT will also bring Eat on the road to schools in outlying areas (like Covington), something they have done in the past for other plays that have dealt with the impact of alcoholism on families and teen suicide. Things lighten up again with the last play of the 2014-2015 season, Fancy Nancy, about a little girl “who loves to play dress up. She loves French… she and her friends just have a heyday.”

In November RCT will take part in a reading initiative at local schools – The Reader’s Theater Project. Wilhelms said studies show that students who are not proficient in reading by the third grade will have a tougher time later in life. So RCT will go into city schools and get third graders involved with reading passages from plays. “We’re going to help inspire them to be more communicative.”

A Christmas Carol and a version of Goldilocks will be the vehicles; then fourth graders will try out a play about Jamestown. RCT is funded both by grants and by private donations and admissions, on about a 50-50 basis. Several graduates have gone on to work professionally in theater. (see roanokechildrenstheatre.org for more details)

By Gene Marrano

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