Inside the front doors of the Rocky
Mountain Theatre for Kids, backpacks, coats and shoes line the
floor. Together they make up an unwritten sign that says,
"Quiet, young artists at work."
But deeper inside the theater it's anything but quiet. A
choreographer leads two actresses in a martial arts-like fight
scene. A group of six go over their lines in an adjoining
room. A costumer emerges from behind a big, black curtain with
a freshly sewn garment for someone to try on.
On the theater's
main stage, The Magic Playhouse, director Michelle Romeo calls
out suggestions to three girls on stage: "Make sure that you
don't upstage her!"
It's all in an evening's work for the RMTK Youth Ensemble
as they rehearse what promises to be a unique version of
"Tales From the Arabian Nights."
The play, which opens Friday, will feature a diverse
musical score, including the theme song from the 1970s TV hit
"I Dream of Jeannie," a Beastie Boys song and more
traditional-sounding tunes. The choreography ranges from
hip-hop to belly dancing.
Romeo cast the 21-member RMTK ensemble last August, just
weeks after the 10-year-old theater company moved into its
current space near 55th Street and Arapahoe Avenue. As RMTK
had The Magic Playhouse built, installed a wooden dance floor
and decorated its office space, the ensemble worked on "A
Christmas Carol," which it staged in The Magic Playhouse in
December.
The Magic Playhouse is a 3,600-square-foot theater space
with a raised stage and moveable seats. It accommodates 125
audience members. RMTK rents the theater and its mirrored
dance room to other groups, both artistic and non-artistic.
And six weeks ago, the RMTK operation grew again when it
expanded into an empty 5,000-square-foot space next door,
which the company is currently using for rehearsals and
set-building.
The children's theater company offers an array of acting,
movement and technical theater classes in the afternoons in
the spring, as well as three sessions of theater camps in the
summer that culminate with public performances. RMTK currently
staffs six part-time teachers along with Romeo.
Since January, the youth ensemble has been meeting three
times per week, working on lines, characterizations and
choreography for "Tales."
"They have to sacrifice," Romeo said. "It's a big
commitment on the part of the students and their families."
For some of the youngsters, the hard work at the theater
has paid off at school, too.
"It's really difficult, I'm not going to lie," said Faith
Pramuk, 15, an ensemble member and student at Ralston Valley
High School in Arvada. "It's been a major challenge. I always
have to think ahead, I have to prioritize or, last minute, I
end up freaking out.
"(Good) grades are one way I can pay my parents back for
this huge commitment, the commute and the cost. So I have to
keep my grades up. I've been surprised. I've had pretty good
grades."
Faith plays Delilah, the first Sultana who is possessed by
the Scimitar and tries to kill the Sultan in "Tales." The
story is based on the traditional Arab story about an angry
Sultan who kills all his wives until he weds Sheherezade, the
woman who tells him part of a story each night in order to get
the Sultan to spare her life.
In the RMTK production, actors play out seven of
Sheherezade's stories, some of them serious and others
farcical.
Romeo chose to do "Tales," in part, to offer her ensemble a
glimpse into Arab culture.
"I wanted to produce a story that had a strong cultural
element from that part of the world where we are in such
conflict right now," she said. "Part of my intention was to
show the humanity of that culture, and to introduce their
sense of culture and history."
It's made an impression on Hanna Lignell, 13, a Southern
Hills Middle School student who plays the Genie in "Tales."
WHAT • "Tales From the Arabian Nights"
WHEN •7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays,
Friday through April 24 (This Friday's performance begins at
7:30 p.m. following a Middle-Eastern Festival, which begins at
6 p.m.) April 29 performance is by invitation only
WHERE •The Magic Playhouse, 5311 Western Ave.,
Boulder
TICKETS •$8-$10
CALL •(303) 245-8150 or www.theaterforkids.net
"There's a lot of togetherness," Hanna said
about what she's learned about Arab culture. "They tell
stories in that culture. They participate in stuff together.
They have a good community."
The ensemble, whose members range in age from 8 to 15, has
turned into an important community for those involved,
according to Romeo.
"A lot of these kids, they aren't usually in the
mainstream," she said. "They're on the cusp. They'll say
things like, 'We just don't think the same way (as other
kids).'
"They come here and this is where they bring it all — all
their stuff. This is a safe place for them."
Lena Antman, 15, agreed.
"I've met so many cool kids here," said the Peak to Peak
School student and ensemble member. "We spend so much time
together."
The ensemble wants to spread that sense of community, and
the children came up with the idea of a benefit performance.
RMTK will give free tickets to underprivileged families for
its April 29 production.
Also, an opening-night Middle Eastern Festival, featuring
tarot reading, a psychic, Middle Eastern food and music, will
take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, followed by the
play. The festival is free, but donations will be accepted,
and all proceeds will go to fund scholarships to the RMTK
summer programs.
The youth ensemble members will be involved in the festival
before they take the stage later in the evening. They'll serve
food and play host to the guests, a fitting task for the
group.
"This has become like a second home for them," Romeo said.
Contact Camera Theater Critic Mark Collins at (303)
473-1369 or
theater@dailycamera.com.
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