An excerpt from "A passion for children's theater "
By Ira N. Nottonson,
For The Boulder Daily Camera
May 30, 2005
Meanwhile, Michelle Romeo, creator of the Rocky Mountain Theatre For Kids,
brings her own concept of theater to the children in her classes and in her
productions. She takes a good deal of poetic license in the productions she
chooses by adding passages that she feels enhance the story and offers more
chances for the students to participate.
"Every child should have an opportunity for total creativity, and every script does not offer that," Romeo says.
She has predicated each teaching module on that philosophy for the past nine years. She feels that it delivers a more complete package to each student than the discipline of merely following the playwright's instructions.
"It's unique and it works," says Stuart Motola, company manager for the Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids.
That philosophy is confirmed by a participant in the program.
"They don't just do plays," says 15-year-old Lena Antman, one of the theater's students, who has been with the group for the past three years. "They change things, add things, give everyone something special to do, to be more creative."
Lena's excitement also derives from the fact that each student works backstage on props and makeup as well as all other aspects of production.
Romeo wants the improvisation approach to pervade every aspect of the teaching programs.
"We want to create a bridge between the creative process and professional production," says Romeo, who said her excitement is even greater now that the company has moved into its new facility at 5311 Western Ave. in Boulder. Having created presentations at various venues over the past nine years, she feels that having a building of their own enables them to use every part of every day.
"Every child should have an opportunity for complete involvement, and having our own place allows us to offer that to our students," Romeo says.