Art for Kids' Sake
Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids finds a permanent home
By Alicia Wallace, Daily Camera Business Writer
For seven years, the Rocky Mountain Theatre for Kids group hopped
from stage to stage around
One summer, the performances were at
Now, the
"I really wanted to create a space that was intimate enough
for performances," said Michelle Romeo, founder and director of the group.
"I really love a sense of intimacy, especially with youth."
The group, which is in its eighth official season, opened a 5,300-square-foot
children's performing arts complex at
Romeo said the costs of renting spaces had grown over the years,
so it became a logical decision to establish a permanent location where the
company could house its performances and eventually rent it out to other groups.
However, after spending weeks conducting an exhaustive and unfruitful
search, Romeo said she was concerned she and the theater would have to set
up shop outside of
So the discovery of the
"It feels really incredible, feels like a gift," she said.
"It came together at a time I was considering leaving
The group, which currently has 10 employees and five interns,
offers four sessions — including the production of two large shows — during
the summertime. During the 10-week period, a
total of 160 kids, ranging in age from
"There was a point last year that I didn't think we could grow
anymore; that we were maxed out," she said.
"Now, I feel like since we have a space, we can grow a bit in a different
way."
The group has a company in
In mid-August, Romeo said she plans to make the space available for
rental for community theater productions, art shows, presentations, and film
and video shoots. Stuart Motola, Romeo's husband and
"Our experience has been that spaces are getting more expensive
and policies keep getting more bureaucratic and rigid," he said. "Other
arts organizations, friends and colleagues have expressed the same thing."
Romeo, who studied improvisation, voice and theater in
A group of 10 kids worked in improvisation, skits and storytelling.
After starting an after-school program, she knew she had something big.
"I filled the first class and then filling the second class
was no problem," she said. "I thought, "Oh, my god, there's
a market here.'"
She said she wanted to reach more children and create a performing
arts group where the kids dictated and created their own characters.
"In so many school programs, the children are told what to do
and how to do it," she said. "They come to me with little ability to
take creative initiative. We really teach the kids how to think for
themselves."
The first session: "The Chronicles of Narnia"
— a musical, is already underway in the building that opened June 1.
During one day last week, more than 50 kids sat in chairs in The
Magic Playhouse. Their chatter filled the room, as other children jumped rope
on stage under the watch of an adult.
When the time came to practice a dance scene, Romeo stood up and
with a few softly spoken words, captured the children's silence and attentiveness.
"Everyone listens. Everyone wants to get to work," said
Charlotte Hanks, 11. "Everyone respects her; she's such a powerful figure.
She really enjoys working with kids. I'm sure she would do this if she wasn't
getting paid."
Melanie Kronenberg, 12, said she likes
the environment of the theater, because the focus is not on getting the biggest
part, but rather making the part unique to the individual.
"Even the small parts are great," said Kronenberg, who's participated in the theater for three
years.
The group will have two casts participate in three shows each for
"Narnia," which will be performed Friday
through Sunday.
Romeo said she hopes the permanent home will have a positive
effect on the children and the community.
"I really want to bring performing arts back to the
people," she said.
Contact Camera Business Writer Alicia Wallace at (303) 473-1332 or
wallacea@dailycamera.com.