CTC provides children’s theater at its best

by Dwight Hobbes

Children’s Theatre Company continues to distinguish itself as both a venue of international prestige and as an invaluable community resource, opening an exhilarating world of first-rate commercial theater not only to children of privilege, but to those for whom theater otherwise would be an unthinkable luxury.
One of its most popular such offerings is right around the corner in the form of the CTC’s Annual Open House, at which youngsters and oldsters alike get to go behind the production scenes and have a field day.
As you arrive, characters from CTC productions greet you. You’re then given a program guide to the facilities and let loose to explore the place and find out just how theater magic is made.
If a special young somebody you know would just love to see, for instance, how shows like “Madeline’s Rescue” or “Once On This Island” come by their gorgeous sets and special effects, this is the proverbial golden opportunity. In the scene shop, master carpenter Mark Freij answers questions, tells stories, plays with models and, in general, welcomes you in for a visit. Other professionals show how the prop and costume shops bring concepts to life.
There are also demonstrations of such state-of-the-art stock in trade as creating fog or snow on command; tours of the dance and recording studios; a perennial favorite attraction, “The Costume Corral”; and, every half-hour, the light and sound show “The Adventures of Sparky and Buzz.” You may well run out of energy before you run out of fun things to do at this event.
To give an idea of just how much work is put into it, last year’s event drew 3,500 people and was staffed by nearly 200 employees and volunteers.
CTC Public Education Associate Chris Kliesen Wehrman, who coordinates the Open House, said "It amazes me the way this thing happens every year. This is an event that truly has a life of its own. It belongs to all of us and it belongs to none of us. Every single person in this building—a considerable number of people—gives something to the process. Some people give tons, some teaspoonfuls, and somehow the teaspoons are honestly every bit as important as the tons. It’s amazing. And then the most incredible thing is that we get everything ready and the whole building simply waits for the people to come. And when the children walk through the door, it comes alive."
Public Relations Director Linda Jacobs looks foward to the Open House every year, probably with jsut as much enthusiams as the kids and parents do. "It’s an opportunity,” said Jacobs, "for us to reach out to our community and welcome children and families into our very special environment, in its entirety. We are able to give them a day unlike most of their days, sharing the how and why of what we do as theater artists and makers of magic, as well as share the remarkable talents of CTC’s whole staff, every one of which makes an invaluable contribution to our work and our community. We are always exploring ways to welcome our community to our house, and its many rooms—mainstage productions, theater arts training, education programs —in an easy and accessible way," she said.
This event is one of the many free programs at CTC. Others include the groundbreaking Pay What You Can Program, Whittier Family Night, and the Summer Neighborhood Arts Program. Pay What You Can, now in its fourth season and sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota, designates a special night for each mainstage production that is available for families to literally "pay what they can” to see a show at CTC. Pay What You Can is also available to families in Greater Minnesota at select stops on CTC’s Annual Tour. Since 1998, over 14,000 children and families have attended productions they might otherwise not been able to afford.
Recently, PWYC tickets for “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” sold out (746 seats) in 90 minutes.
Whittier Family Night, in collaboration with the Whittier Community School for the Arts, ensures that, each year, students attend a CTC matinee. After the production, they return to their classrooms and create projects—often drawings, poetry and photographs—around the themes of the show. Then, they invite their parents to accompany them to an evening performance and reception at CTC where their projects are displayed in CTC’s Red Lobby.
Summer Neighborhood Arts Program (SNAP) provides a three to four week opportunity for children in the Whittier and Phillips neighborhood to participate in theater arts classes that culminate in a production for family and friends. The program expanded this past summer into the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood in St. Paul. Free transportation and meals are provided.
Open House is held on Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with continual admittance until 3:30 p.m. at The Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 3rd Ave. S., Mpls. 612-874-0500. www.childrenstheatre.org.