MANCHESTER-BY-THE SEA — A group of young artists have been writing a series of 10-minute plays which they’ll act in and produce this weekend at Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School.
“In the beginning, the kids were like ‘There’s no way I can do this,’” said awarding-winning actress Heidi Dallin. “But we started doing theater games and doing (improvisation) and giving them a really good foundation in acting and reacting and being on stage.
“You learn a lot when you’re in a show but there’s so much improvisation and being the master of what you’re doing on stage.”
Dallin, head of the the Manchester Essex Regional Middle School Drama Department and the YMCA of the North Shore’s theater specialist, has been working with the Manchester Essex Regional Middle School students on the plays since March.
Student Antonia Vivanco told Dallin she could never think of anything to write, but Dallin encouraged her to go home and think about her experiences in acting and in life.
“She came in the next time with her play,” Dallin said. “You don’t know what you’re capable of. My job is to help them find that and go out and try it. Theater is the most amazing experience. You create bonds with the actors you work with. But it’s hard work.”
Vivanco wrote and directs “Don’t Worry,” which tells the story of Meghan, who suffers anxiety, but eventually grows more confident.
“She tends to worry about what people will think of what she says,” Vivanco said. “She’s afraid that people will judge her. It’s based on me and the people around me who worry about this.”
In “The Quest of Charles” a young man aims to try out for the track team, but he finds his parents are resistant and want him to focus solely on his studies. Calvin Lee said his play is based on the parents of fellow students.
“I think you should stand up to your parents if you don’t agree with them,” he said. “I feel this too.”
“The Extra-Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Alien,” written and directed by Annabelle Kerivan, 13, tells the story of coping with students who bully their peers.
“Anyone who knows what it’s like to be bullied knows that it’s hard to overcome bullying,” Kerivan said. “But not everybody is a bad person.”
Kit Carpenter created the play “My Very Best Enemy.”
“I’m excited to see this performed,” Carpenter said.
Dallin predicted her student actors are going places.
“These Manchester middle school students are the new and upcoming voices of the American theater,” she said. “Watch out Neil Simon and Tennessee Williams.”
Assisting Dallin has been stage manager and Rockport resident Julia Drost, a Tufts University student.
“She works on my YMCA Theater Team,” Dallin said. “In middle school and high school, Julia took acting and playwriting classes with me and she wrote her own plays. She is a great resource for the Manchester playwrights.”
Part of heater, Dallin said, is learning lines and movements on stage.
“It’s fun to watch them blossom,” she said. “Someone who might have been quiet in class now is there giving direction on how the play should look on stage. It’s really exciting to see them grow in confidence and understand what it’s like to be a director or maybe to be a playwright.”
“I want to inspire these kids to take on new challenges and try new things,” said Dallin. “How many middle-schoolers can say ‘I’ve produced a play and I have directing experience’ and they’re not even out of middle school? I want to give them confidence in life which will help them with their school work too.”
But for now, the first-ever Young Theatre Artists Festival, is slated to take the stage at Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School, 36 Linclon St. The festival theme is “Facing Your Fears: From Beasts to Bullies.”
The slate of plays is:
“My Very Best Enemy,” written and directed by Kit Carpenter.
“Shivers Down My Spine,” written and directed by Scarlett Chobanian.
“The Extra-Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Alien,” written and directed by Annabelle Kerivan.
“Little Girl,” written and directed by Maya Khan.
“The Quest of Charles,” written and directed by Calvin Lee.
“Don’t Worry,” written and directed by Antonia Vivanco.
The production is a collaboration between the YMCA of the North Shore and Manchester Essex Regional Middle School
Performances will be Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $11 and can be purchased at https://our.show/YoungTheatreArtistsFestival2024.
Stephen Hagan may be contacted at 978-675-2708, or shagan@gloucestertimes.com.