WC_011719

winnetkacurrent.com LIFE & ARTS
the winnetka current | January 17, 2019 | 21
Actors learn about teamwork through ‘The Wizard of Oz’
Play runs this
weekend in
Winnetka
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
The Glencoe Park District
and The Helen Borris
Performing Arts Company
are encouraging all
to follow the yellow brick
road to the Winnetka
Community House Saturday-Sunday,
Jan. 19-20,
where the casts of Broadway
Bound Kids will delight
the crowd with their
recent production, “The
Wizard of Oz.”
Performances will be
held at Matz Hall within
the Winnetka Community
House at 620 N. Lincoln,
Winnetka. Performance
times are: 11 a.m. and 2:30
p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, and
2:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday,
Jan. 20.
For many years, Borris
has taught one budding
performer after another
about the ins and outs of
musical theater, while reminding
her students that
there are no small roles in
life or on the stage.
“The Broadway Bound
program is truly about
teaching young performers
in grades 3-5 about teamwork,
collaboration and
the value of hard work,”
Borris said. “There are
many important lessons
learned along the way. It’s
not about being a star, but
about contributing and realizing
how each role is
valuable to another.”
Erin Classen, the Glencoe
Park District superintendent
of marketing and
communications, explained
how the commitment to
teamwork, collaboration
and dedication makes for
a rewarding experience for
the performers and audience
members alike.
“These kids are incredibly
committed, even signing
a contract stating they
won’t miss practice for
frivolous reason. They are
expected to rehearse their
lines at home and come to
practice prepared to work,”
Classen said. “They understand
that taking ownership
of their role means the
whole cast succeeds, resulting
in a performance that
makes them feel proud.”
Glencoe’s Noah
Schencker plays the scarecrow
in one cast, echoing
the importance of taking
accountability and the
value of believing in oneself.
“Our instructors remind
us how important it is to
be prepared and ready to
rehearse. They also teach
us to believe in ourselves;
this theme is seen in the
storyline too,” Schencker
said. “For example, the
characters don’t always
believe that they have what
it takes to succeed and go
off looking for things like
a brain and a heart. But, it
turns out, they always had
the smarts and the heart —
they just needed to believe
in themselves, just as we
as actors have to believe in
Kisten Nolan plays the scarecrow in “Wizard of Oz,”
which runs Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 19-20, at the Winnetka
Community House. Alexa Burnell/22nd Century Media
our abilities too.”
Along with learning
valuable life skills, young
actors learned helpful singing,
dancing and acting
techniques from director
Sarah Hall, musical director
Hannah Rose and choreographer
Alexis Armstrong.
“We learned a lot
about choreography and
also about singing,” said
Please see wizard, 24
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