Child's play

As the curtain rises on Toad of Toad Hall tonight, so does the commitment Valley Performing Arts has made to the youth of the Valley.

The performance is the annual children's' theater presentation in VPA's season lineup. Since the group began 28 years ago, offering one children's show a year has become the norm.

"Larry Bottjen has been with VPA since the beginning, and he started doing a children's show then, and it has historically been a mission of ours to continue it," said John Fairfield, the managing producer for VPA.

"The board has intentionally chosen a children's production each year. One, it prepares young people as actors, directors or producers, and two, as an audience, it broadens their appreciation of theater," Fairfield added.

By offering a children's' production -- last year it was Peter Pan -- VPA notices a bit of a difference in the audience.

"Usually in the past we've given season ticket holders the choice of including it in their package or not, and usually, about 60 percent opt to take the tickets for it," Fairfield said. "We always get a good audience in terms of numbers, but we see a lot more children, parents, grandparents, those types of people. It's more family-oriented."

With Fairfield handling the production duties of VPA, a bigger commitment to youth has taken place. With the board of directors' urging, Fairfield has focused on making theater more available and interactive for students.

"I want children to say, 'That was fun. I want to come back next year and do this,'" Fairfield said. "I don't know if that was happening as much in the past. We're trying to change the way we do theater. We've had a traveling production in the schools this year that had a lot of success, too."

Fairfield said anecdotally, he has heard about the positive effect theater has been making on the youth of the Valley.

"I have talked to parents who tell me that their daughter saw last year's show and really wants to get on stage as a result," Fairfield said. "There are a lot of responses like that."

Fairfield pointed to the star of Toad of Toad Hall as a gleaming example of youth being involved with theater.

Sarah Hendricks is a 16-year-old who plays the role of Toad. She started with Valley Performing Arts 10 years ago, as a 6-year-old, and now has credits in a variety of VPA and Anchorage-based productions.

"Sarah is a the perfect example of a young person getting involved and having an interest, and staying with it," Fairfield said. "Aurora Pease, who is now in college, is another example."

Fairfield said following the children's productions, parents often call or stop by his office and ask how their child can get involved. His advice is simple -- give them an opportunity.

"Let them audition and get the experience, even if they don't get a role," Fairfield said. "It gives them experience, and they can see if there really is an interest there."