Young performers shine at acting workshops

This year’s Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theater workshops were yet again a success for actors of all ages.

From Aug. 2 through Aug. 5, and again from Aug. 8 through Aug. 12, the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts hosted the annual workshops for young actors and actresses around the Flathead Valley. The workshops, which began in 2003, are broken into groups based on grade level.

Each day was split into multiple classes with different teachers to help the students work on different skills.

Throughout the week, the students worked on a variety of skills, such as improvisation, projection, auditioning, juggling, fake fighting, dancing and observing and reacting on stage. The kids were able to learn these skills through hands-on attempts, demonstrations and games.

“I’ve had to teach myself a lot, and I wish I had had something like this,” said Bigfork Summer Playhouse actress Mary Raines Battle, who served as one of the workshop teachers.

Each year, Brach Thomson, the company manager of the Bigfork Summer Playhouse and Bigfork Playhouse Children’s Theater, recruits summer theatre actors to help teach the workshops.

“I teach if there’s not enough volunteers, but I don’t like to since I do so much teaching during the school year,” Thomson said. “I want them to get different teachers so they can get different experiences and outcomes.”

The BSP actors usually jump at the opportunity to teach younger students about theatre.

“It’s really fun and exciting to teach,” BSP actress Jessica Spencer said. “I was one of them not that long ago. You get to see a lot of excitement and potential, and you can relate because you were in their position.”

By teaching the workshops, BSP actors get to see progression as the students steadily improve and gain excitement about theatre.

“I definitely see where I used to be,” BSP actor Cody Heuer said. “They want to do it and are anxious, but don’t know how. They’re searching for something to learn.”

At the end of the week, the workshops are wrapped up with a showcase event allowing the students to demonstrate their new skills and knowledge.

“I don’t like parents to sit in on the workshops because kids perform differently when their parents are there,” Thomson said. “The showcase may have very little polish, but it shows parents what their kids have done.”

Having BSP actors come and help the younger students has been paying off in several regards.

“I definitely see results (in the children’s theatre),” Thomson said. “I see it both ways for kids taking the class and actors teaching it.”

The workshops also make many of the students feel as though they have improved and gained some knowledge.

“I feel like they help me improve, over time especially,” said Bigfork High School junior Olivia Witt, who has attended the workshops for four years. “There have been some classes with things you already know, but I find there is one major thing I learn every year.”

Even for longtime theater participants, the workshops help students focus and acutely develop their skills.

“Every year, I learn something new about theatre,” said Bigfork senior and three-time workshop participant Rebecca Sewell said. “The workshops are usually focused on it and help me further my education.”