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ENLARGE
Dressed as the three little pigs, from left, Kaity Hopple, 7, Madison Bunt, 11, and Bethany Dyck, 6, prepare for a rehearsal of the Riverbend Live! Youth Theater production "When a Wolf Strikes" at Riverbend Park in Winston on Wednesday.
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ENLARGE
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A group of children in penguin costumes perform during a practice of the Riverbend Live! Youth Theater production of "When a Wolf Strikes" at Riverbend Park in Winston on Wednesday.
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WINSTON — By mid-morning Wednesday, it looked like a fairy tale bomb had exploded on the stage at Riverbend Park in Winston.
Two of three little pigs dressed in tutus and pink pointy ears had crumpled to their knees and were drawing pictures in the stage dust.
Little Red Riding Hood wanted to take her shoes off, and the youngest actor of the cast was wandering around in a penguin beak complaining loudly about his costume.
While the older cast members patiently listened to director Ben Dyck, the words that fell from his mouth all but melted in the sunshine before reaching the ears of the little ones.
“It is challenging to have that range in age. You can’t talk to a 5-year-old like you can a 15-year-old, but I think it’s gone very well,” said Dyck of the Riverbend Live! Youth Theater camp.
His daughter, Bethany Dyck, 6, had similar thoughts.
“He’s a good director,” she said backstage, fussing with her pig ears, “but sometimes a little hard to listen to.”
The camp has been in full swing for the past six weeks and will peak at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday with performances of the musical, “When a Wolf Strikes.” The annual camp began shortly after Riverbend Live! was founded 12 years ago and is free for Winston-Dillard youth. The kids are provided with breakfast and lunch four days per week.
“It’s a summer program that keeps them busy and out of trouble,” said Mo Nichols, who founded Riverbend Live! and the camp with her husband, Dick Nichols. “They learn discipline, teamwork and responsibility.”
“It builds self-confidence,” added her husband. “You can see a difference in the kids in six weeks.”
The musical was written by Dyck 10 years ago as a short skit, and he has since expanded it into a full production. The plot is about a wolf that feels unappreciated and decides to go on strike, leaving fairy tales without a villain.
“He goes on strike to show that fairy tales cannot go on without him,” said Dyck.
Two of three little pigs dressed in tutus and pink pointy ears had crumpled to their knees and were drawing pictures in the stage dust.
Little Red Riding Hood wanted to take her shoes off, and the youngest actor of the cast was wandering around in a penguin beak complaining loudly about his costume.
While the older cast members patiently listened to director Ben Dyck, the words that fell from his mouth all but melted in the sunshine before reaching the ears of the little ones.
“It is challenging to have that range in age. You can’t talk to a 5-year-old like you can a 15-year-old, but I think it’s gone very well,” said Dyck of the Riverbend Live! Youth Theater camp.
His daughter, Bethany Dyck, 6, had similar thoughts.
“He’s a good director,” she said backstage, fussing with her pig ears, “but sometimes a little hard to listen to.”
The camp has been in full swing for the past six weeks and will peak at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday with performances of the musical, “When a Wolf Strikes.” The annual camp began shortly after Riverbend Live! was founded 12 years ago and is free for Winston-Dillard youth. The kids are provided with breakfast and lunch four days per week.
“It’s a summer program that keeps them busy and out of trouble,” said Mo Nichols, who founded Riverbend Live! and the camp with her husband, Dick Nichols. “They learn discipline, teamwork and responsibility.”
“It builds self-confidence,” added her husband. “You can see a difference in the kids in six weeks.”
The musical was written by Dyck 10 years ago as a short skit, and he has since expanded it into a full production. The plot is about a wolf that feels unappreciated and decides to go on strike, leaving fairy tales without a villain.
“He goes on strike to show that fairy tales cannot go on without him,” said Dyck.
The humorous script is filled with sassy punch lines from the three little pigs. They become frustrated when stagehands Flip and Flop return with lowly replacements for the wolf, such as a mouse and a cow.
“At the beginning we’re all sweet and nice, but when the wolf doesn’t show up we get really mad,” said Madison Bunt, 11, who plays one of the pigs.
Alvin Dupper, 14, plays Flop in the musical and said this is his fifth year participating in the camp. Meeting new people is what attracts him to the camp each year, but acting is his favorite aspect. Dupper said he would be probably be at home watching TV if he didn’t have the daily rehearsals to attend.
This year Dyck had help from a couple of teenagers who volunteered their theatrical expertise in directing the 20 or so actors.
One such person is 18-year-old Ruth Heald. The musical director chose a variety of tunes for the kids to sing. She has found the youngest actors to be the most enthusiastic, and she has tricks to keeping them focused.
“We never worked on songs for too long,” said Heald. “You can only work for so long before it becomes counterproductive and they start regressing.”
The Winston Drug Free Community Grant program is one of the major sponsors of the camp, and while alcohol is usually allowed at Riverbend Live! concerts, the weekend’s youth theater performances are drug- and alcohol-free.
• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@nrtoday.com.
“At the beginning we’re all sweet and nice, but when the wolf doesn’t show up we get really mad,” said Madison Bunt, 11, who plays one of the pigs.
Alvin Dupper, 14, plays Flop in the musical and said this is his fifth year participating in the camp. Meeting new people is what attracts him to the camp each year, but acting is his favorite aspect. Dupper said he would be probably be at home watching TV if he didn’t have the daily rehearsals to attend.
This year Dyck had help from a couple of teenagers who volunteered their theatrical expertise in directing the 20 or so actors.
One such person is 18-year-old Ruth Heald. The musical director chose a variety of tunes for the kids to sing. She has found the youngest actors to be the most enthusiastic, and she has tricks to keeping them focused.
“We never worked on songs for too long,” said Heald. “You can only work for so long before it becomes counterproductive and they start regressing.”
The Winston Drug Free Community Grant program is one of the major sponsors of the camp, and while alcohol is usually allowed at Riverbend Live! concerts, the weekend’s youth theater performances are drug- and alcohol-free.
• You can reach reporter Cara Pallone at 957-4208 or by e-mail at cpallone@nrtoday.com.
