Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Theater teaches kids to dare to dream
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A theater director in Sheboygan wants to give even the littlest kids a chance to get on stage.
Rachel Schmidt said it all started for her when she found a place to belong after discovering theater.
She's creating that same magic through her Dare to Dream Theatre.
"You will run around the treehouse and go into your places," Schmidt called out to the kids on stage.
Teaching kids between the ages of 4 and 10 an entire musical is a challenge.
"Hurry up, get to your tree," she said as the kids ran around the stage. "With your branches out!"
Doing it in just one week is impressive.
"I have learned that kids will rise to the challenge," Schmidt said with a smile.
She has no doubt they can do it.
"If you say this is what we're doing and then give them the support and resources they need to make it happen, they made it happen," she said.
She founded Dare to Dream Theatre in 2001.
"My theater professor asked, if you could do anything in the world, what would you do? And I said I want to find out if theater can do for other kids what it did for me," Schmidt said.
And what theater did for her was create a place to belong.
"We are going to run through the tropical island dance," said Myla Jaeger. "Freeze in that position!"
For this show, "Magic Treehouse: Pirates Past Noon," Jaeger is a junior director.
"We get to help block the scenes," Jaeger said.
She's only 10.
"Aria, stay still. Statue game," she said to one of the campers.
But she has the confidence of a seasoned pro.
"I forget she's 10," Schmidt said.
That's what Schmidt says theater can do.
"They take on energy and authority that most 10-year-olds are afraid of," she said.
A skill that can last.
"My first Dare to Dream show was 7 years ago, basically," said Rebecca Shvartsman.
Shvartsman has worked her way up to captain of choreography.
In this show, kids do it all. On stage and behind the scenes.
During this weeklong summer camp, the kids try out on Monday, learn the show during the week and perform on Friday.
"It's just like, magical, to get it all together," she said.
A chance for kids to learn, grow, and make new friends.
"Your twig's sticking out!" exclaimed Schmidt.
All because Schmidt dared to dream.
"It makes me very emotional, and smiling, because theater does indeed make a big difference for kids," Schmidt said.
In addition to the summer camps, Dare to Dream Theatre offers a Saturday class. And they're putting on two shows that start rehearsing this fall. "A Year with Frog and Toad" and "How to Train your Dragons, Junior." There are lots of chances for kids to see if theater is right for them.
For more information, click here.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].