by Melissa Lane

The Cat in the Hat is ready to make some mischief this spring in Naples, as the KidzAct children’s theatre presents Seussical, Jr., a musical of several Dr. Seuss books whose plots are married together in a single story line. The mischievous Cat in the Hat narrates the story and dons different hats in the show, leading the audience through an a-maze-ing tale.

The story begins when, in the Jungle of Nool, Horton the elephant meanders through the trees and comes upon a planet of people on a speck of dust- the Whos. He decides to place it on a clover to protect it, much to the ridicule of the other residents of the jungle.

“I love this play. Dawn LaBrecht, who did the choreography, said it was a life-changing musical for her, and I have to agree,” KidzAct director Megan McCombs said. “The energy of the show is really infectious.”

For almost eight years, KidzAct children’s theatre program has been wowing audiences with its full stage performances of acclaimed theatrical plays and musicals by local children and teens. With the overwhelming success of High School Musical the past two years, a renewed interest in live theatre has gotten parents’ and children’s attention, and many children and teens have begun to pursue live theatre as a hobby.

“I think High School Musical has been great for children’s theatre,” McCombs said. “The first time I heard about it, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is going to be huge.’ And indeed, it was like this gigantic tidal wave that happened.”

McCombs said the renewed interest in theatre is encouraging, as children’s participation in other activities and sports often leave little time for theatre involvement. The goals of KidsAct are to enhance children’s lives through theatre and encourage creativity and imagination, as well as propagate a new generation of theatre performers and theatregoers.

“Every once in a while, a show like that comes along that directs children’s attention to theatre,” said McCombs. “I think young kids always fall in love with theatre. They get so busy and get pulled in a lot of different directions, and sometimes they lose a connection with the theatre when they do.”

McCombs oversees an enrollment of 120 students in the weekly acting, improv, musical and vocal classes available in the KidzAct program. She said that the program offers children a chance to improve their skills and gain confidence on stage, and create healthy friendships with others their age.

“What is fantastic about working with the youth is when the teens get involved in our program, they have a great time together,” McCombs said. “It’s energetic, they sing and dance, and they leave exhausted and with a lot of new friends.”

In the Green Room…

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loud hum of voices floods the green room where young actors are waiting for their names to be called for their audition time. Some wait patiently, while others look nervous.

When they are called up to the audition room, they warm up their voices at the piano and in turns, each is directed to sing selections of the parts they are auditioning for, as a panel of directors rates their tone, stage presence, and overall performance quality.

Hannah Killhour has been acting since she was in the sixth grade, and has auditioned for so many roles she can’t count them on two hands.

“I really enjoy doing it, and I have found that to get a really good part, you have to put yourself out there during the audition,” said Hannah Killhour, 17-year-old senior at Seacrest Country Day School and aspiring actress. “I learn my lines quickly, and I really try to get into the character; I try to imagine why she does certain things and why she is thinking a certain way.”

15-year-old Brian Carufe has been acting for five years, and has only recently started performing with KidzAct. His interest began when he was required to select an elective course in his sixth grade schedule in Community School of Naples.

“I said, ‘Hey, drama sounds like fun’ and I’ve been involved ever since,” Carufe said. “I first started acting in school plays, and then I became serious and I began to take vocal lessons.”

Carufe said he would like to continue in theatre after high school.

“I think it’s what I want to do in college,” Carufe said. “It is what I enjoy.”

A Parent’s Perspective…

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enna played the role of Sharpay Evans in KidzAct’s production of High School Musical last spring. “It’s fun to see her on stage,” says Carrie Canfield of her 15-year-old daughter Jenna. “She is at home up there on the on stage.”

Canfield said that Jenna became involved in theatre at the tender age of five, and her passion for acting keeps the family moving. They regularly audition for movie roles and plays in Miami and Orlando. With a busy school schedule, auditions, and rehearsals, Canfield is impressed with her daughter’s ability to handle the pressure.

“She doesn’t get stressed about anything, she is just really comfortable with it,” Canfield said. “She’s been doing this ever since she can remember.”

Since the Canfields live on Marco Island, rehearsals mean a long commute twice a week. “I’ve spent so much time on the road, coming up here,” Canfield said. “It’s the craziest schedule that we keep. But it’s different for us because Jenna is a lot more serious than other kids. She’s taken the interest to another level.”

A Director’s Passion…

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cCombs knows she has a large group of ‘theatre rats’ in her classes, children and teens who absolutely love acting and being on stage- she is one herself.

“Who knows what exactly you end up loving about it,” McCombs said. “Most people think it’s the applause and acclaim, and certainly that’s fun, but they don’t have that for the first six weeks of rehearsal.

“I think that they find using their imagination, being able to travel, to jump inside someone else’s skin for a while, illuminating.” McCombs said. “They get to do things they don’t in real life, like bursting out into song when they are playing basketball or being Horton the Elephant in the middle of this incredible Seussical Jr. show we are putting together.”

McCombs began acting at a young age, and she always knew her life would be the theatre. Her daughter, Hannah Killhour, agrees that the stage is their family home. “We spend a lot of time together,” Killhour laughs easily, “It makes our relationship stronger.”

The two moved from Hilton Head, South Carolina when McCombs took the director position at KidzAct almost two years ago. “We are lovers of live theatre, all of us involved in KidzAct, and we are very dedicated to the continuation of live performances,” McCombs said. “The kids who participate in and appreciate live performances are the performers for the audiences in the future.”

She would like to extend the theatre experience to more children by meeting them where they are- at school. “We also want to give that experience to as many children in Collier County and even Southwest Florida as possible, so although we do have classes and performances here, we are eventually wanting to be helpful to the school system, helping them put on shows,” McCombs said. “We currently have a partnership with Golden Gate Middle School; they are putting on a production of Grease this spring. We hope that will be an ongoing partnership and there will be other schools that make use of our facility and talents, so that children in Collier County can take part in live theatre in their own school.”

McCombs encourages all children and parents interested in the program to come out to see Seussical, Jr. With ragtime, jazz, rock and roll, musical comedy, and Beach Boys-style music, the play has something for everybody.

“It’s all music because the lines are in Dr. Seuss’ rhyme,” McCombs said. “It carries the rhythm of the music along,” McCombs said. “All of the characters make up a really wonderful story line that blends them all together and it all comes out right in the end.”