A children’s musical, a park and lots of dirt.  It doesn’t add up to anything Broadway would consider, but from humble beginnings, a truly remarkable, quality based, children’s theatre has grown up.  Ten years have passed and those kids who first took part are well on their way to raising their own families.  Impressed by their opportunities to act, many are in or have completed college as students of the theatre. The Actors Conservatory Theatre, beginning first as the Flower Mound Children’s Theatre, is set to march into its next decade with a rich history of fantastic sets, elaborate costuming and hundreds of children all singing their hearts out with the chance to perform in front of thousands more.  Beginning with just their “’Annual Children’s Summer Musical” with a cast of 17, their seasons have run year round since 2003 and their shows have gotten much bigger.

      This memorable tenth season began in October 2008 with the original production “Glinda of Oz”, written and directed by Joe Ann Brooks, resident director and playwright. It was presented, in its entirety, at the 2008 Greater Lewisville Arts Alliance Annual Angel Awards. In December, the theatre hosted its annual, “Charles Dickens,’ A Christmas Carol,” with music by Brooks. February 2009 brought back a revival of her “Winnie The Pooh” to the stage and in May, the very first High School Company production, “Hidden Wounds,” written and produced by teens, was presented. “It seems fitting to end our anniversary year with a bang,” states Brooks, “so we chose one of the most favorite family musicals of all times, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, “The King and I,” based on the book by Margaret Landon.”   Literature, music, drama, comedy and fantasy have always been a part of The Actors Conservatory Theatre.  And children; lots and lots of children.

     Jordan Wade, an eighteen year old student, made his debut with The Act in the High School Company’s production of “Hidden Wounds”. His performance was such that Brooks anxiously awaited his audition for “The King and I.” Along with his talent to act, Jordan is a musician and has a good, strong, clear, singing voice, the perfect combination for the King of Siam.  Whispers in the audience during rehearsals claim he is better than Yul Brynner, but his reviewers will have to wait. Dancers of Lake Cities Ballet Theatre will perform, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” in a special performance within a performance, to awe the audience.  Kelly Lannin, founder and Artistic Director, has put together Jerome Robbins original choreography for this ballet.
Those coming to watch the King and I will be equally awed by the stage design, as well as the costumes, which are nothing short of spectacular. Costume Mistress, Phyllis Bender, and, Debra Cochran, Costume Designer, made sure all of the 86 cast members are clothed in Siamese or 1862 period costumes that even Hollywood would be proud to claim. The set design is truly a work of fine art and was done by the team of Set Designer, Nancy  Kimbrell, and her husband, Master Set Builder, Ray Kimbrell.  These people are joined by many other volunteers who tirelessly give of their time to The ACT.

     “King and I” opens July 10 and runs through July 19 at the Crawford Center for the Arts, 1720 S. Edmonds Lane in Lewisville. The Center, which opened in 2007, now occupies almost half of an office building, which they have converted into a beautiful 154 seat theatre.  It is located just south of the Renaissance Sr. Retirement Village and across the street from the Dale Jackson Career Center in the same building as One Way Driving.  Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday evenings and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Tickets are on sale at the box office one half hour before each show and are for a donation of $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, $7 for children under 10 and $7 each for groups of 15 or more.   

    Many children get their start in theatre through the year round, family oriented, children’s theatre productions at The ACT.  “Children’s Theatre is not just something we do for the summer.  It is all we do and we do it well,” concludes Brooks.  “I think the audiences will be delighted to see what we have done with the last production of our anniversary season.  We have been able to use the original script from the 1951 Broadway premiere and all of Robert Russell Bennett’s orchestrations.  It just gets better and better!” For more information with maps and directions to the theatre, visit their website at www.GetIntoTheACT.org.  The ACT is a 501(c)3 non profit, volunteer driven, community service organization and welcomes your donations.

- Special to The News Connection