Why do your kids love these people? (part II)
Get to know the members of TWN's summer resident company in the second of this two-part series.
BY MARLI GUZZETTA INDEPENDENT ARTS EDITOR
Last week, a boy named Tyler Wheeler, who is - like most boys his age- in a perpetual state of motion, composed himself for a few moments at the Boys and Girls Club in order to address the members of the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket's resident company.

DON COSTANZO/The Independent The TWN resident company and Boys and Girls Clubs members performed "Somewhere Over Nantucket" after a week of workshops. This is the resident company's last week on island.

"He came over all by himself to tell us how much he and the other campers appreciated us at the camp," said Caitlyn Doyle.

Like the other members of the resident company, Doyle has been getting to know the kids on the island in three arenas - at the Wizard of Oz-themed camp (for which, Doyle was the leader of the Munchkins) and in the TWN performances of "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Moby Dick! The Musical."

(For a schedule of shows this week, see Arts Record, page 42.)

For the Boys and Girls Club camp, the TWN sectioned off as Group Leaders, directing small groups of young actors as "Scarecrows," "Lions," "Tin People," Poppies," "Jitterbugs" and "Munchkins." The older actors mentored their little proteges on everything from choreography to makeup. The kids also attended a performance of "Moby Dick! The Musical" at Bennett Hall.

CAITLYN DOYLE

"It was really touching seeing everyone in the cast explain theater as they know it," said stage manager Jess Kody. "As much as the kids loved it, I think it was really a nice opportunity for the resident company members to remind themselves about the power of the magic of the theater, and to give back to the kids who have come to the shows and will hopefully continue to be interested in theater, because of this exprience."

With a perfomance of "Somewhere Over Nantucket," the camp ended last Friday to sad, little faces, according to Boys and Girls Club liaison Sarah Pelletier, who called the response from the children and their parents "overwhelmingly good."

The young actors in TWN's inaugural, professional summer resident company are here for one more weekend, with performances through Saturday.

As their run comes to an end, we asked them to share their thoughts on their work this summer.

CATLIN WIATER

CAITLYN DOYLE

Roles: Queequeg (Moby); Jack's Mom

(Jack)

Age: 21

And I quote: I wasn't made afraid to stand out. I was always encouraged. … And I see that now with the kids at the camp. I just wish we had more time with them.

CATLIN WIATER

Roles: Ensemble (Moby);

Box office

Age: 21

And I quote: Kids can be your greatest asset and biggest critics in an audience. They know what's funny and what's not funny, what's good and what isn't when it comes to talent. But they also have that sense of magic. They really invest themselves in those two hours you can give them. DONALD DALLAIREE

Roles:

Ahab (Moby) Costume Designer

(Jack and Moby)

Age: 26 And I quote: When I'm onstage doing the Ahab stuff, I'm purposely overacting to make fun of myself, and I have a good time doing it. If I wanted to tone it down, I could, but that's now what I was told to do. It's different. It's crazy. It's fun. MEREDITH LARK

Roles: Tashego

(Moby)

DONALD DALLAIREE

Age: 21

And I quote: It's rewarding teaching kids how to translate all their natural energy into something artistic and memorable. And I think their excitement and enthusiasm was contagious and rubbed off on us as well.

REBECCA

KUBASKA

Roles: Ishmael

(Moby)

Age: 21 And I quote: The show is so quirky, that you can add things and really delve into your character, in a way you can't with other works, which is great for this group, because everyone offers something different, in terms of outlook and style. JOE GILMORE

Roles:

Dagoo & Capt. Gardener (Moby)

The Giant (Jack)

Age: 22 And I quote: It means a lot when you give something to them that they can appreciate and turn into an appreciation for the arts, which is important. Without young people coming up through the ranks, we won't have a business.

JESSICA KODY Roles: Stage manager (Moby and Jack)

Age: 21

And I quote:

It was cool that, when the kids actually came to camp, they were willing and ready to try everything. The group we have really does enjoy working with the kids. It's fun to see them teach the kids their craft, because to every actor and production staff person, theater is different. It's fun to see how they see theater by how they teach it to kids.

MEREDITH LARK

THERESA

TOKAROWSKI

Roles:

Esta (Moby); The Magic Harp (Jack)

Age: 22 And I quote: They wanted to do a good job. They went home and practiced. They were excited about everything - the singing, the costumes. They wanted to know what was the next thing we were going to do. To see them smile when we gave them positive feedback was really fulfilling for me.

MICKIE DECURTAINS

Roles: Set design (Jack and Moby)

Age: 21

And I quote:

Theater is a product of civilized and thoughtful and creative communities, not just New York City.

REBECCA KUBASKA JOE GILMORE THERESA TOKAROWSKI