such as Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play! opening on April 9th. Other times, like for their current show (at this writing) Bad Kitty On Stage!, they contact the author, hire a playwright and commission the project all themselves. While the main stage performances are comprised of adult actors, children have plenty of opportunities to perform as well via BACT’s many musical theater classes provided throughout the Bay. “We are a child-focused organization,” said Meehan, noting that BACT isn’t here to transform your child into the next Broadway star—though if that happens, great!—but their efforts go a bit deeper. “Our primary goal is to have a program that helps children build self-confidence; that helps them work together as a team and build an ensemble,” Meehan explains. “So the next time that a child has a book report they have to deliver in class, they know how to stand up in front of a group of people and express themselves with clarity.” Just one of many examples of BACT’s overarching educational goals. One of the many places in the Bay Area where BACT is making an impact is at the Contra Costa Civic Theatre in El Cerrito, providing 12 classes a year and serving 120 kids per session. Classes are organized into three sections: grades K/1, 2-5, and 5-8, each with it’s own theatrical focus. For example, the oldest group, also known as the Next Stage Performers, will be focusing on dancing, singing and acting as ancient Greek gods in Tales of Olympus, Jr. this spring. Another West County endeavor for BACT is at Valley View Elementary School in Richmond. They’ve just begun a very innovative program called Story Explorers. Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, the goal of this project is to do a show in which the story is created by, and for, children living with special needs. Currently BACT has a teaching artist working with Valley View Elementary in their special needs classroom engaging students in curriculum that is designed for them to tell their
Contra Costa Marketplace - May 2016
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