The curtain will be raised this fall on a Cranberry Highway community theater for children in grades one through eight.
"One of the things that I've learned theater [can] do is allow a child to shine," said Janice Rogers, owner/director of the art center, called Buzzards Bay Productions.
The establishment is slated to open in October at 3065 Cranberry Highway, in the Cranberry Commons plaza. Rogers, with the help of family and friends, is currently renovating the space and building a stage and seating for 125 to 150 people.
"I love this old building," Rogers said of the space. "I didn't realize that this gem was here." The space has high ceilings and a loading dock, which are crucial for sets and props, as well as a separate area that will be used for a lobby, an area for concessions, and bathrooms for theater-goers.
Rogers, a theater-lover who created and currently runs an after-school drama program at Saint Margaret Regional School, in Buzzards Bay, said she wanted to start a community theater to bring together children who share an interest in performance art. A resident of Bourne, she said she hopes Buzzards Play Productions will serve as a creative outlet for children in a number of surrounding communities.
"When you start to bring everyone together, it starts to break a lot of barriers," she said.
Performing on-stage can help raise confidence and self-esteem, Rogers said. "Without having [a] venue to showcase yourself and learn who you are, you're kind of lost," she said.
Rogers performed in her first production when she was in first grade, playing the wicked stepmother in Cinderella, she said. She stuck with theater throughout her school years and aspired to perform on Broadway, until she met her husband 31 years ago.
"Love kind of sidetracked me," Rogers said. But she never lost her passion for theater and has always looked for ways to incorporate it into her life. Buzzards Play Productions couples Rogers' love for the stage with her love for sharing the art with children.
Buzzards Play Productions will offer 10-week workshops in theater games, choreography, creative movement, acting, voice coaching, and public speaking. Rogers has a set designer, costume designer, and choreographer on staff. A staff-member who majored in Theater Arts in college will assist with teaching workshops.
Rogers said she hopes to hold productions of plays at least three times per year.
Though the establishment is for-profit, Rogers said she wants to keep prices affordable, with hour-long workshops costing around $10 to $15.
"I'm mindful of the fact that the economy is tough," she said.
And the space won't just be used for plays. Rogers said she hopes to showcase artwork in the lobby and use the stage for musical performances, as well as for other art-related purposes. "Fun stuff," she said. "In an environment that is family-friendly."
Additionally, a craft fair will be held September 19 at the 3065 Cranberry Highway space, to help Rogers get the facility off the ground. Space at the fair costs $35. For more information on the craft fair, call Michelle at 508-291-6053 or e-mail
mg203@verizon.net.
