Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Six young girls stood patiently around a piano on a recent Saturday rehearsing a song for the upcoming "Annie Warbucks" production at Wagon Wheel.
But occasionally, the pre-teen actors can be found running through the theater as if it were a playground-in-the-round. And there were times during rehearsals for "Wizard of Oz" this summer that a leash or a harness would have been handy to help corral the 30-or-so little munchkins.
But that's OK with director Roy Hine.
When it comes to auditioning and working with young actors, Hine prefers vitality and vigor to skill and maturity. In fact, there's one key characteristic he looks for in auditions - energy.
"There's nothing worse than seeing dull children on stage," said Hine, whose three-year stint as director at Wagon Wheel has included about five plays involving nearly 60 children.
"I end up getting the troublemakers because they're the ones I like to work with. They're more interesting and more exciting," he said.
"To harness them is harder, but once you get them harnessed and focused, they're the best kids."
Keeping everyone's attention during rehearsals for "Oz" proved difficult because of the large number of children, but frustration levels were minimized by rotating supervision of the young actors, Hine said.
Several factors work in his favor when it comes to young thespians.
For one thing, they're often among the brightest students in their class. And they tend to come well prepared. Five of the seven girls in "Annie" bought the soundtrack. Lindsay Clark, who plays the role of Annie, knew her lines before the first rehearsal.
That's good news since the cast is working under a tight schedule that allows just 10 days to prepare for the show, which opens Friday.
Good preparation sets the stage - so to speak - for Hine to bring their talent up to professional expectations.
And yes, he balances it with an occasional compliment.
He occasionally has dragged a few youngsters into his office for a pep talk more similar to that of a football coach than a cheerleader. He said he's not afraid to tell them their work is subpar and potentially embarrassing.
"If you push them, they will come up to the level you need them to be," Hine said. "I do not coddle the children here at all. They'll be the first ones to tell you that."
Parents, who often sit through rehearsals, are well aware of Hine's style and appreciate it.
"It's the only way they'll have a good production," said Margie Clark, whose daughter, Lindsay, plays the lead role of Annie.
"It's a great opportunity to learn. Where else are they going to get that opportunity?" Clark said.
Lindsay, 12, missed several days of classes at Wabash Middle School, and has been studying at night to keep up on assignments, she said.
Lindsay had performed in several productions with the Wabash Community Theatre and wanted to try something a little bigger.
"She's enjoyed the professional involvement with the other actors," her mother said. "Just by watching them, she can learn a lot."
The upcoming production includes children from seven area towns.
In addition to Clark, children include Laura Balke, Pierceton; Amy Saner, Akron; Alexis Hollar, Leesburg; Jodie Lieffring, Warsaw; Jamie Abbott, Roanoke; and Marie Well, North Manchester.
