Can a new children’s theater program in Columbus foster community connection and maybe even help prevent crime? Grants totaling $50,000 in public and private dollars are betting it will.
The money enables the Springer to offer First Act’s production of “Going on a Bear Hunt” free of charge at locations throughout the city. After performances in December at Open Door Community House and Jan. 17 at Victory Mission, three more are scheduled for this month:
Jan. 21, North Columbus Branch Library, 1 p.m.
Jan. 28, Mildred Terry Public Library, 10:30 a.m.
Jan. 28, Columbus Public Library, 1 p.m.
Vivian Hostetter, left, a junior at Columbus High School, and Kenneth Butler, a senior at Columbus State University, perform in the First Act’s production of “Going on a Bear Hunt” Tuesday night at Victory Mission in Columbus, Georgia. 01/17/2023 Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
The purpose of First Act
Targeting children ages 1-8, First Act strives to help the audience create a sense of community, a love of the arts and a deeper relationship with their parents or other caregivers, Springer education director DB Woolbright told the Ledger-Enquirer.
“The lessons to be learned through theater and the arts really do connect with your life,” he said. “That’s why in the (Springer) Theatre Academy we teach life skills through stage skills, the same skills necessary to perform and connect with someone to make art are the same skills necessary when they go off to get a job.
“They need collaborative skills,” Woobright continued. “They need those soft skills to really connect with people and make them successful for life.”
The interactive play meshes with that message because it’s about a baby bear relying on others to help him find his father, Woolbright said. And without the grants, he said, “this program would not exist.”
It’s called First Act because the Springer hopes it won’t be the last experience of live theater for first-time audience members.
“The arts and theater have a powerful opportunity to impact lives forever,” Woolbright said. “The love of theater and the arts makes a more well-rounded person.”
Making theater more accessible, he said, can “blur imaginary lines that we think are in Columbus. We hope to connect community partners with the Springer and connect more people with our community partners.”
Woolbright cited research that indicates the arts help build constructive communities. A study published in 2017 by the School of Social Policy & Practice at the University of Pennsylvania showed that low- and moderate-income residents in New York City neighborhoods with many cultural resources were healthier, better educated and safer than those in similar neighborhoods with fewer creative resources.
The research, which was controlled for economic well-being, race and ethnicity, found the presence of cultural resources was associated with:
A 14% decrease in cases of child abuse and neglect.
A 5% decrease in obesity.
An 18% increase in children scoring at the top level in English and math tests.
An 18% decrease in the rate of serious crime.
“When people have a sense of community, people feel connected and part of something larger than themselves,” Woolbright said.
Cast members perform in the First Act’s production of “Going on a Bear Hunt” Tuesday night at Victory Mission in Columbus, Georgia. 01/17/2023 Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
Why the grants were awarded
Seth Brown, the city’s crime prevention director, and Kelli Parker, the community foundation’s vice president for grants and programs, explained why their organizations support First Act.
“If we create an environment where we educate individuals on how to be more connected to their neighborhoods,” Brown said, “… that becomes a focal point where they can get resources to prevent issues within their community.”
Brown likes the First Act’s focus on audience participation.
“We want these programs we’re working with to try to find ways to incorporate the family as a whole after school hours into their solutions,” he said.
Parker noted First Act “aims to enhance quality of life and create vibrancy and connectedness — not only within families but between families, the arts and other organizations in the community.”
First Act also enhances equity, she said, by having free admission and performing at “geographic areas less served by the arts.”
Prior to the First Act’s production of “Going on a Bear Hunt” Tuesday night at Victory Mission in Columbus, children attending the event were able to take part in activities such as reading aloud, making crafts, and blowing bubbles. 01/18/2023 Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
What happens at a First Act show
At the First Act productions, entertainment and education start with activities 30 minutes before showtime, such as reading aloud, blowing bubbles and making crafts.
“It’s a way for our young audience members to adjust and acclimate with the space,” Woolbright said.
During the play, it’s OK if kids can’t sit still and end up walking around the room. The characters ask the audience to help them identify emotions, practice self-calming strategies and resolve conflicts in the plot.
“This isn’t the kind of theater where we’re expecting them to sit and just listen,” he said.
After the 30-minute play, each child in attendance receives a backpack full of educational materials, including a copy of the book on which the play is based.
“We’re really encouraging early literacy and that parent-child connection and relationship to continue the learning at home,” he said.
All of which, Woolbright said, emphasizes the five principles of The Basics Chattahoochee Valley, a regional initiative dedicated to ensuring every child gets a great start in life:
Maximize love and manage stress.
Talk, sing and point.
Count, group and compare.
Explore through movement and play.
Read and discuss stories.
The eight-member cast has actors from the Springer Theatre Academy and Columbus State University.
Sally Baker, the Springer’s former education director, envisioned the idea for First Act and was the play’s original director. Meagan Cascone succeeded her as director after Baker left the Springer to become a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program specialist with the Georgia Department of Education. Sam Bolar is the stage manager and program coordinator.
This story was originally published January 19, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
Mark Rice is the Ledger-Enquirer’s editor. He has been covering Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley for more than 30 years. He welcomes your local news tips, feature story ideas, investigation suggestions and compelling questions.
