Michele Jacobson, Janae Erickson and Jessica Stanley from Boone Community Theatre, June 1, 2026

I can barely see it from over the here. Yeah, her torso. Oh, yeah, I hate it. Oh, I thought you had a privacy. I did. Oh, well, that's good. All right. In three, two, one. We're talking about Boone Community Theater on our program today and actually more about Youth Theater. Michelle Jacobson's here. Good morning. Janae Erickson. Hello. And we also have Jessica Stanley. Hello. The Tremendous Trio. That's us. That's us. I don't know. The Musketeers. I'm a little worried about this. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I thought Tremendous Trio was good, though. I felt like that was a little more positive. Michelle, again, this year organized two productions going on, right? That's right. We've got two week-long camps with each. Each are going to have three shows at the end of the camp, so we're excited. All right. We are excited. Who's directing what? I mean, how is this one working out? This season. This summer season. This summer season. Well, so we have a Youth Theater committee, and so the people on the Youth Theater committee work together to choose the shows, kind of. You know, we tell each other what we think we should do, and then we're all very supportive of each other. So the first show in June is going to be directed by Janae and Jessica. They're doing the Greek mythology Olympia Ganza. And then Alice in Wonderland, Jr. in July is directed by myself with special guest choreographer, Meredith Stroat. So that's very exciting. That's awesome. I know. We love her. She's fantastic. She's never choreographed for us before, but she has a lot of choreography experience, so we're really excited to bring it to you. This is, again, still a commitment. I mean, Boone Community Theater over the years. I mean, we did children's. I'm going back. Oh, yes. You know, and the idea was just to get somebody else up on stage. Allow them to get up on stage and start to perform. And then over the years, I mean, we've had different people organizing, doing different things. Now, you've been involved over the last few years anyway. Regular programs coming up, and you've got some pretty sizable crowds of young people taking part. Yes, we really do. We're so excited about that. Yeah, it's like, since three years ago, it's like, what, five times the amount of kids we had? Yeah, it's crazy. Absolutely insane. Yeah, I think we have about 50 kids participating between the two camps, and some of them are participating in both camps. So each show will have about 30 kids in it. And just so many of them are returning year after year. It's a lot of the same group, and they keep bringing friends, and then with the group just grows, and it's amazing. It's cool to see their progression throughout the years, too. Someone's confidence growing, and how they can hone in on their skills and stuff, and learn new things. Yeah, that's really great. And I know you do have workshops during the year, and things like that, too. But one thing I have not, but I'm guessing there's some people at the high school are going, keep turning them up, because, I mean, that's the bottom line, is that we get young people that start out in community theater, get comfortable with it. We're off to high school, and we've got some pretty good, I mean, we've got people going to the International Thespian thing. Yes, we do have some people that have formerly been involved in BCT Youth Program and going to International Thespian Festival. And then just last week on Thursday was the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards, and we had two former BCT youths that were performing at that at the Civic Center. So they're having these really great opportunities. And I feel like, yeah, they're so proud, and it's great to feel like we as a community were able to support them as they were younger and help them build and love performing and love theater and develop those skills early on. So for people that might be wondering, these productions, I mean, auditions for these are done. Yes. They were being done during Annie, I think. They were during March. March, yeah. March, yep. So it was early on, and, okay, I'll, wait a minute, I got to read this whole thing. Oh, God. It's quite a name. It's the Greek mythology Olympiaganza. Yes. Olympiaganza, yes. All right. Tell me about it. What's it all about? Well, it's about Greek mythology, if you believe it or not. Okay. Surprise. I do. No Norse, just Greek. No. Yes. It's just like a bunch of different kind of funds. There's 10 scenes, right? 12. 12. Oh, yeah. And they're just kind of like almost like one-off scenes with different characters, and some of the characters do come back in different scenes, though, and they're just kind of like almost like spoofs of different, you know, different stories. Because they could have fun doing this. Absolutely. Oh, it is so funny. This first play that we're doing this first summer camp week, we actually chose it because we have this big group of kids that is anywhere between seventh grade to maybe tenth grade writers, that they've just been very interested in Greek mythology. There's various reasons for this, but they're very into it. So when I saw this one, and it's very, like Janae said, there's a lot of spoof to it. There's a lot of fun to it, but it's got a lot of these characters that they already know so much about. So now they get to act as these characters, and we can have a lot of fun. Anything that we can do that has humor and even slaps to comedy with some of this, they just dive into. So we knew that this one was going to be a winner for them. Yes, definitely. The performances that you do, are they open to the public then, or I'm guessing a lot of parents that show up. We usually, our tickets sell out pretty quickly. They're not available online yet. We always let families purchase tickets before we open them to the public, but we will have some available the week leading up to each of the performances that people can purchase. So show up at the door, and maybe there'll be some left. Greek mythology, fairly soon. It's coming up. What performances on the 19th, 20th? Yes. To the few weeks away. It's not that far away. It's so soon. It's like the seven o'clock show on the 19th, and then two of them on the 20th. So two and seven. So again, you don't like costumes, things like that. You got to be having some help. Not. No. We're like, ah. Just lots of planning ahead. We involved the parents. We already sent out what we're kind of looking at. It's actually not going to be too bad for our first one. And I know Michelle's already started planning for Alice in Wonderland. Yes. We make it pretty simple for the youth camps. At least, that's what I try to do. Me and Jessica are doing that. So with trying to make it simple, it's not like this crazy Broadway production. It's youth summer camp. So it's still fun and like their costumes still match what we're doing, but it's not like we're going to be, you know, crafting these costumes or anything like that. Speak for yourself. Me and Jessica. Me and Jessica. Me and Jessica. Me and Jessica. Music. That's good. We have a little more time for your years this in July. Yes. Yes. Yes. And all these auditions were done, like you said, back in March. Yeah, in March. So everybody. So now, the second group is coming up in July and you're doing what, Alice in Wonderland. And Junior. Yes. And it is a musical. So the idea, the reason we auditioned so early is so that all of the kids can get their scripts really early so that they can come to the week-long camp having looked at them and hopefully memorized their lines and started learning their songs so that when they come to camp, we can really focus on making the show a show if they already know what their lines and songs are. So there will be a lot more costuming for Alice in Wonderland. So I've got a little team of people that we're going to get together and have some sewing parties and whip up some costumes. Yeah. Don't worry. This is part of the reason. Can I use duct tape? This is a duct tape. Med adder or whatever. Yep. Well, Alice in Wonderland. Which is our friend. Yeah. They're still like, they're still the caterpillar, like you have the cat, you know, you have a lot of things for the craft. Yeah. More than we do. Yeah, lots of crafty things. And so ours is just like Toga. Toga. Right. And it's Toga with accessory. Yes. Like bed sheets. All right. Here we go. Yep. That's one of the easy parts. Right. Well, and it works either way, whether it's, you know, simple costuming and simple sets or extravagant things that just depends on, you know, what we have time and people to help put together because it's like you said, it is a community event. Yeah. You know, we're all putting the work in together as volunteers. And so it's, it depends a lot on what time people have available and what skills they already have. Something else we're doing too is letting the kids kind of be the expert on their own character. So if there's like a prop or an accessory or something that, like, especially for the Greek one that they think, oh, my character would have a handbag or, you know, because it says it in the script or it doesn't, it's kind of important for them to have a really good idea of their own because again, there are so many characters for us to go through. But all because a lot of kids play more than one character. And so they have that. And then they have, they're kind of like able to have input on that too. Okay. I've been looking at, you know, and I look at the cast, the size of the cast. Yeah. And you do, intentionally, I'm guessing, go for productions that do have a sizeful number of cast members. The goal is to be able to cast everyone who auditions. And we actually ran into that issue last year that we had so many people audition and we thought we were going to be able to cast them all. And it didn't work out. And so we had to add a third show. And so we were really intentional when we were looking for shows this year that there really wasn't unlimited number of slots available so that it wasn't difficult to find a role that everyone could fit into because we really feel like the reason we're doing this is for education and fun. And you can't educate them if they're not there. So we really, we really want everybody who wants to participate to be able to participate. Yeah. Well, they keep coming back. Yeah. I mean, this is a really good kind of a training wheel scenario because they're, they're going to get a part. So it gets them in the door, it gets them into practice, they get the, the training really is what it is. It's fun training. And then when we get to the, the season shows, then they have that experience and, you know, they might be better prepared than if they had come without it. Look at how many showed up for Annie. Right. Yeah. So many. I mean, that was the biggest share of your cast were young people. We clearly have a ton of young people in our community that want to be involved in theater. And so we're just really happy to be able to provide opportunities for them. And so important to continue to have young people coming in. Yes. Yeah. Well, last time when I had company in here and we weren't quite ready to say outside of Brooke saying that she's going to stick around because she wanted to audition for it. So we know what, what the productions are going to be for season 51 and we know who's directing. Yes. Jessica. Right. Yes. Jessica is going to be so busy. Right up front. Yep. I've got the first show and it's, it is never ever happily. And it is kind of a fairytale with a twist. It is, you know, what happens when after the happily ever after it is a happily, you know, it's really kind of looking at the, the realities of life, but it does it in such a funny way. There's so much humor. There's so much going on. There's a ton of characters. And part of the reason I chose this show is because there's a ton of characters and there's a lot of parts for youth. So that'll be a fun, you know, we've got some kind of key roles for adults, but then we've got roles that can be played by almost any age, but it's going to be a lot of fun. I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be first, first play I've ever directed. So I'm looking forward to kicking. Because I use. Yes. You help. You're right. I did, I assistant directed rumors, but this will be the first one that I'm directing alone. But yeah, it'll be a fun way to kind of kick off the season. We're going to be a little bit kind of an earlier, maybe part of the season into September early October. Yeah, I was going to say auditions are in July. They are. Yes. Yes. Just to make sure we get enough time in. Well, hopefully we can get people in from summer. Yeah. So it'll be, uh, what, uh, uh, end of September or beginning of October for the production. Yes. Right after preferably days. Yes. It's hard to find times in September to do shows because of all the things in Boone that are happening. Oh, yes. It gets busy. Uh, Susan Herrick, we'll be back at one of the classics. Yes. Man of La Mancha. Yep. We're doing it again. We did it like a long time ago in the past. It's been a while. Yes. Garrett might still know all this long. Yeah. That's a show that Brooks excited about. Is it? This is, there's a, I could see others too here, uh, Michelle Levi will do Charlotte's web. Yes. It'll be, uh, kind of the February production because Man of La Mancha, that'll be right before Thanksgiving. I think that is. Yes. Yeah. Man of La Mancha. Oh yeah. I drove to Lepton in February. And then Janae steps up and were you, were you really in your, when you said, oh yeah, I love to direct Mary Poppins. Oh my gosh. I love Mary Poppins so much. And I got to see it in Ames a couple of years ago when the high school did it. One of our musical kids was, um, Jane, so I went to watch it with one of my, um, friends and I was like, we have to do this at some point. Um, we might end up making a DIY fly system, but not for insurance purposes, we won't, but maybe. So we're looking at several performances coming up in April. Yeah. We have eight shows for Mary Poppins, which we usually do that for like our bigger shows. Sure. Yeah. Musicals. They cost you more. It's a big cast and it's a big name show, so I feel like it won't be that hard to fill out the audiences for that. And you did do very well with Annie. Yeah. Yeah. We had a hard time, um, like we had a hard time getting people in the chair, like getting enough chairs for the people to sit in, I guess, for Annie more. So I was like, we're going to do at least eight, but like maybe for the future, we'll have to look at even more than eight if we can because it's pretty awesome. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Funny to do. I know we've done a few other things that you do, like usually the first Fridays, we've got some activities going on, maybe game nights. I don't know if you're doing that during the summer. Will there be some things like that going on? We don't don't do game nights anymore. We are switching to a more like every other month, I think, for like a special event. So we just did a D&D night. That was in April and it went really well. Or was that, that was, no, that was in May. May. Just a couple of weeks ago. And that was really fun. Everyone really enjoyed it. And then we're going to do more of those. And then we're going to do like open mic nights and stuff, but we don't have like a specific, you know, schedule for how that will be. Yeah. We'll let you know. TVB. Yep. TVB nights. Follow along on your Facebook page. Yeah. Facebook has everything. That's where you'll get a lot of, a lot of information about what's coming up. And again, that'll be the whole new season. We'll be coming up auditions in July for, let me get the name right here, Never After Happily. Yeah. It's a weird, it's a weird. That's what I'm seeing here. Never After Happily. Yeah. Never After Happily. Yeah. I said it wrong. It's Never After Happily. I do know it. You're just directed. I do know it. Yep. And I'm guessing you probably already have some people that have said, what parts? I have. I have already fielded a few emails and I know Jenae has sent people. People have been asking me too. I'm like, what? I don't. It's a, it's a, it's a very new show. So I think that's why people are really curious what's going on. It's great. Yeah. Yeah. We want that. Summer camps that are going on, they're already set up and performances for that. Greek mythology, Olympia Genza, as I say that, right? Yep. Again, those performances coming up on June 19th and 20th. And then Alice in Wonderland will be the July camp. And so in the camp part, what do you do? I mean, you know, you've got all your cast there. Do they just come and go through everything for you? Now, what don't we do is the question. Yes. I mean, obviously it's a pretty intense rehearsal. It is. It's a short time. Think about a regular rehearsal schedule that happens over two months condensed into five days. Five days. I mean, really that's what it is. It's learning blocking, reviewing lines, working on characterization and expression and projecting their voices and working together with their scene partners. So all of the things that you would do over a typical show. Yeah. Really condensed. Yeah. That's why it's important that they get their scripts so early. And they learn their lines. And they memorize their lines. And again, with kids, they're interested in learning this. So they can't do wrong. I mean, I don't think they just, you know, some are funnier than others. Oh, absolutely. We find some hidden gems every single year. I know. Yeah. And sometimes the most surprising, quiet ones that you put them on stage and that's the, you know, that's the fun part about this is we find those really, really good actors. Yeah. Well, the first one coming up here on June 19th and 20th and people watch the Facebook, if you follow Facebook, otherwise we'll get information that there will be tickets available either at the door or they can get them in online. We'll let people know that that's going to be available. And then in the middle of July, we'll have Alice in Wonderland, Jr. I'm looking at the dates here. Okay. Yeah. 17th and 18th. Right. Yep. That's right. All right. Keep busy. Yeah. About my additions. That's right. There's a lot going on. All right. And yeah. And then the auditions right after that. Well, I appreciate you coming in, giving us an idea about what's all coming up for Boom Community Theater. Thanks so much. Thanks for having us. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Bye.