Pup-arazzi Blog: From the director, Carolyn Billingsley
MCT Education Director
One thing I love about working with children is their ability to completely allow themselves to be vulnerable and try new things without the fear of being embarrassed or judged. With 101 Dalmatians KIDS!, the cast can be silly and experimental with their voices and physicality. Bringing the magic of Disney animation to life onstage requires us to think outside the box, and we are having so much fun making that happen!
The cast is comprised of kids ages 5-18 and each child is equally as important as the other for the show to go on. For some, this is their very first experience with theatre and they are discovering a brand-new passion that will stick with them forever.
For others, this is “old hat”, and they are in the process of applying to colleges to pursue theatre professionally. With our new Institute program, we are allowed the extra time to delve deep into fundamentals and technique that sometimes gets overlooked when we are rushing to get a show into production. This means we can focus on each child and their specific needs to help them learn, grow, and reach their goals.
I hope you enjoy seeing all the photos and videos of rehearsals and I cannot wait for you to see our show live and in person. The cast has been working so extremely hard and their dedication shines through their scenes and musical numbers. I could not be prouder of each young performer.
I want to leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney himself: “Our greatest national resource is the minds of our children.”
Carolyn Billingsley
MCT Education Director, Director/Choreographer of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS!
