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SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the Salt Lake Acting Company are once again opening their theater to younger audiences.
And for some of these children, experiencing a live performance is a first. Some creepy, crawly creatures come to life in SLAC’s latest production, "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly."
The show opens with the three insects who are friends each writing their hopes for the new school year in their diaries. When they get together, they are like typical friends, supporting one minute, disagreeing the next.
“You’re a girl!” says Spider to Fly, when he talks of her hopes for the future. “Maybe she could be the first one,” says Worm. “Thank you, Worm,” replies a grateful and determined Fly.
Alicia Washington plays their teacher, Mrs. McBee.
"Children's theater allows people to go back to that place of imagination that I think gets lost in our day-to-day life.” Washington said. “And with that imagination comes inspiration, and you can hear it when the kids respond during the production."
The show also addresses limitations that every child encounters at one time or another.
“You could fly, you just need to practice,” Fly says to Worm. Worm responds, “I did, but all I do is fall on my butt.”
That always brings audience laughter and that’s what the cast is aiming for. Every December the cast and crew welcome busloads of students to their theater at 168 West and 500 North or they take this kind of show on the road to schools around the valley.
“First I was an egg,” explains Butterfly. “Then I was a caterpillar, then a chrysalis and now I’m a beautiful butterfly, la mariposa.”
There is a little science in the show, and since Butterfly migrates to Mexico, the children also hear Spanish. For many of them, it is their native tongue.
On this day, 200 students from Lincoln and North Star elementary schools filled the theater. Members of the Salt Lake Acting Company realize that they not only have an opportunity but a responsibility because in many of these shows, they have children who have never seen a live performance before.
Title 1 schools bring some 1,700 students to free performances in the mornings. The story is familiar because the children are reading the books.
"And we also provide a study guide for all of the classroom teachers, so that they have stuff to talk about before they come see the show and then, post-show questions and follow-up, explained the show’s director, Penelope Caywood.
“So, it’s not just a regular field trip, this is actually part of the curriculum,” she said.
And these bugs don’t just tell a story, they keep it moving with song and dance.
"The show was great,” said Keilana Tuitupou, a fifth-grader at North Star Elementary. “I loved it. I loved the sets and how they like switched from character to character and the songs.”
Her classmate, Raymond Chavez, said he has read the books.
"It wasn't exactly the same thing as in the book,” he said. “So that made it a lot more interesting."
Salt Lake Acting Company recognizes the students' teacher Mohsen Ghaffari as a veteran of these shows. He has brought students for many years.
"Having a play like this really tells them what books are and what you can do with books. So, it's amazing for them to see this,” he said.
“To the rescue, here I come,” sings Fly, who says she wants to grow up to be a superhero.
So the message is, sometimes it takes courage to reach for what you want.
“Not only should you be brave enough to dream big but you should be brave enough to achieve your dream when the opportunity presents itself," said Emilie Starr, who plays Fly Girl.
The Salt Lake Acting Company believes the best way to inspire creativity is to have some fun doing it.
Performances of "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly" continues in schools and at the theater through Dec. 28. Visit SLAC's website for more information.
