CHILDREN'S MUSICAL OPENS COMMUNITY THEATER SEASON; PRODUCTION STARS 27 LOCAL CHILDREN

The Broadway Community Theater opens its season Nov. 1 with a children's musical "How to Eat Like a Child and Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up."

The one-act production stars 27 children, ages 6-13, from Cape Girardeau and surrounding towns. It will be performed Nov. 1 and 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Concord Theater in Cape Girardeau. A matinee is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.

Although the play is acted by children, it is intended to entertain people of all ages, said Susie Felker, president of the Broadway Community Theater Board of Directors.

"Really, it is for all ages," Felker said. "We wanted to put on a family-oriented production that everyone can come to and enjoy."

Some of the themes of the show include "How to Whine for a Dog," "How to Torture Your Sister" and "How to Stay Home From School."

"High-school, even college-age kids will be able to remember when they did these things," Felker said.

The theater group re-established itself last year and put on a successful dinner theater production. Proceeds from that show are helping the group with their three planned productions in the coming months, Felker said.

A second production, "Babes in Arms," is scheduled for Jan. 24-26, and a dinner theater is planned for May. The show for the dinner theater will be a melodrama, Felker said, but its title has not yet been decided.

The group is selling season tickets for the three productions.

Felker said 32 children auditioned for next weekend's musical.

"I think the response was very good, considering it's our first children's musical," she said. "We have children from Oak Ridge, Perryville and Fruitland, as well as the Cape Girardeau area and Jackson."

Felker said the musical is about an hour and 15 minutes long, short enough for young children to enjoy.

Parts in the play vary, and the children have singing, acting and speaking roles.

"Everybody really has a starring role," she said. "There are some really talented children in this production, and some really good singers."

She said the theater group hopes to continue to produce family shows.

"I think the community needs something like this, something the entire family can get involved in," she said.

Children who perform in the shows develop poise and self-confidence, she said.

"We have some wonderful plays put on by the university and the high school, but this is something to get the younger children involved," she said.

Tickets for next weekend's play are available at the door. They are $5 for adults and $4 for children. Season tickets also will be available.

The theater group is sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts and the Missouri Arts Council.