Theater Youth Learn Behind-the-Scenes Roles

For kids in a Santa Monica program, learning about the theater involves more than just memorizing lines and applying greasepaint, more than blocking scenes and practicing songs.

The actors in the Santa Monica Playhouse Young Professionals’ Company also sell tickets and design sets. They direct the lighting and post flyers advertising their performances. In fact, the youngsters, ages 6 to 16, do everything for their plays except writing the scripts and directing the productions.

“We try to give them an idea of what it would be like working in any similarly sized theater,” said Cheryl Moffatt, associate director of the playhouse, a nonprofit theater that stages professional productions and runs theater workshops for children and adults.

On a recent morning, Moffatt was one of a few adults helping a cast of 23 youngsters rehearse the Young Professionals’ Company latest production, “Simpletown, U.S.A.,” which on Tuesday will begin a six-performance run at the playhouse, 1211 4th St.

Dreams Area Born

As the cast went through its paces in the empty, 88-seat theater, youthful dreams were being born.

“I wanted to act all my life,” said 12-year-old Shana Feste. “When I moved to Santa Monica, I found the playhouse. I want to be an actress, and I want to do other things. I’m interested in writing.”

Feste, who serves as ticket manager and plays Adrienne Ferrington, a rich Simpletown resident, said the dual roles help bring the cast together through collective responsibility for the production. “It’s like one big family here,” she said. “We’re all brothers and sisters. We all have a commitment to being here.”

Evelyn Rudie, one of the playhouse’s two artistic directors and author of the play, said the company was formed six years ago when a group of children participating in a playhouse workshop wanted to get more experience.

“They said to us, ‘Can’t we do some more?’ So we said, ‘How’d you like to do what the big kids do?’ ” Rudie said.

The idea has blossomed. The company now does two shows a year. Its last effort, “Dear Gabby,” a dramatic comedy about the pressures of adolescence, was so acclaimed that the company has tentative plans to do a statewide tour of junior high schools and high schools, Rudie said.

Moreover, several former company members have continued performing, including Jori Hussain, who plays Jawaharal, a character on the television show “Head of the Class,” and Terri Nunn, lead singer for the rock group Berlin.

Commitment to Acting

Although children are chosen for the company through auditions, selections are based mainly on commitment to acting rather than talent, Rudie said. Youngsters pay fees to participate in workshops and to underwrite productions.

Rudie describes “Simpletown, U.S.A.” as a story about “a place where real-life soap opera characters live. You’re always beautiful. You never wear the same clothes twice.”

In writing the play, Rudie created a society composed solely of children. A former child actress, Rudie said child actors should play children if they want to prepare for professional careers “instead of kids playing adults--they wouldn’t do that anywhere else.”

Tickets for “Simpletown, U.S.A.” are $3 for matinees and $6 for evening shows. Information is available by calling (213) 394-9779.