Donna Reed Foundation presents Children's Musical Theater (2024)

For the past 20 years the Donna Reed Foundation of the Performing Arts has sponsored the Children’s Musical Theater Workshop. The 2024 production will be presented at 2:30 p.m. June 22 at the Denison High School Fine Arts Center.

Donna Reed was raised on a farm near Denison. She saw her first movie in what is now the Donna Reed Theatre in Uptown Denison. After graduating from high school in Denison, Reed went on to have an illustrious movie and television career.

Reed’s youngest daughter, Mary Owen, now serves as a board member for the Donna Reed Foundation. Owen said it is exciting to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop.

“The Donna Reed Foundation is glad to be continuing this wonderful tradition. We value creative expression and see this week packed with fun as a wonderful opportunity for the children of Denison and the families of Crawford County,” Owen said.

The Donna Reed Foundation Children’s Musical Theater Workshop started on Monday, June 17, and will culminate in the production “Seussical Kids.” Horton , The Cat in the Hat and other popular Dr. Seuss characters will spring to life during the musical extravaganza Saturday.

“Seussical Kids” is an epic adventure where the ideals of friendship, loyalty, family and community overcome a series of challenges to prevail in the end. The workshop is for students who have finished kindergarten through eighth grade. There were 60 spots available for the workshop.

First held in 2004, the summer musical workshop has grown in popularity and established a strong culture of educational fun for those involved.

“This is a terrific way for the youth of Crawford County to experience musical theater, meet new friends, showcase their singing and dancing skills and become more confident” Trisha Boettger, coordinator of the Children’s Musical Theater Workshop, said. “The Children’s Musical Theater Workshop allows students to showcase their talents, which doesn’t stop after they age out of our program. You will find many of our participants on the stage for choir, theater, speech and dance in their middle school and high school careers. Most of our student volunteers are former participants of the workshop.”

Since all three of her children participated in the Children’s Musical Theater Workshop, Boettger understands the benefits the event provides to the participating students each year.

“All three of my children participated in the Children’s Musical Theater workshop from kindergarten through eighth grade. I have loved watching their confidence grow a little more each year, as well as their excitement to be back together with friends they made,” Boettger said.

After working behind the scenes at the workshop for the past 10 years, Boettger is in her first year as coordinator. To prepare for her new role this year, she shadowed longtime coordinator Jerry Peterman during the 2023 workshop. Peterman still offers mentorship to all those involved in the event.

“This week is truly one of my favorite weeks of the summer,” Boettger said.

Meanwhile, Laurel Olsen is serving as the instructor for the workshop. A language arts teacher at Denison Community High School, Olsen has a history of producing and directing plays and musicals in Denison. Those productions include community musicals such as “Mary Poppins,” “Annie,” “Shrek” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Olsen has also taught dance and judged various speech and theater competitions. She has also served as the technical director and choreographer for past Children’s Musical Theater Workshops.

The workshop opened on Monday with students starting to learn the choreography and music as well as auditioning for speaking roles. Over the next two day they were fitted for costumes while continued to learn the songs and dances.

Thursday will focus on the addition of movement and props to make the musical more entertaining. A dress rehearsal will be held on Friday, while a run-through is also held on Saturday morning before final preparations start for the Saturday afternoon performance.

“It is truly amazing what Laurel Olsen, and these talented kids, can accomplish in just one week,” Boettger said.