Encore Theatre adds younger production

Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty' will be performed Nov. 14 at Miami Hamilton.

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By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 10:57 AM Friday, November 6, 2009

HAMILTON — The Encore Youth Theatre just got a little younger.

For the first time in its 15-year history, the company will stage a production starring children from third through sixth grade. Encore will present Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Parrish Auditorium at Miami University Hamilton.

Previously, the company presented one show a year, typically in the summer, starring children in grades seven through 12, and it will continue to do so. But now Encore will have a second annual production for the younger children, said Diane Noonan, the president of the nonprofit theater company.

“We’re feeding our program. We have so much talent in Butler County,” she said, adding that these children can go on to appear in the production for the older children. The change gives Encore a talent pool to draw on for the future.

The shows with children in grades three through six will be shorter, running about 90 minutes or so, but Noonan promised that “Sleeping Beauty” would “still be a full-blown show.”

Encore chose “Sleeping Beauty” because it allowed for a large cast, with several bit parts as animals or fairies. About 60 children got roles, Noonan said.

Sometimes that comes with its own challenges, since young children have to be directed differently, she said.

“With 60 little ones, you have to keep them more focused and you don’t have practices so long. But you’d be surprised at the talent of these little children,” she said.

One of those children is 10-year-old Hannah Rose of Fairfield, who is the dance captain of the group and also plays one of the “goons” of the villainess Maleficent. This is her first play she’s done outside of school.

And how, exactly does one play a goon?

“It’s very fun. You get to act very evil. It’s weird and fun at the same time,” she said.

From Encore, Rose has learned techniques like how to breathe properly on stage.

“I’ve learned what I can do with my voice — things I thought would never happen,” she said.