Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre is a community theatre organization offering opportunities for all children to engage in aspects of stage performance and production. Currently, they are preparing for their production of Mary Poppins Jr, a wonderfully beloved tale of magic and fun. Be sure to catch their performances September 28-30 downtown at the Bama Theatre. The organization welcomes anyone who is interested in auditioning.

I had a chance to speak to a few people about their experiences with TCT. Violet Albritton, an eighth-grader at Tuscaloosa Magnet Middle School, is a former member and has been in plays such as James and the Giant Peach, Elf and Peter Pan. “I loved the Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre,” says Violet. “It’s really fun, especially opening night, and I love seeing the kid’s reactions in the front row during school showings.” Zoe Shore, another 8th grader is apart of the ongoing production, Mary Poppins Jr, and is a park stroller and banker. “I love being in big productions like this. It’s always so much fun to do rehearsals, and my favorite part of the entire production is getting to rehearse in the Bama Theatre for the first time. It’s always so magical!” she notes.

How does it look backstage during the performances? Well, it’s genuinely a cool place to be. There are two places for people to stand while waiting for their parts, called the wings, and two rooms that the cast has to stay in when it isn’t their turn. It’s all super interesting, but in order to gain the full experience of a magical performance, you would have to talk to a crew member. Luckily, I managed to get an interview with one of my classmates, Savannah Sikora, who is a crew member. “It’s hard work, but it’s super fun,” she says. “We move the set pieces around on wheels, and there are brakes that we have to activate once they get in their place. I love it!” The crew members are responsible for making the magic happen!

Our next production, Babes in Toyland, is going to be a blast, and you have the opportunity to try out! Auditions are coming up on October 11-12, so if you’re interested, be sure to sign up! For more information, feel free to visit TCT’s website, https://tuscaloosachildrenstheatre.net.