Louise McCreary discovered Theatre at the J through her first production, A Tree Called Aesop, and quickly found a community that included children both older and younger than her. For a child who had never considered herself particularly interested in sports, theatre became her happy place.
“I don’t always enjoy going and doing swim practice and things, but I always enjoyed theatre,” she said. “Even if I didn’t want to go from the start, I always enjoyed it. And I really love theatre. I got my spark in theatre.”
That sense of belonging is at the heart of Everyone’s a Star, the Mayerson JCC’s youth theatre program. Since its launch in 2022, the program has given young people an opportunity to explore acting, music, movement and the many technical elements that come together to create a theatrical production, all in a supportive environment designed to welcome children with a wide range of interests, personalities, and abilities.
The program is intentionally structured to make room for every kind of young performer. Some children are more than ready to take on a lead role. Others need time to find their voice. Some discover a love of acting, or a fascination with costumes, choreography, stage management, or technical production.
Theatre Director Katie Daniels sees her role as creating the conditions for each child to grow at their own pace.
“As a director, my first priority is making sure that all the kids in the cast feel safe to express themselves at whatever level they are most comfortable with,” Daniels said. “While theatre offers limitless possibilities to stretch outside your comfort zone, I want to make sure that they grow at their pace, not mine.”
This approach can have a powerful impact, particularly for children who might not initially see themselves as performers.
During The Wizard of Oz, Youth Edition, Daniels watched one student undergo a transformation. At the beginning of the production, the student was too shy to sing during her audition. She specifically requested an ensemble role and made it clear that she did not want to be in the spotlight. But as rehearsals progressed, she began forming friendships with other students who were similarly shy. As those relationships grew, so did the children’s confidence.
“By the end of the production all three ‘shy kids’ were volunteering for extra lines and responsibilities, and hamming it up on stage,” Daniels said.
Nine-year-old Mira Pitman appreciates the time she has to build relationships with her fellow performers. Unlike a short camp or one-week program, Theatre at the J gives students an extended period to rehearse, fine-tune their performances, and really get to know one another.
“It’s a really good way to make friends, connect with people, and do theatre, and it’s really fun,” Mira said.
Her mother, Laura Weber, has watched that community become increasingly important as Mira has grown older.
“When she was younger, it helped with all sorts of skills, even reading or teamwork or learning how to work with other people when you don’t always get your way,” Weber said. “And now that she’s getting older and hitting those middle school years, it’s like everything’s changing for these kids. And I feel that it’s just such a supportive place.”
Weber has been particularly moved by the way students encourage one another, describing a culture in which young performers write encouraging notes to each other.
“Everyone can be themselves and feel like they’re part of a community,” she said.
For ten-year-old Vivian Gomez-Hill, theatre has also become a place to explore different versions of herself and discover interests she might not otherwise have found. She loves costumes and credits the program with inspiring one of her dream careers: becoming a fashion stylist.
“Theatre is a place where you can change your whole persona and you can do all these fun things that you never knew you could do,” Vivian said. “So you can find hidden talents when you do theatre.”
Most importantly, she said, the program has given her friendships and a sense of familiarity.
“At the J, no matter who you are or what you do, it doesn’t matter as long as you’re here because you have friends that you know will always help you,” she said.
The result is a program where a shy child can find the courage to speak in public, a young actor can discover a new passion, a future designer can fall in love with costumes, and cast of strangers can become life-long friends.
“Performing arts are really important because they are some of the most accepting,” parent Rachel Bauer said. “And I mean that in every single way—diversity of thought and diversity
of talent and skills and abilities and just the most accepting and welcoming places for all different types of kids.”
And for the young people themselves, Theatre at the J offers something that can last long after the curtain closes: the knowledge that there is a place for them, that their contribution matters, and that they can find their people by simply stepping onto the stage.
