Emerald City's "PlayGround" to Improve Productions

Inside a converted storefront on the North Side, a dozen three-year-olds are giggling, eagerly waiting for the play to begin. The Emerald City Children’s Theatre Company is hosting a “play date” for its newest production, “If You Take a Mouse to School.”

A “play date” is part of Emerald City’s new play development process called “The PlayGround,” which was implemented at the company this past summer. “Play dates” can be anything from reading a script around a table with actors, writers and designers to readings in front of an audience.

“The amount of quality material for young people is not as large as it is for the "adult" world,” said Ernie Nolan, Associate Artistic Director at Emerald City Theatre. Nolan also adapted and directed “Mouse,” which is based on the book of the same name written by Laura Numeroff.

“Mouse” opened September 20 at the Apollo Theater, is the first Emerald City production to have gone through “The Playground.”

“What we set out to do was create a lab where we could develop work for the mainstage or even play with ideas for work that might be developed,” Nolan said.

While staging readings for a play’s intended audience is not groundbreaking in children’s theater, Emerald City sets itself apart in another way.

“Ours is the only company that workshops and receives feedback from children, parents, and educators,” Nolan said. “It's the three groups that our company actively serves, so we want to know what they want and how we can help them.

The “play dates” provide invaluable feedback for the play’s development. And sometimes the children’s frankness is refreshingly beneficial.

“They have no filter,” said Elizabeth Schmeski, the artistic intern who participated in one of this past summer’s “play dates” at Emerald City. “They aren’t afraid to tell you what they thought was boring, silly or confusing. They can be a tough crowd, but what they say is essential to making the play work.”

Audiences have thoroughly enjoyed “Mouse,” and much of its success can be attributed to the interaction between the actors and children.

“I think it’s a lot of the repetition and direct contact with the audience that makes the show effective,” said Mary Williamson, who plays six different characters in the play. “It’s also a really fun, silly show.”

Nolan knows the importance of play development, and Emerald City is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to new plays for children.

“The "PlayGround" means that we are dedicated to not only creating world class scripts but contributing to the legacy of theatre for young audiences in this country,” Nolan said.

After “Mouse,” Emerald City’s season of new plays continues with “Hansel and Gretel” (Nov. 20-Jan. 4.) and “The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle,” (Jan. 17-Mar. 14) both of which will take trips to the “PlayGround.”