Acting Out-Building Up
Winnsboro Young People Perform

by
Phyllis Martin

The Winnsboro Center for the Arts opened to a packed house Saturday, August 7th for the presentation of “The Mysterious Case of the Missing Ring” performed by 20 youngsters who had participated in the two-week summer youth drama camp, “Acting Out-Building Up.”

It’s not just the “Big City” kids who have a chance to perform live theatre!

As the lights went down after the first scene, players exited stage left while the stage crew changed the set around for the next scene—all completed with professional efficiency. It was amazing to see what the kids learned about mounting a play in just two weeks.

The play had plenty of great lines and some pretty good laughs, but the denouement came when all was quiet in the theatre and a rather loud song began to play, . . . and there it was again! The Queen jumped up as Willimina walked toward her holding out a cell phone. “You’ve found my ring!” she cried. Yes, it turned out that the missing ring was in her cell phone. That got the biggest laugh of all!

Some of the characters in the play were a parody of other fictional detectives such as Nancy Drew, Miss Scarlet from the Clue game, and Charlie Chan, who became Inspector Change in this production. The kids did a terrific job of learning about the characters they were playing and making them come alive on stage.

Madison Tallant led the Drama Camp and directed the play as her summer service project before she starts her senior year in a Theatre Honors Program at Culver Academy in Indiana. She taught the students about blocking a show, designing and making a set, how to move on stage, projection and accents, costuming, and so much more. She prepared games and exercises that helped reinforce the stage elements she was teaching.

The camp and the show were both very successful and the young players are eager to return to the stage.

A special community thank you to local sponsors of the show: The Winnsboro Emporium, Clements Realtors, Brookshire’s, Maryann Miller, and the Winnsboro Rotary Club.

Thumbs up to the Queen from Madison Tallant, Drama Camp Director, as she is presented a bouquet of flowers by mother, Mia Tallant.

Members of the cast in alphabetical order: Carissa Bruton as Miss Scarlet. Elizabeth Carrell as a Sales Lady in the commercials the kids created. Kenny Crow as Inspector Change. Quinn Davis as BBQ Bob. Hannah Isleem as Gypsy Rose. Emily Lenius as a witch. James Monk, Assistant to the director. Brennan Murray as Oliver. Annika Nittmo as Julia (one of the maids). Olivia Pruitt as the Queen. Grace Ramsey as Nancy. Sarah Anne Ramsey as Kat. Jonathan Tran as a tree in a commercial. Johana Ramsey as Professor. Emily Tran as a dog in a commercial. Hunter Williams as Wylie Jones. Kennedie WIlliams as Maggie (one of the maids). Ryann Williams as Willimina.

NOTE: Jordan and Dalton Stanford participated in the camp, but were unable to be in the performance due to a date conflict.