by Kara Hildreth
Thisweek Newspapers

ARRR!

Ahoy thar matey! Young thespians ready to walk the plank and sing and dance like a pirate with swords, eye patches and treasure maps can learn to character act in Mary Ann's Mini Musical group in Farmington.

Owner Mary Ann Maughan, 28, knows the value of getting youth involved in theatre at a young age, when their imaginations are ripe and ready to pretend and learn about music, dance and theatre.

When Maughan was just 4 years old she played the youngest daughter Gretel in the family favorite musical "Sound of Musicî in Idaho. She was hooked on singing and dancing and playing characters on stage.

Maughan and her husband, Dan, make a home in Farmington with their two sons, Kaleb, 4, and 2-year-old Micah. When the idea hit to start up a children's mini musical studio in their home, the Maughan family got inspired.

"We have renovated our basement into a dance and drama studio,î Maughan said, as she gives a tour of the 20-foot by 11-foot drama studio with wood flooring, sunny yellow walls with track and recessed lights for proper dramatic lighting for young budding thespians to explore.

"I think music and dance builds a child's self-confidence and gives them a chance to role play,î she said. "They can learn role playing and ways of modeling other aspects of life.î

Filling a need
When Maughan looked around at what there was for singing, dancing and acting opportunities this side of the Twin Cities, she did not find a lot of options in a convenient location available at an affordable price.

Highly involved with youth in her church, Maughan said she looks forward to getting Mary Ann's Mini Musicals started.

"I know there are children who would have so much fun and learn a lot about the theatre and singing,î Maughan said.

Slots for the summer workshop sessions for Mary Ann's Mini Musicals are still open for the weeks of July 10, 17 and 24 in the morning and afternoon.

The sessions last about an hour-and-a-half with about half the time spent on learning musical selections and music technique, Maughan said. The other half of the session will focus on teaching acting fundamentals and modern dance moves.

"We will learn nursery rhymes and even turn them into plays,î Maughan said. "We will turn books into plays.î
She looks forward to working with individual youngsters to see how she can bring out the best in each young performer.

Maughan said she benefited so much as a child when she took voice lessons, which include teaching singing techniques, such as talking to the children about the importance of controlling breathing and volume during singing.

"Our voice is our instrument and we can practice and fine tune our voice so we can breathe right and use our vocal chords to be able to sing better,î Maughan said.

"Learning to sing can help a child build confidence at any young age,î Maughan said.

Young children are already wired with strong imaginations and hold a desire to sing and dance and perform even if they may be a little quiet at first, Maughan said.

"Sometimes I have seen kids who seem shy do fabulously on stage,î Maughan said, and the opposite may be true where a more outgoing and bold child may be more shy and get nervous on stage when they become the center of attention.

"I want to find each child a part that is equal to their personality,î Maughan said. "I will make it work for the children so they like their characters and have so much fun.î

Parents may need to pay a fee for rental costumes when the children will perform the mini musicals at an off-site location in Farmington.

"We want all the parents to come and the kids need their grandparents to come, too,î Maughan said.

A theatrical past
Maughan graduated from Brigham Young University in Idaho in 1998, where she studied theatre.

While in college she immersed herself in theatrical productions and served as the vice president of a drama club that put on a juried film festival.

Playing different roles in a playhouse production of "Sound of Musicî again as an adult, Maughan also got to perform in an audition-only production of "Big Riverî at a theatre house in West Yellow Stone National Park as a young woman.

Maughan said she enjoyed working with youth back in high school in a summer workshop where youth got to sing and dance and perform musical productions. This was rewarding because she could see how raising young people's awareness of theatre just brought out each child's spirit and personality.

Mary Ann's Mini Musicals will also teach some basic modern-style character dance moves, such as a knight or a pirate might do, Maughan said.

As Mary Ann's Mini Musicals gets off the ground, Maughan said she would like to have repeat students who could benefit from growing their talents on stage.

"We could learn more about fine arts and musicals and talk about what they would like to perform in upcoming musicals,î she said.
As a youth church leader today who helps put together youth choral performances, Maughan said, "I get to direct plays at church. I get the most reward seeing the small children have fun and give an excellent performance.î

"The kids will have the most fun learning to portray a character they want to play. That will be the most fun for them.î

Fall sessions for Mary Ann's Mini Musicals will start September 11 and will be offered in the afternoon and early evenings. The mini musical sessions will meet once a week for eight weeks. For more information, call Mary Ann at (952) 240-4570.

Kara Hildreth is at farmington.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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