News

X marks the spot

  • Published
  • By Roland Balik
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Crabs, mermaids, seaweed creatures, sailors, parrots, crocodiles, Sam the Clam, beach bums and Jolly Rodger, all came to the Youth Center on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to tell the story of Blackbeard the Pirate and his hidden treasure, August 8, 2014.

The Missoula Children's Theatre, based in Missoula, Montana, was contracted by the U.S. Air Force to hold a children's theatre here, August 4-8 that included auditions, rehearsals and a performance of the musical "Blackbeard the Pirate" on the evening of the last day.

This was the ninth year the MCT has come to Dover AFB and was the second stop of three military installations during the group's summer tour. Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, and Joint Base Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, are the other stops on MCT's tour.

"The MCT gives the children the experience of being on stage and in front of people," said Bonnie McGill, 436th Force Support Squadron Youth Center school age coordinator.
"The production allows the children to wear costumes and work with props during this production."

Seventy-five children auditioned for 55 speaking or choreographed roles in this year's musical under the direction of two first-year tour actors/directors with MCT.

"The MCT visits all 50 states and 16 countries," said Emilie LaBonte, MCT tour actor/director. "Every week, hired MCT teams go out to communities to hold auditions on Monday mornings, rehearsals to Friday afternoons and an hour-long musical on Friday or Saturday."

MCT tour personnel travel in a pick-up truck to military and civilian communities with all the costumes and props needed to put on a particular musical.

"We are on 'Blackbeard the Pirate' the whole year," said Cody Freeman, MCT tour actor/director. "Other MCT teams are on three month or year-long tours doing other plays."

LaBonte, a native of Prior Lake, Minnesota, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota; and Freeman, who's hometown is Muncie, Indiana, received his BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

When selecting the role for Blackbeard, Freeman stated "Boldness was the number one Blackbeard trait we were looking for."

At the auditions, Atanaska Genke, daughter of Chaplain (Capt.) Quentin Genke, 436th Airlift Wing Base Chapel and his wife Sonja, landed the role of Blackbeard.

"I felt very happy, excited and anxious about my part," said Genke.

Having played numerous roles in other musicals, Genke stood out among others who auditioned for the part of the 300-year old pirate.

"She had a very loud and clear voice when singing," said LaBonte. "She also used her whole body to express the emotion of Blackbeard and followed directions very well."

Rehearsals included the singing of eight songs and 15 set changes, as well as the children learning their individual lines and cues.

"Everyone got their individual rehearsals by Wednesday and had learned their parts by that afternoon," said Freeman. "We moved fast but the children picked it up really fast."

Other than daily rehearsals at the Youth Center, children had to practice their individual lines at home during the week in preparation for the hour-long musical on August 8th.

"We told them all the work can't happen during the rehearsals, they need to go home and memorize and go over the lines in their head," said LaBonte. "Perfect practice make perfect."

Parents and friends of children in the musical filled up the Youth Center multi-purpose room to watch the one-hour show put on by the young thespians.

"The play was great," said Sgt. 1st Class Luis Quinones, 673rd Quartermaster Company, Dover, Delaware. "My daughter Alyssa was one of the Seaweed Creatures. She was very excited and made sure everyone in our family who could come was here."

Quinones also noted that rehearsals and enthusiasm of cast members was evident because they knew their lines and were really into the musical.

"It was such a good show and such an amazing week," said Freeman. "The Youth Center staff was so supportive and the children were awesome. We were so happy to be on this military base."