The three blind mice are taking the farmer’s wife to the stand for cutting off their tails. The school is suing because her lamb did so much damage when it followed her to school.
At the Fairy Tale Court, many bedtime favorites are facing charges that didn’t make the books. It’s up to the children and director Steve Garcia of the Lago Vista Players’ Youth Workshop to portray these fairytale characters for what they are.
“The youth workshop was a gift to the community, by helping children become more aware of the theater and giving them a chance to be apart of it and share it with others,” said June Freeman, treasurer of the LVP Board of Directors and workshop coordinator. “Being in theater really develops a child’s self confidence, and they learn life skills like teamwork, coordination and really how to listen. We have kids come in here that are really shy and they have a good time and just blossom.”
In five days, seven kids have memorized multiple parts in this children’s play to perform tonight at the K-Breezy Clubhouse, also known as K-Oaks Clubhouse.
“It amazes me. Last year was the first year I did this and we have five days to put together a show, and that just doesn’t happen. There is no way you can get kids to memorize a show that fast—but two days, they had it memorized, and they did an amazing job,” said Steve Garcia, director for the second year in a row.
For the very first team-building exercise at the workshop, children were instructed to hold markers in between their index finger and their neighbor’s in a circle and create different obstacles and challenges. Though markers frequently dropped in between jumping and swirling around backwards with hands in the air, laughter and smiles occupied the exercise while Garcia gave instruction and hints. He said the workshop allows children to meet new friends.
“Theater is really about group dynamics … you do what you want to do, and this is a good way to gear them back into being apart of a group and how to be successful together,” Garcia said.
The group focused on facial expressions and body language. Exercises like “Bacon” had each child lying on the floor pretending to be a piece of bacon on the griddle.
“My favorite thing about coming here is it is always really fun and the leaders are enthusiastic and pumped up,” Rileigh Jones, 11, said. “I get to be with friends and enjoy acting.”
As well as memorizing the script, these elementary- and middle-school-aged children have worked on skills like projecting their voices and making their presence felt on stage.
“There are two types of acting: the one you see on TV and the other you see on stage,” Garcia said.
The young actors have put together commercials for in between scenes to entertain the audience and to help them master both types of acting.
“Stage acting is different because when you are on stage you have to act bigger than life, with your whole body rather than just your face, so the audience really understands what is happening,” Garcia said.
“Fairy Tales Go To Court”, by Steve and Lora Dingledine, will be performed at K-Oaks Clubhouse 7 p.m. tonight. The play is open to the public.
“I wanted to try different things, and it is so much fun being on stage, being another person,” Jaclyn Conarko, 11, said. “You get that tingly feeling when you know everyone is watching you; you feel invincible.”

—Kelsey Wesolick, Staff Intern