A show of success… Creative Kids Theatre finishes seventh year in Tea

Eighty-seven young actors took the stage earlier this month in performances of The Little Mermaid, as part of the Creative Kids Theatre Camp that was offered in Tea.

Coleman Peterson directs the free camp each summer in Tea which is in its seventh year.

“This year actually marks our first full cycle of students,” Coleman said. “We have several actors who started with us as kindergartners in our very first show now performing with us for the last time as exiting sixth graders. It’ll be hard to know what to do without them next year!”

This year Creative Kids Theatre produced two versions of The Little Mermaid; one, a simpler version of the story (narrated by Mitchell Olson), to suit the abilities of the younger actors, and the second, a more complex version performed by the older students.

Coleman said, “Our casts featured groups of sailors, mermaids, eels, and a chorus of ocean creatures who told the classic story of The Little Mermaid through dance and dialogue.”

Thirty nine students preformed in the K-2 show, and 48 in the 3-6 show.

The camp is at no cost to participants.

“We’re able to provide this experience for free every year due to the generous free-will donations from our audience, and the time, talents, and resources that are so graciously donated to us every year from our community,” Coleman said.

He said they have a great team of helpers who work together to make sure everything runs smoothly. Creative

“Holly Peterson and Katie Knock are my go-to girls every summer, and are experts on getting things organized and managig all of our actors! Gabby Warwick and Jaelyn Morehead (past camp participants!) are also humongous helpers in being group leaders and creating costumes, props, and set pieces. And of course, the handful of parent volunteers who come to our rescue whenever we need them,” Coleman said.

Coleman is a Tea Area High School graduate with the class of 2016 graduated and currently is studying Music, Theatre, and Education at Augustana University. This summer he is also teaching part-time at the Dakota Academy of Performing Arts.