PAC Past Projects

Old Town Actors Studio - The Secret Garden

NATURE OF THE PROJECT: Old Town Actors Studio tried a family production of The Hundred Dresses ﬁve years ago, with children and adults in the cast, and we were very pleased with the results and now try to produce one family production each year. In December 2023 we produced The Secret Garden, a beautiful and heart warming story that has won an immense following. We believe our production was a great opportunity for Pocatello’s young and old to enjoy a theatrically-educative experience. We offered two shows (ﬁnal dress rehearsals) free of charge, to nearby elementary and middle school students, as well as friends and family that couldn’t afford tickets.

GRANT AMOUNT: We requested $600.00 because OTAS is very limited with children’s costumes, as well as adult costumes from the Victorian age. Due to the Pocatello Arts Grant we could rent and/or build for everyone, as well as create a Robin’s costume. The Palace Theatre had numerous costumes for this period and we were lucky enough to be able to rent three costumes for the actor playing Mary and two costumes for the actor playing Colin. We also rented for our actors playing Martha, Mrs. Medlock, the Station Master, and Archibald/Neville Craven. We built costumes for Dickon and Ben. (We spent every penny of the $600.00 plus a little more but the look was gorgeous!) Below is a group picture to give you some idea of how lovely everyone looked.

(My stage manager, one of my actors playing Mrs. Medlock, and my Robin were not in costume)

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENT: OTAS wanted to present a family production which highlighted learning, great literature, and promoted the arts to young and old. We tried to engage everyone involved (actors and audience alike), motivate understanding and comprehension of material, and entertain while teaching. We believe it is a worthwhile venture and we greatly appreciate the Pocatello Arts Council’s support of these endeavors.

We also followed our calendar deadlines that were listed in the initial grant request: September -- held auditions and cast; October -- rent and began building of costumes, rehearsals; November -- rehearsals continued, built the set and completed costumes; December -- Production mounted; and January -- Follow up report in.

The Secret Garden allowed us to watch the faces of children as they saw the productions; to listen to the questions they ask after a show; and their pure delight when the actors talk to them or give them a high ﬁve. We continue to adore the creative rush that we get when we direct, act, design, and produce typical OTAS productions but there’s nothing like hearing a child say “I want to be an actor, just like you” or “that was amazing” or “I love this story.” To those we reach with our family production, we really make a difference!

GROUPS THAT BENEFITTED: We have attracted and held the attention of grade school children, engaged teenagers, and our mature audience members, as well. My cast ran the gamut from seasoned actors to ﬁrst timers and we all grew from the experience. With our annual family production we accomplish theatre’s ultimate goals of entertaining and educating by producing stellar performances. OTAS promotes the appreciation of theatre, explores various types of literature, hones skills of theatre artists, advances important subject matter, and promotes the appreciation of theatre.

PROBLEMS FACED: Like virtually every artistic organization, OTAS struggles to meet our budget. Ticket prices do not always cover costs and grants seem to be the way to accomplish our educational enterprises.

PUBLIC RECOGNITION: Our Theatre Programs and Facebook postings recognized the PAC grant. Our OTAS supporters are also told of the PAC support at our annual meeting and New Knowledge Adventure talk.