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FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Jean Gallati certainly has learned a lesson or two about theater, mainly that its a lot of hard work. The Fairfield mother of five also discovered that helping children find the acting bug can be a very rewarding.
I do feel every child should have the opportunity to get involved with drama, Gallati says while sitting in Einstein Bros. Bagels. It's the last day of classes, and the mid-afternoon hours are the last she'll have free for a while.
Gallati helped start the after-school drama program for elementary students in Fairfield after her oldest child, Ben, took an interest. While he could study theater and perform in summer camps, there was no option available during the school year. Gallati worked with teachers and administrators to start the after-school enrichment program.
Since then all five of her children have participated in at least one performance. Ben, now 16, is a part of the drama program at the high school, which offers theater classes. Gallati would like to see drama added to the elementary curriculum as well but knows that tight budgets make it unlikely for the time being.
The after-school program has attracted enough attention and popularity that this past year 80 children wanted to sign up. However, only 50 can be readily accommodated. Their main performance was held in Ludlowe High School's 450 seat auditorium. Between the two performance dates, they sold 800 tickets.
Gallati feels the strength of the drama program lies with the parents. It's not just a commitment on the kids part, its a commitment on the family. I think I have spent hundreds of hours on the program, Gallati says. For some parents, the commitment comes from just getting their children to and from performances, while others get involved with costuming and production.
Finding an opportunity for her children to get involved with acting a little sooner than later is worth the work for Gallati, and she thinks other families see it the same way. If you don't get the kids involved with acting in elementary school, they may never give it a try, she says.
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