There’s a play about a TV show hosting storybook characters. If that sounds convoluted, add to it a cast of 20 children, and only three weeks to rehearse. This is Annette Hillman’s job this summer. She is directing the Summer Youth Conservatory production in Haines.

Hillman: “The play is about family drama and reconciliation.”

Jiminy Cricket has become a therapist. He now offers his services to fellow fairytale characters who have conflicts to resolve. Cinderella and her step sisters, the evil queen and Snow White, and a magic mirror, who has this attitude problem.…

Hillman: “Because he feels that he tells the truth, and nobody listens to him. So he says it and he’s gotten snarkier as the years have gone on. He gets his comeuppance though for being rude. 

Hilman says the play adds complexity and a backstory to characters who are usually taken at face value. Speaking of complexity, the cast of pre teens is learning to sing, learning to act, and learning their lines. The youngest is seven and a half years old. Oh, and they are also learning to use tools to build the set.

That doesn’t stop Hillman.

Hillan: “They are still kids, but they are really really great kids and they are willing to try things that they’ve never tried before and they really work together, they like to take ownership of the play.” 

Lila plays “the host”. She says it’s a hard role. There are lots of lines.

Lila: “Luckily I have a co-host, who is staying with me, because I have to split it. Because there are so many lines.”

Enza play “the person who holds the applause sign. She has only two lines, and she knows them already.

Enza: “Uncle Walt’s carpet cleaning service, $83. For everything else there is…”

There is also dancing and singing. Cathy Pashigian is the voice coach.

Pashigian: “We start out the day with some breathing exercises with them,and then we do things with projecting our voices , we do tongue twisters.”  

None of the children use a microphone during the performance. Pashigian says that children that are usually loud on the playground become timid and quiet when asked to recite a text. She tries to help them by teaching proper technique.

Pashigian: “Basically belly breathing. So we start by letting all the air out, and then taking in a deep breath, without lifting their shoulders, then I do exercises where they hum using the breath, so they learn how to use the breath while singing and speaking.”

Pashigian says the cast is working very hard at making beautiful sounds. 

One actor from years ago moved into the assistant director’s position. Clover Cinocco says when she was a child, the program helped her get through some difficult times. Being in her position is especially meaningful because she is stepping into the role of Cathy Gudmunson, who was a mentor to her and recently passed away.

Clover: “She was in this role when I was here, and she really did a lot for me and she meant a lot to me. When this role was open, I was so happy, because I got to be with her for a little bit, I had a little piece of her. I could be there for other kids like she was there for me.”

The musical “The musical The Ever After, will be performed on July 19th and 20th at the Chilkat Center for the Arts