Carromato Teatro

When I was 6, my goal in life was to play Annie on Broadway. At the time, it didn't seem to matter that I was a round brown girl who didn't quite fit any respectable casting director's vision of this role. As a kid, it wasn't about "getting the job." I wanted to be involved in something important that made people happy. I wanted to use my imagination and have fun with other kids. I wanted to be part of the show.It wasn't until I completed my studies in theater at Northwestern University and began my career that I began to realize the real benefits of my involvement in theater. After almost 20 years of teaching theater to children and youth of all ages, cultures, backgrounds, interests, and learning styles, I have discovered the key benefits of being involved in theater for every kind of kid. I have learned that your kid doesn't have to be the show-off or the drama geek or the drama queen or the tortured genius types to benefit from being involved in theater. Sure, I was one of those types (all of those types, actually) and I knew from a very young age that my ... [more..]

There are many great ways to encourage children to be imaginative. In many ways they automatically gravitate to natural creativity by playing pretend and other forms of games. When kids play pretend it allows them to grow in ways that define their interests while exercising their mind. Parents should take care to make that extra effort to provide children with learning materials and even programs that are focused on pretend play.From a very early age children pick up on things like acting and singing through playing pretend. School plays are a part of most people's backgrounds and make for the start to a full blown hobby for some. Why not put on a play at home? Select a story that the kids know well and designate characters. A backyard play in the summer can be a great way to pass time when the kids are on summer holidays. Keeping them busy is a nice break for Mom too.Get the kids involved in costume design for the play they will put on. Even an old sheet or curtain can become something else with some decorative features like sequins and glitter. When you allow kids to take over and run wild with ... [more..]