Director readying ASC debut
Most would head straight home after giving birth, but not Kayla Earnest-Lake of White Hall. She stopped by the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas so her second family could get a good look at new baby, Rory.
While working on ASC’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes” in 2014, Earnest-Lake’s baby bump continued to grow and was hard to miss.
“The kids would rub my belly,” she recalled.
Not surprisingly, Earnest-Lake said, “She was born on opening night and is literally growing up in the theater.”
Rory is now 6, and like her mom, she is an active member of ASC’s theater troupe.
Earnest-Lake is directing ASC’s “Mirror, Mirror on The Wall — A Virtual Fractured Fairy Tale,” written by Brian D. Taylor. It involves 31 mostly young actors, including Rory, along with seven crew members. The production will stream at 7 p.m. April 1-4.
“This is the most diverse cast we have had in a long time, and a lot of these kids are making their ASC debut,” Earnest-Lake said.
Earnest-Lake is a substitute teacher for the White Hall School District and unlike many subs, she prefers working with the middle school and junior high school students.
“They are funny and quotable.
It’s like the sweet spot of childhood, in my opinion,” she said.
Often her students in the classroom are the same ones in her productions.
She calls them “my crew babies,” and their imagination and tech expertise has made a “real difference” in “Mirror, Mirror,” a prerecorded performance that will stream, she said.
Most aspects of the production, such as set preparation, scenes, costumes and makeup, have been impacted.
“It’s been strange, but we’ve learned so much over the past year,” and, Earnest-Lake said.
It’s been done without the usual give-and-take of other actors and the audience that is found in live, in-person theater.
“They are very much a part of the energy, the process,” she said about the actors’ interaction with a live audience.
“Theater kids have been isolated and at home and I wanted them to be the driving force behind this production,” she said.
When asked to be the director,
Earnest-Lake said, “I jumped right into it… I’m passionate about children’s theater because I have witnessed first hand all of the amazing benefits: the unbreakable bonds, the sense of accomplishment, the boost of confidence, the skills acquired, and so many other things,” Earnest-Lake said.
“I love the feeling of being able to give even just a little bit of what I have received back to the next generation, and I’m forever grateful to ASC for giving me so many opportunities…”
In turn, the 29-year-old is fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging the next generation to get involved.
This isn’t her first time directing.
She has directed sold-out performances at the Grant County Community Theater at Sheridan, including “Peter Pan,” and “The Fairy Tale Network” at the Cleveland County Community Theater at Rison. She also directed “Simply Cinderella,” and “Magically Musical” at Cleveland County.
These “are smaller venues but it’s very rewarding,” Earnest-Lake said.
She has also served as assistant director at ASC.
Along with spending her teen years volunteering at ASC’s theater in a variety of on-stage and behind-thescene roles, she said she felt ready to direct when asked.
Lindsey Collins, ASC Theater Education coordinator, described “Mirror, Mirror” as “a fairy tale fit for 2021 is coming to mirrors — er, screens — in April.”
ASC’s “Mirror, Mirror on The Wall — A Virtual Fractured Fairy Tale,” will stream at 7 p.m. April 1-4. Tickets are $7 for ASC members and $10 for nonmembers. Ticket buyers will receive a video link and viewing instructions before showtime. Details: asc701. org.