A swarm of schoolchildren provided the perfect audience for a new children’s musical. The official premiere of Willo Mancifoot the Musical was Saturday night at The Aud, but students from four area schools attended a free preview performance Thursday morning.
Five hundred students came from Eureka Springs Elementary and Middle Schools, Clear Spring School, and the Academy of Excellence. A delegation of drama students from Berryville also attended.
Valerie Hubbard Damon, who wrote and illustrated the book that inspired this musical, began planning this free performance months ago. She wanted to extend the play’s message to the greatest number of children because of the important messages of sharing and working together.
Before the preview performance began, director Larry Horn told the audience that the performance might have some elements of a dress rehearsal. Practices in the preceding days had run long, with last-minute changes in some choreography. Once the curtain rose, however, all the pieces fell into place perfectly, and the performance ended a few minutes ahead of schedule.
Any stage fright the performers might have felt evaporated quickly once they felt the enthusiasm of the audience. The cast responded to that energy, and took their performances to a new level. Noni Millwagon, who played Micket Wee Cricket, said she really enjoyed seeing her peers in the audience. “I was glad they could see how hard we worked on this, and how that work paid off.” William Linker, who played the title role, said he felt more pressure before the show, knowing that everyone he knew would see the performance. “Once we started, I didn’t feel nervous anymore, and I just went with it.”
Second-grade student Eva Ellis summed up the experience. Back at school on Thursday afternoon, she passed a seventh-grader. “She told me, ‘Good job, Eva!’ and I didn’t even know she knew my name!”
The audience Saturday night and Sunday included many children, but grown-ups without kids came along to see the talented cast, spectacular sets, and charming costumes. The community also came to show support for Damon, who is integral in the local arts scene. Both shows ended with standing ovations for the cast and crew.
The Willo Mancifoot Facebook page has more pictures from the production, and includes information on making a tax-deductible donation to help with the costs of production.