Many of the girls are playing boys. But these fledgling actresses say they don't mind at all.
"I'm used to it," said Olivia Geppel, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at Cutchogue East who plays the grumpy male character Ewart Dunlop in Meredith Wilson's classic musical. "I go to acting camp in the summer."
Emily Pearce, 11, also plays one of the male leads, Mayor Shinn.
"It's a very cool role," said the Riverhead sixth-grader. "I like acting like the leader."
In its first season, ACT out East, according to its founders, offers an "all-encompassing musical theater learning experience" for children ages 8 to 18. The program incorporates acting, dance and vocal lessons with rehearsals for a full-scale production over a period of 13 weeks.
Three-hour sessions are held at Vail-Leavitt on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Kids come from across the East End, and tuition is $660.
"They get to flex their acting muscles and step up to the roles," Ms. Galway said of her young thespians. "They can do anything."
Ms. Galway and Ms. Poulakis had the idea for ACT out East about a year ago. About six months ago, teaming with New Suffolk-based dramatist Darby Moore, they decided to turn their dream of a comprehensive drama program into reality, choosing the Riverhead location to appeal to students on both forks. "We talked about what a great thing this could be to do in this theater," Ms. Poulakis said. "The program not only teaches performing arts skills but fosters creativity, collaboration, and self-confidence."
The "ACT" in ACT out East stands for two things: All Children's Theater and Arts in Counseling Team. Ms. Galway, 42, of East Quogue, is a licensed creative arts therapist with years of acting and directing experience in both the professional and the academic theater worlds. She also runs a private drama therapy clinic in West Hampton Beach.
"We play out things that relate back to their real lives," she said of the young people she works with in therapy. "But [ACT out East] is pure theater."
Ms. Poulakis, 32, lives in Hampton Bays and teaches voice, dance and acting at ACT out East. She said she started her career in theater at The Boston Conservatory studying singing, and she also studied music therapy at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Jacqueline Minogue, a 12-year-old seventh-grader from Southampton who plays the lead role of Marian the librarian, said that though ACT out East's process of classes and rehearsals means a lot of work, "it's really not that stressful.
"And I'm making new friends," she said. "Everyone is so nice."
Jacqueline's schoolmate, 13-year-old eighth-grader Kate Lewis, agreed.
"You don't learn just one thing, you learn everything," said Kate, who plays Pickalittle Lady Alma Hix in the production.
For Amy Brennan of Riverhead, ACT out East's three-in-one program was the perfect opportunity for her 9-year-old daughter, Sarah -- a girl who likes to "do it all" in the world of theater.
"She's taken dance classes before, but for this she never says 'I don't want to go,'" Ms. Brennan said of her daughter, who is taking on two different roles in "The Music Man." "She's always very enthused about it."
eschultz@timesreview.com
'The Music Man '
presented by ACT out East Vail-Leavitt Music Hall 18 Peconic Ave. Riverhead Sunday, Dec. 13th, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling (631) 348-2142
Starring:
Lauren Anasky Ava Bianchi Melissa Bowman Sarah Brennan Sophia Burke Meghan Corazzini Madison Costello Madison D'Aries Daniel Dimijian Olivia Dimijian Taylor Dunn Ruby Ernst Isabella Galway Jaelle Georgrou Olivia Geppel Sara Heaney Victoria Kochetova Hannah Kulp Lily Kutner Kate Lewis Jacqueline Minogue Alyssa Ortiz Emily Pearce Bridie Raustiala Brette Rosen Madison Shannon Brian Schwartz Mora Sullivan ¬ Instructed by: Kim Galway Kristen Poulakis Darby Moore John Batterman