Fishtown: Community Theater Brings Children’s Stories to Life

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Last Saturday, 2-year-old  Maeve Cooper made her acting debut.  “I was a dog–a girl dog. Woof, woof!” She also witnessed a cockroach give her legs in marriage and a confused cat realize he was not a Chihuahua.

The Family Theatre Series, an interactive storytelling performance held at the Walking Fish Theatre, gives children the opportunity to creatively express themselves through the art of acting.  Instead of simply reading stories in a traditional manner, children ages two to seven are encouraged to participate with the help of professional actors.  Through this program, children build confidence, poise and social skills.

“It’s a great space for children because they have the smaller stage and sometimes children get intimidated when they’re on a bigger stage,” said Fishtown resident Charise Pastorik.  “The more intimacy they have to interact with each other, the better off they are.  I’ve seen a positive personality change in my daughter since we started coming to the shows.”

The parents who attend appreciate the bonding time they have with their children, as well as the educational aspect of the literacy program.

“I brought my daughter today because I like the simplicity and focus on the content of the books,” said Maeve’s mother, Audrey Cooper.  “It really brings the kids’ imaginations to life, and we’ll definitely be coming back for more shows.”

However, it was not until about four or five years ago that the community actually offered such a program.  When Teri Ramsay, executive director of the Neighborhood Parenting Program of By My Side, was given a grant for a family literacy program, she decided to partner with B. Someday Productions, a non-profit theater organization based out of Fishtown.

“We wanted to find a new way to read to children where they could emerge themselves in the stories,” Ramsay said.  “Michelle and Stan of B. Someday Productions came to my playgroups, so I knew they were involved with theater.  Together, we partnered to make it all happen.”

The performances began with the Frog and Toad series, by author Arnold Lobel, in the basement of the Atonement Lutheran Church, located at 1544 E. Montgomery Ave.

“It was so successful that we did a second one, and then a third one,” Ramsay said.  “When the Walking Fish Theatre was bought, we decided to give our program its name, The Family Theatre Series, and moved it to the new stage.”

The program also strives to instill a level of appreciation for the performing arts at a young age.

“Theater audiences just don’t happen out of nowhere, they start when people are really young,” said Michelle Pauls, founder of B. Someday Productions and owner of The Walking Fish Theatre.  “You go to see a play when you’re young and you get the idea in your head.  It stays with you as an adult, and then you become a real theater patron.”

There is no ticket price for the performances.  Instead, the guests are asked to contribute whatever monetary donation they can afford.  With the help of various grants, donations and fund raising events, the theater continues to unite members of the Fishtown community.

“The theater plays a big role in our community, since we’re the only presenting and producing theater in the neighborhood,” Pauls said.  “We do a lot of programming to reach out to the neighborhood, not only to develop audience, but to help spread the word about live theater and performance.  A lot of people who live around here may have never experienced live theater, so that’s another one of our missions.  And we also live here, so we’re part of the community as well.”

In fact, B. Someday Productions began in 1993 and existed long before the theater was even purchased three years ago.  However, the owners knew a permanent theater space was what the community needed.

“When my husband and I moved to Fishtown, we were trying to decide what we were going to do,” Pauls said.  “So, we did a lot of soul searching.  We tried a bed and breakfast and a coffee shop, but we really wanted to do theater. When we opened the theater, we realized it was what the community needed, and we felt like we were pioneers.”

It was only fitting that the space was named after the idea of progression.

“The name comes from evolution, the Darwinian idea of evolving, like when you see the little fish with the legs on them,” Pauls said.  “It also symbolizes evolving as a neighborhood, and obviously the fish for Fishtown.”

Stan Heleva, her husband, notes that the name also symbolizes the organization’s change of venue.

“Since our organization bought a new space, the name illustrates, in theory, that we made a short walk up the street,” Heleva said.

Although the theater technically sits just a few blocks outside of the official zoning boarders, Pauls and Heleva still consider the theater a remaining part of Fishtown, and the community agrees.

“The theater is culturally more in Fishtown than in Kensington,” said Morgan Jones, executive board member of the Fishtown Neighbors Association.  “I think the message is clear that it started as a Fishtown community organization, and although it is technically out of disputed boarders, it is still Fishtown culture.  Because of that, our zoning committee can continue to support the organization.”

Now that there is a permanent space for the organization, B. Someday Productions is able to offer various classes, such as the Adult Basic Improv Workshop, as well as showcasing local actors in performances like Gravedigger: The Plays of Mark Borkowski.  In addition, the organization provides an internship program for high-school students who are interested in all aspects of the performing arts.  At this theater, there is something for everyone.

Pauls is very proud that B. Someday Productions has done more for the community than simply putting on plays.

“We’ve always believed it’s part of our mission to bring artists and the community together, to discover new strategies for our urban challenges, and here we are.”

The Walking Fish Theatre is located at 2509 Frankford Ave.