The boy (or girl) standing quietly in the corner, nervously playing with drawstring to the grey hoodie, could be 5, or 9, or 13, or 18. The frightened eyes have witnessed horrors in homes that most of us will never know. Children are not safe. These are desperate lives. These young lives know abuse, violence, unhappiness and death. Even in Parker and Douglas County some children and families are not as they seem.
Fontella Pappas (left) and Kendall Stark (right) assist directing the RATCo troupe in Parker.
Going to Gold Rush Elementary school on a Saturday for three hours takes courage. To RATCo (Random Acts of Theatre Company) volunteers in Parker, it doesn’t matter. They are in the business of supporting, teaching and reaching potential, no matter your age, no matter your racial or ethnic background. Even individuals who are differently abled are welcomed.
“What is RATCo? Why it is simply love.” And as mother Fontella Pappas excitedly tells me, “we’re family, and all of us need family.” (Check out their website at: http://www.freedomfoundation.org/meet-ratco/). “50% of our church is not from Colorado, so our church members have become our away-from-home family” explained Pappas.
Kendall Stark, a mother of three young children and another due in September has volunteered since 2010. “The success of the RATCo program was something we knew could be replicated in Colorado. Though Douglas County is one of the wealthiest counties in the country, it is a fact that plenty of people find it difficult to live here. Single parents can’t afford the costs associated with their children’s education. Too many times children leave an audition or sports tryout with a negative feeling that they aren’t good enough.”
“We have children, who come to us shy and nervous, but we encourage and nurture them and before long they have the confidence to stand in front of an audience and recite lines, sing a song, do a dance, all with a smile on their face!” Stark recounted.
“RATCo eliminates that competition,” Pappas emphasized. “We won’t turn anyone away. Everyone is an integral cog in our wheel. Said Pappas, “RATCo is the social arm of the Parker Community Church; there is no pressure to join the church, but the RATCo family is so welcoming, non-judgmental and because about half the congregation is from states other than Colorado, we become a family.”
“RATCo empowers young people, no matter their background, economic status, physical ability, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, by teaching teamwork, self-expression, and the value of giving back,” Pappas added.
At a recent rehearsal for “Charlotte’s Web”, there is no anger, no sad faces. Girls and boys, men and women, are laughing, interacting; enjoying each other’s company. A young woman with a radiant smile confidently introduces herself and welcomes me to the group. She shakes the hand of a stranger and welcomes me warmly, like family. Her autism is a non-factor, she’s very happy.
A year ago Isiah was a shy boy from a single-parent family, insecure and bullied at school. Today he stands tall, runs alongside his RATCo family and has a new-found inner confidence. He’s even sung songs on stage, in front of an audience.
Every rehearsal or show concludes with the “beep circle”.
“Everyone is important, no matter what part they play in a show-actor/parent/volunteer. Often the spotlight is only on a lead character and that can be hurtful and lead to a feeling of less importance. The Beep Circle is a simple exercise to continually remind all that each person has a part/role and every part/role is important. It is truly a foundational principle of RATCo.
Schools, public and private, have their share of bullying. RATCo brings a quiet harbor of serenity for many children. There are mentoring pairs, both teens and adults, who will help the troubled child face their fears: from schoolwork to peer relationships.
This dynamic is cyclical, as the mentor ages out, another child within the program continues the mentoring to newer members. 73 students under 17 and 20 adults were involved with “Charlotte’s Web”. Little ones, 3-7 years, are members of MOUSECo, who learn crafts and games and how to interact with others. RATCo also has an Ambassador program that offers leadership training to the older members, in a way to invest in their younger members.
Theatre is not just a performing arts venue; it is a safe harbor in turbulent times for RATCo.