Little Audiences, Big Adventures: Ready, Set, Rocket! at the Springer

By Andrew McCrory

For parents wondering whether their little ones are ready for live theatre, the Springer Opera House’s Ready, Set, Rocket! offers an invitation to join in. Children can help the characters, move around and become part of the adventure. Sitting quietly isn’t the whole idea.

Part of the Springer’s Theatre for the Very Young series, the production is designed for children ages 0–8 and their caregivers. There’s still time to catch its final public performances Nov. 14 and 15—and behind the space race is a story shaped by young artists right here in Columbus.

Cosmo, a young rocketeer, is eager to win a galactic race. So eager, in fact, that checking his rocket and listening to his crew tend to fall behind getting to the starting line. His rival, Luna, takes a different approach: she plans ahead and trusts her team. Their adventure gives young audiences a chance to explore patience, teamwork and the possibilities that appear when we slow down.

We won’t give away every bump in Cosmo’s journey, but the audience has work to do. When he encounters a meteor shower, children help navigate the trouble. It’s the kind of storytelling that gives little ones a reason to pay attention: the characters need their help.

DB Woolbright, the Springer’s director of education, describes the series as a shared arts experience for children and their grown-ups. Audience members might dance, count or identify shapes alongside the performers. He compares the interaction to a children’s television show that asks viewers to respond—only here, the performers are in the room with them.

The welcome begins before the curtain. Woolbright says the series’ shows typically last about 30 minutes, with activities beginning 30 minutes beforehand. Games, coloring and building activities help children get comfortable with the theatre before stepping into the performance space. For a first visit to a big, unfamiliar building, that little bit of settling-in time matters.

The young people onstage have helped build the adventure, too. This production brings together Springer Theatre Academy students from fourth through 12th grade, including newcomers and students familiar with the creative process.

Woolbright starts with a title and a brief description. Students then spend several rehearsals developing characters, learning goals and plot ideas. They write possible scenes, improvise and share suggestions in groups. Original music has become part of the process as well, with students contributing ideas for lyrics and melodies.

They also study earlier scripts to understand how to tell a story for much younger children. Simple dialogue and repetition help the audience follow along. That means thinking about the people who will experience the story, as well as what would be fun to perform.

After gathering those ideas, Woolbright writes the script, and the cast returns to rehearse it. The students get to see their contributions become something they can share with an audience.

That work reflects the academy’s broader approach to theatre education. Its training serves ages 5–18, with lessons in listening, concentration and responding to others that Woolbright sees as useful well beyond the stage.

“Our motto is life skills through stage skills,” he said.

He wants students to develop resilience, too: to make a mistake, learn from it and try again. Playing someone else also offers practice in considering a perspective different from their own. For Woolbright, those human connections are part of why introducing children to theatre matters.

Directing gives him time with academy students during the school year, and their creativity is one of his favorite parts of the job. For families in the audience, the result is a chance to discover live theatre together—with a young crew of storytellers helping lead the way.

Ready, Set, Rocket! continues in the Springer Opera House’s Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for children and $20 for adults. For tickets, visit springeroperahouse.org or call 706-327-3688.