Power of pure imagination

‘Willy Wonka’ gives kids experience on stage and behind the scenes

Every second of Denton Theatre School is packed for the 60 children who spin an all-ages sweet treat this weekend with Willy Wonka Jr.

“We only have three weeks to put a whole show together,” said director Michael Thompson, who’s moving from the Crownover Middle School theater program to Ryan High School’s theater program this fall. “We can’t waste any time. None at all.”

Denton Theatre School is Denton Community Theatre’s outreach to area children and teams. The nonprofit group supplements the average public school theater program with intensive work in acting, singing, dancing and backstage crew work. Each summer, the theater school stages a play or musical with all the bells and whistles.

But the frenetic schedule for the summer campers, who spend six hours a day in rehearsal or in small-group sessions devoted to voice, dance, character development and other skills, is couched in serious fun. Thompson — and a corps of volunteers — say the young performers learn faster and retain more when they’re having fun.

Mildred Peveto, program director, said enrollment doubled this summer.

“It’s been great,” she said. “We don’t know if it’s word of mouth or what, but we’ve got a lot of kids this summer, and every single one of them is in the show.”

They want your blood

Local release party celebrates latest in vampire romance

It’s not Harry Potter, but the vampire romance series by Stephenie Meyer, launched by the book Twilight, has enough of a following to generate big book release parties at Barnes & Noble outlets across the nation on Aug. 1.

The popular series is about a love triangle between Bella, the vampire she loves, Edward, and a boy she befriends, Jacob. The series has earned comparisons to the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but Meyer told the press she’d never seen a single episode of the series.

Store officials said they don’t know how many fans will turn out for the release party, but they’re prepared for a lot.

“It’s very hard to tell, but the buzz among the stores across the nation are that we are expecting a sizable and excited crowd,” said Thom Anderson, community relations manager at the Denton Barnes & Noble. “We’ll have enough room for everybody.”

Wristbands are available for readers who want to reserve a space in line as early as 9 a.m. Aug. 1. The wristbands guarantee the wearer a spot in the line.

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