WALLINGFORD - Since she was 18 years old, Mary Ellen Kingsland- Eckels has wanted to build a center for the arts that would be accessible to children of all ages and abilities.
Kingsland-Eckels will see that idea come to life when the Wallingford Youth and Children's Community Theater (WYCCT) takes to the stage at Sheehan High School on Aug. 13, 14 and 15 for their summer production of "The King and I."
"As a music therapist, I knew that I wanted to take a different path than most programs," Kingsland-Eckels said on a break from her busy rehearsal schedule. "This is something that I have wanted since I was a freshman in college. It really is a labor of love and a huge commitment but I was ready for it and so was the town."
The WYCCT is part of the Wallingford Community Theater Program, which is a division of the Wallingford Center for the Performing arts which Kingsland-Eckels acts as administrative and artistic director for.
The WYCCT program has been growing since June 2007, its inaugural year, and 2008 when the group of more than 100 kids performed the musical "Grease" under Kingsland- Eckels direction.
"Her passion for the theater really brings out the best in the kids," Christine Mansfield, owner of Discovery Training Services and WYCCT board member said. "She teaches them acting, singing and stage and set commands. She is a jewel and we are lucky to have her and to have kept her in Wallingford." While Kingsland-Eckels runs lines with the kids-they range in age from five-18- at five-day-aweek rehearsals, the importance of teamwork, responsibility for oneself and a sense of community trumps line memorization.
"Our goal is to have everyone work together," Kingsland-Eckels said. "We look at the kid first then at their ability. The kids really learn how to work together and about life skills, responsibility and teamwork. This is not about performance skills. That will all come eventually."
