The Eunice Players’ Theatre is a Eunice icon providing entertainment and education to generations.
Jody Powell, a stalwart theater volunteer, is co-directing the latest production, “Romeo and Winifred,” that opens June 13 featuring area youths.
Also directing is Suzanne LaHaye.
“I was thinking about one of the reasons whey we do theater at all, especially why we do children’s theater, and it is they can do something like this when they are called upon one day either in school or an event like this,” Powell said at the Eunice Kiwanis meeting on Thursday.
The theater will turn 50 years old next year, she said.
This year is Powell’s 40th consecutive year of involvement with the Eunice Players’ Theatre, 121 S. 2nd St.
“Romeo and Winifred” has a 36-member cast ranging age from 8 to 15, she said.
“They are all doing a great job. Some of those were in the children’s show I did last year,” she said.
“Some of the kids had such a great time that they came back this year and that is a nice thing. You can see that they did enjoy it,” she said.
The cast also includes newcomers, she said.
Since it began, the theater focused on youth, she said.
“This year and last year I have children in the shows who are children of the children who were in my children’s show that I did in the late 90s and early 2000s. So, it is great to see that generational thing happening,” she said.
“The thing about theater, especially youth theater, is that we are not just teaching them theater skills, we are also teaching them life skills,” Power said.
The young people will learn focus, concentration, teamwork and expressiveness, she said.
“These are things they’ll need in college. Those are things they’ll need when they get out in the workforce to get a job,” she said.
The experience in the theater is something the youths can put on resumes, she said.
“I encourage you as employers in the community if you see something like that on a resume, recognize what they have learned through the theater process and what they can bring to your business,” she said.
“We also build some personal skills of enhanced self-esteem, confidence and even a sense of responsibility,” she said.
“We talk about respect and trust as well. When you are on the stage you have to respect the other people who are the stage with you,” she said.
A theater production involves more than those with stage roles, she said. Sound, lighting and props are part of the production.
“Their job is just as important as those on stage,” she said.
The theater stages three productions a year along with the summer program for youths, which can be a production or workshops.
The group has a 99 year lease at a $1 a year from the city for the building, she said.
The upcoming production, “Romeo and Winifred,” is a one-act play that is a parody of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Cast members are from Eunice, Basile, Ville Platte, Mamou, Iota, Bayou Chicot and Oakdale.
Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. on June 13, 14, 15, and 16; and at 2 p.m. June 17.
Tickets for all seats are $10, and can be purchased by cash or credit card at David Ltd. Hair Salon, 204 S. 2nd St., or by calling 546-0163. Cash and carry tickets can also be purchased at Revente, 120 S. 2nd St. The play is not on the season ticket.
