Rehearsing for ‘Showstoppers!’ in Falls Village

Twenty-four young people from the Tri-State area, ages 6 to 16, will be starring in "Showstoppers!," a Falls Village Children's Theater production opening Friday for three performances.

While the children auditioned for the program, music director Michael Berkeley said the audition was designed to discover which child could star in each one of the singing-acting-dancing salutes to some of Broadway's greatest musicals. They are each the star of the show.

"We concentrated on singing and dancing, but this year we worked on acting, too," Berkeley said during a rehearsal last week. On the stage, the kids were lined up facing choreographer/director Heather Holohan-Guarneri.

"How do you show high energy on stage while standing perfectly still?" she asked the troupe. "Dig your feet into the floor, pull in your stomach, make your eyes light up."

It worked.

“They learned more than performing skills," Berkeley added. “They learned discipline and the importance of working hard.”

"Showstoppers!" runs Aug. 21 at 7 p.m., and Aug. 22 at 3 and 7 p.m. at The Center on Main, 103 Main St., Falls Village, CT. For tickets go to www.FVCT.org or purchase them at the door.