Ever since its inception in 1936 (then a branch of the Civic Theatre, called the Children’s Theatre), the Fort Wayne Youtheatre has been a place for young people to express themselves. Through local productions, classes, and camps, Youthreatre and its teachers have helped nurture talent and creativity for thousands of local artists.
You can’t talk about Youtheatre without mentioning one of its most notable teachers, Harvey Cocks—whose legacy has lived on in every student who encountered him. Cocks passed away in 2022, but his presence still reverberates through the organization today. Known for his special way of guiding students to newfound levels of confidence in their ability, his mentorship set a tone that can be found today and will continue for years to come.
As the nonprofit nears 90 years of service and is halfway through its 2024-2025 season, it’s proud to be a safe, encouraging place for the actors who seek it. And it’s not afraid to tackle tough community subjects through its programming. Its upcoming performance, Something Happened in Our Town, is the latest in the Youtheatre’s Young Heroes of Conscience Series, which focuses on social justice issues and helping people create meaningful dialogue around them.
To learn more about the Fort Wayne Yeatheatre and their upcoming adaptation of Something Happened in Our Town, we spoke with Heather Closson—the organization’s Executive Director.
Molly: First, let’s start with you and your background. I read that you’ve been involved in Youtheatre ever since you were a child yourself. What did the organization mean to you growing up—and how did that lead to you coming full circle, as the organization’s director?
Heather: I first began with Fort Wayne Youtheatre after a successful audition for the 1999 production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. After that, I was hooked!
Harvey Cocks, the director at the time, always saw the potential in everyone. His encouragement is what started my “backstage” trajectory. Growing up, I was also a competitive dancer, meaning my time was limited. If I wasn’t cast in a Youtheatre production due to my schedule, I could be found backstage on the floor crew, managing props, running lights/sound, or operating the fly rail. I will never forget the sense of pride I had as a young child entrusted by Harvey with the key to the prop cabinet! His love and unwavering support were often synonymous with Fort Wayne Youtheatre at that time. For me, his guidance empowered me to try new things and learn from those experiences.
Fort Wayne Youtheatre has always been a place where I have felt valued, and I credit my experiences with the organization to be the reason I am holding the Executive Director position today. Because of Youtheatre, I pursued a technical theatre minor in college. That education allowed me to return to the Youtheatre in 2014 as a teaching artist and eventual Technical Director. My time spent professionally at Youtheatre gave me the confidence needed to pursue obtaining my master’s degree, as well as other opportunities in New York and Fort Wayne. Now, I am just so grateful to have come full circle. It is such a blessing to be able to blend my passions with my professional career.
Molly: What are some of your proudest moments as director so far?
Heather: All of the moments that make me beam with pride are directly tied to the success of our youth. I think my fondest example is that of a student I have been fortunate to teach since she was three years old. At the start of her first semester, her uncertainty and shyness would often overcome her. The successes we found during that class together were many, but culminated in her standing in front of a large audience–a huge fear faced! Today, that same student exudes nothing but confidence paired with an infectious amount of joy.
While this particular journey is near to my heart, there are countless success stories of those impacted by Youtheatre. It is such an honor to be a part of this organization’s 90 year legacy: transforming lives for the better, using the performing arts as a medium to do so.
Molly: Why, in your opinion, is it important for kids to have exposure to and involvement in the arts at an early age?
Heather: When we look specifically at the early childhood years, creative play is essential for growth. Drama and theatre can improve language skills, give children the tools to express emotions, develop sensory and motor skills, and build problem-solving skills. As the years pass, youth continue to develop these essential life skills: leadership, communication, commitment, independence, time-budgeting, initiative, confidence, adaptability, acceptance of disappointment, self-discipline… The list goes on and on.
We know that theatre students typically score higher on their SATs, and that drama can improve reading comprehension skills better than other activities, including discussion. Engaging with theatre from the audience perspective offers benefits to youth of all ages, often offering insight to historical and topical content, fostering imagination, and initiating discussion. There are countless studies and statistics to support these benefits, and I sincerely hope that all youth have the opportunity to engage with theatre to experience the positive growth these benefits have to offer.
Molly: What an amazing argument for getting kids involved in theatre! Now let’s talk about your upcoming production, Something Happened in Our Town. The play grapples with some heavy subjects, including racial injustice. Why was it important for you and your team to feature this production in this year’s lineup?
Heather: Since 2014, our Young Heroes of Conscience series has focused on issues of social justice and youth empowerment, addressing subjects such as racism (Ruby Bridges), empathy and the emotional cost of war (Baghdad Zoo), and the 1980s AIDS crisis (The Kid From Kokomo: The Ryan White Story). Performances are followed up with post-show talk-backs facilitated by community partners to provide audiences and young artists the chance to comment on their emotional experiences with the play, and to discuss each important societal issue these productions address.
In 2018, the Young Heroes of Conscience Series was presented with the first-ever Mayor’s Arts Award presented by the late Mayor Tom Henry. This year, Fort Wayne Youtheatre continues the series with Something Happened in Our Town, written by Cheryl L. West and based on the acclaimed children’s book by Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP; Marietta Collins, PhD; and Ann Hazzard, PhD, ABPP.
By both continuing this series and working to integrate relevant themes into all Youtheatre’s programming, our organization intends to continue targeted efforts to create opportunities for meaningful dialogue in our community. Our programming directly impacts the youth involved with our organization — as performers, as technicians, as students, as audience members, and as appreciators of the arts. Those who pass through the doors of Fort Wayne Youtheatre go on to serve our community — and our world — as leaders, educators, and advocates. With this series, our youth have additional conversations and educational opportunities to ensure they are equipped with the tools and resources needed to grasp and present topics that are often uncomfortable and difficult to discuss.
Fort Wayne Youtheatre is proud to have both United Front and Fort Wayne Urban League engaged as community partners with this production. We are also grateful for additional individuals within the community volunteering their time to engage in dialogue with our actors, technicians, and audiences throughout this process.
Molly: Can you tell me more about Something Happened in Our Town in general—and some of the cast and crew who will be bringing it to life?
Heather: The production is described as follows: When a Black man is killed by a police officer, Emma and Josh (best friends and neighbors) have real questions that deserve real answers. Josh is afraid for his brother Malcolm, who has gone out to protest, and Emma is concerned about her Uncle Manny, who is a police officer. Based on the book of the same title, this play invites the audience into the living rooms of two families, one Black and one white, as they wrestle with how to help their children make sense of what happened. This show invites you to walk alongside Josh and Emma as they confront uncertainty within their own town and seek to plant the seeds of change in their community.
The cast is composed of 18 actors and supported by a team of 3 stage managers. I am proud of the representation on the stage, as it is truly reflective of our Fort Wayne community. While many faces may be familiar to those who frequent Youtheatre productions, we are also proud to share that several of the actors in this production are making their Youtheatre debut!
Molly: What else would you like readers to know about Fort Wayne Youtheatre or its upcoming production of Something Happened in Our Town?
Heather: Tickets are available on our website now: https://www.fortwayneyoutheatre.org/something-happened
Fort Wayne Youtheatre has also made several show-related resources available on our website. We recommend those planning to attend to engage with these resources, which include a reading of the book by its authors, tips for talking to your child about social injustice, and notes for both parents and educators seeking to engage in further dialogue with their children, students, and other loved ones.
Our organizational IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Statement reads:
Fort Wayne Youtheatre serves as a mirror for our community, encompassing our community’s different identities, backgrounds, beliefs, perspectives, and privileges. We want members of our community to see themselves and their experiences reflected in works we do, whether their participation is on the stage, in our classes, or in our audiences.
Fort Wayne Youtheatre intentionally works to understand and embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace, programming, and community. We pledge to take actions to advance equal opportunity and to prevent racism, discrimination, and harassment. Our commitment — held by our Board, staff, and volunteers — helps us to serve, reflect, and amplify the voices of people from all backgrounds in our programming, outreach, and practices.
Molly Conner is a Fort Wayne native and freelance writer. Having lived in Downtown Fort Wayne throughout her twenties, she loves watching her stomping grounds grow. With her love of storytelling and community in tow, she’s eager to tell Downtown Fort Wayne’s story piece-by-piece—exploring the people, spaces, and organizations that make it thrive.