Singer-Actress Inspires Children To Dream Through Theatre

It’s easy to warm to Hilary Ann Stevens right off the bat--whether she’s onstage or off. The singing-dancing actress’ enthusiasm and positive energy are infectious.

“I’m very excited to be performing with East Bay Children’s Theatre in this production of There’s No Business Like Shoe Business,” the triple-threat enthuses. “This is my first show with EBCT. I got involved after seeing an open-call audition, and I decided that this would be a fun production to be involved with.”

East Bay Children’s Theatre was founded in 1933. For the past eighty-three years, the mission of EBCT has been to bring live theatre to underserved Title 1 elementary schools in the East Bay. The company provides this indispensible service free of charge to the schools it serves. They’ve been doing it since 1933, and they’ve never missed a season, making them the oldest continuously operating theatre company in the Bay Area.

This year, the company is mounting a revival of one their previous hits. “There’s No Business Like Shoe Business,” by local writer Ron Lytle, is a hilarious one-hour musical event for the entire family. The show is based on the classic Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale, The Shoemaker and The Elves, but Lytle has added his trademark twists and toe-tapping tunes to the story to please children and adults alike.

Stevens treks from the South Bay to Oakland in the worst of the morning traffic to work with the company on performance days. But the long commute doesn’t seem to phase the spirited actress who is no stranger to travel:

“After touring for five years I decided to grow some roots and became the Education Manager at StarStruck Theatre. I also work with a variety other theatres like Musical Theatre Works, PVTC Conservatory, Broadway West and teaching with The Campbell School District. I love children’s theatre!”

She may be having a grand time entertaining students with “Shoe Business,” but she’s also aware of the bigger impact that the EBCT production is having on the children. “I feel that it’s important to get theatre into the schools. Most of these children have never seen a live performance before and we are able to inspire these kids to dream.

“Maybe they will want to be actors one day!”

East Bay Children’s Theatre presents the musical “There’s No Business Like Shoe Business” (based on the Grimm Bros fairy tale The Shoemaker and the Elves) at JCC East Bay in Berkeley (March 15, at 1:30 and 3:30), and Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette (March 22, at 1:30 and 3:30.) Tickets are $12-$15 (Group Rates Available.)

For tickets and more information, visit www.ebctOnline.org