When people think of children’s theater, it most likely brings up images of school auditorium plays, holiday church performances, or adult productions that include some lucky child cast as a tree.

Albuquerque Little Theatre (ALT) is crushing these stereotypes with its new Musical Theater Camps. The programs offer ages 9-17 of all experience levels a chance to participate in professional, staged productions, from the casting experience, to the rehearsal schedule, to a large full-scale theater workshop of staging, sets and costumes.

“We are bringing the professional production staff to bear on these, and they do everything with the children that they would have done quality-wise with adults,” said ALT education co-coordinator Kathryn Morales. “We don’t ask the kids to settle for second best.”

“Disney’s Descendants” was ALT’s first Musical Theater Camp production, held over six weeks this past summer. It involved 31 children performing for two nearly sold-out houses.

“Alice in Wonderland Junior” will be the second camp, which is slated for after-school rehearsal hours three days weekly Nov. 5 through mid-January, with holiday breaks. Performances are set for 2 p.m. Jan 18-19 and 25-26.

“It is a pretty well-known (Disney) musical production, but it’s made for small people to do,” said ALT executive director Rob Armstrong Martin. “It’s the real deal in terms of quality of writing and quality of music and staging, so it’s giving the kids a chance to go to the next level with their skills.”

Every child who enrolls in an ALT Musical Theater Camp auditions on the first day of class, and everyone is guaranteed to be cast.

“Not everybody can play the leading role or end up with the role they hoped for, but everyone will have a role and be given ample opportunity for a featured moment,” Morales said.

Competitive casting is part of the educational experience at ALT, which is emphasizing workforce training more and more as it works to expand its youth programming.

For example, children involved with “Disney’s Descendants” were encouraged to put up posters around the community to advertise their production. They were also asked to take a photo of where each was placed so the “Descendants” and summer musical camp director Dejah Padon could track their locations. About 160 posters went up.

“That’s distinguishes our program,” Martin said. “Kids are learning to negotiate and relate to community business owners.”

The posters also resulted in about a third of the audience attending purely due to interest in the show, not because they knew a child who would be on stage. 

Any child can register to perform in “Alice”. “We welcome newcomers,” Morales said. “Part of learning to do theater in groups is to see the diversity of people around you and learning from that.”

Enrollment, which costs $375, is first-come, first-served for 30 spaces and is happening now online at https://albuquerquelittletheatre.org/youth-productions/. Some scholarships are available through the ABQ Theater Guild, www.abqtheatre.org/youth-scholarships, and ALT is also willing to work on payment plans with families.

“We believe that every child deserves theater,” Martin said. “Because kids have such a developmental impact from a live setting that includes movement and emotional empathy, we think that’s something every kid deserves, so we’re trying to fill a gap where those gaps exist.”

While some children will come away with improved soft skills, such as how to work as a team, how to listen and follow instructions, and even how to agree to disagree, a few will get bitten by the theater bug, their sights set on a performing career.

That happened to Oakley Jeffery, 11, whose first professional stage performance was in the ALT role of King Ben, a primary character in “Disney’s Descendants.”

For casting, Oakley said, “They (the educators) really look at how you interact with people and what your personality is like to determine who’s best suited for each role. The director said I was very bold and brave at performing.”

Oakley is already looking forward to the fall after-school camp and even wants to attend Albuquerque’s Public Academy for Performing Arts Charter School.

“The way (ALT) ran this camp, it was so professional,” said Oakley’s mom, Danielle Jeffery. “I can see how a child who had this experience would have the foundation to do it later in life. … What struck me, too, and was such a great gift was the beautiful community that was created by these kids coming together.”

Sunni DeeAndra Stromei Chavez, mother of 12-year-old Jude, who has been performing on stages since age 4, said, “Ever since Jude stared taking classes at ALT, I noticed that his confidence levels really rose, he’s more outgoing and able to talk with anybody - skills that have benefitted him on and off stage.

“ALT is such a wonderful place for students to learn and grow. There’s something for everybody, and it’s such a safe place for people to be themselves.”

Jude played the starring role of Carlos, the son of Cruella De Vil, in “Disney’s Descendants” in July. He has also performed in ALT productions “The Wizard of Oz,” “Camelot,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” and has most recently been cast as a member of the ensemble in ALT’s all-adult season opener “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Performance dates are Aug. 30-Sept. 15.

However, Jude readily admits he doesn’t always get the role he wants when he auditions: “I keep my hopes low, and I like to have a mindset that if I don’t get the part, I’m still happy I got the experience.”

ALT expects to schedule two Musical Theater Camps per year.