When Nicole Poirier moved North Shore Children’s Theatre (NSCT) from Salem to 18 Prospect Street in 2016, she was not worried about having to establish a new base of participants. The nonprofit organization already had a majority Marbleheader involvement, and the relocation simply made sense.
Poirier, along with co-founders Patricia Manalo Bochnak and Andrew Harwood, produced their first play in the fall of 2010 with a 26-member cast. In contrast, they saw 300 participants in this year’s spring shows alone. This can be attributed to partnerships with the Village School, Veterans Middle School, and Community Charter Public School. The theatre integrates itself with these local schools by providing resources in the school-run productions, and after that, Poirier says the student segue to her theater comes naturally.
“Our jump in popularity started because we began working with the schools,” Poirier said. “When we started at Village School, our first show with them was ‘Seussical’. It was the school’s biggest show yet and after that, so many kids who were in that show auditioned for our spring show, and that’s sort of how this all happened.”
The popularity Poirier refers to can be quantified by the interest in their recent production of ‘Frozen.’ More than 190 children auditioned, and with no cuts made on junior shows, Poirier had to find a way to include everybody.
“This last production of ‘Frozen,’ we had five casts,” Poirier explained. “Each cast only gets to perform once, which is sad, but at the same time everyone has so many commitments that getting one afternoon or evening that they’re available to perform is already hard.”
She compared preparing five casts for the same show to the movie “Groundhog Day,” in that she teaches the same lines at the same pace five times over. However, she is more than happy to give everyone who wants to act a chance.
Amanda Tucker’s three children all grew up as part of the NSCT community, with her youngest, Annie Tucker, having performed in 34 shows up to this point. The 15-year-old, who is also currently a teen intern for Poirier, affirmed that performing at NSCT is her passion.
“I really enjoy being here. I really like it here,” Annie Tucker said.
Similar to the Tuckers, the Leahy family consists of three children who have a history at NSCT. Siblings Arianna Leahy, 13; Alexa Leahy, 10; and Christian Leahy, 8, have enjoyed fortifying relationships at the theater not only with new friends, but with each other.
“It’s great when all three do something in common,” their mother, Elaine Leahy, said. “They’re never going to be on the same sports team, but the fact that they can all perform together in a play is really sweet.”
Alexa Leahy noted how she tends to play younger versions of whoever Arianna Leahy is cast as, and has also followed in her footsteps by playing the same roles her older sister had years before.
Amanda Tucker spoke glowingly of the environment Poirier has cultivated, which has made her kids and so many others want to be a part of it for their entire childhoods.
“Nicole is like the pied piper of children,” Amanda Tucker said. “I know that when I leave my three kids here, that they’re home. It’s a community kids bring into the classroom. Annie and Arianna are together at school and it’s just these packs of kids and there’s something so special about that.”