Daily Inspiration: Meet Lee Osterhout-Kaplan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lee Osterhout-Kaplan.

Hi Lee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Debut Theatre is a non-profit theatre arts school and performance company for ages 6-17. It was founded in 1991; the school district at that time had cut performing arts budgets and there was a need. To our knowledge, even to this day, we are the only year-round troupe-structured, classic literature-based program in the state. A troupe is a group of young artists who take on all aspects of play production as a team: Research, Interpret, Design, and execution with no adults backstage.

Each troupe is structured by age and experience level, – there are at least 10 full student led productions each semester. In fall 2022 for example, the beginning 8-10-year-old students created “The Elves & the Shoemaker” with a cardboard set, while the advanced signature company, The Debut Players, created an entire train on the Lincoln Center stage for the Colorado premiere of “The Railway Children“. Debut was founded by Lee & Gregg, siblings who grew up in a performing arts passionate family.

Their family relationship and collaboration set the foundation for the “vibe” of the school where humor and encouragement to make big choices and take risks are celebrated. Most of our students join DTC when they are 8-10 years old and grow up in the program through graduation. These deep friendships, combined with an emphasis on technical theatre as much as acting, break down the competitiveness, and focus on collaborated success. The age-based curriculum increases in length, challenge, and venue as the students grow in skills and confidence.

With the shared goal of ‘Making the show the best it can be”, the troupes have many of the same benefits of sports as they grow, learn, laugh, and raise the bar together. When founded, Lee & Gregg planned Debut for 5 years… our actors’ families have kept it going strong 26 years past that original date. Even though COVID, we never closed the doors. Our mission is to uplift and inspire young people onstage, offstage, and in the audience.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The non-profit performing arts have never had a smooth road. Colorado is the third lowest state in the nation in arts funding. The largest obstacle over 31 years has been performing venues. There aren’t many stages and the few there are have limited availability and are very expensive. Youth athletics,  however, always have fields and courts to practice on every week.

Young performing artists often haven’t been on the actual stage until the final dress rehearsal and spend weeks prior in random rooms rehearsing. All of the performing arts were severely impacted in the Spring of 2020. Debut had 10 shows in production which were abruptly halted. There was no model on what to do, how long it would last, or what the long-term effects would be. Everyone was scared… most especially our sensitive, artistic students.

Most of Debut’s teaching staff are adult theatre educators who were part of Debut themselves when they were younger.  They knew how important this lifeline is. After a 2 week hiatus, rehearsals were resumed via Zoom. Frequently, rehearsal became talk sessions and theatre games; – a way to stay connected and something to look forward to each week. The staff and directors chose to keep going for the mental health of our students.

Though this is (that was?) the only year in our history that we lost money, it was our most successful. We are extremely proud of the energy, camaraderie, and compassion of staff, students, and parents. After 4 weeks of zoom rehearsals, we chose to meet in person, with masks, in my yard… then to a rented warehouse. We named this time: Creating Art, 6 feet Apart. Each student had 2, 6-foot insulation foam tubes for hugging one another. Yes, the hugs became noodle battles, but that laughter was medicine.

The students costumed, painted, and rehearsed safely, for several weeks, until their shows were filmed and enjoyed at a watch party. Everyone dressed up and watched the shows together from their homes. So proud of what they had created when the rest of the world shut down. The Debut Players switched to Radio Theatre and filmed Alfred Hitchcock plays for Halloween and “It’s a Wonderful Life” for Christmas, – all in full 1940s costumes, jingles, and complete Foley sound.

They learned about a bygone era and embraced it fully. We purchased vinyl walls between all of the actors so each had their own “booth”. Filmed performances at the Lincoln Center sold tickets and the recorded stories played on KRFC radio for free to the entire community. Coming from a place of support and compassion, there was never a positive covid case during the entire time. Exhausting? Yes. Rewarding? Oh, yes.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have touched on our very unique troupe structure and would like to elaborate on the classic literature piece. Most youth theatre programs today are focused on cartoon-based musicals. The kids watch the film over and over, then mimic the cartoon. Shrek, Little Mermaid, etc. (you get the idea). Copying a film performance is known, and fun, and the audience enjoys ‘what they expect’. Confident, extravert kids, who look the part, and can hit the notes, will get the leads.

I find this screen to stage marketing to children limiting because it stymies/stunts fresh creativity and imagination. Often, the shyer, cerebral kids are overlooked. Children are made for make-believe! When given the opportunity, they can create fascinating, unexpected, new characters. Our scripts are not musicals and are based on adaptations of classic literature. Stories with purpose, morals that have withstood the test of time, and characters of complexity and purpose.

With small troupes and individual attention (rather than 50 chorus members on stage), we know we too play an important role in cultivating fresh ideas… by giving the next generation the opportunity. Our school mantra was said by the brilliant acting coach Stella Adler: “Growth as an actor and as a human being are synonymous.”

We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking.
What a compelling question! Believing that the arts have the potential to illuminate and bring out the best in all of us; being driven by this ideal, yet still functioning as a business, is both a challenge and a risk. In this “contentless- content” time of Kardashians and TicToc, we ask young people to be still (Be still?), to go deep, to imagine, and to dream. Are we antiquated? Are we relevant? That is the risk we take every class.

Pricing:

• Most of our shows are admission by donation.
• The Debut Players tickets are $10. Our Mission Statement says that tickets will be less than the price of a movie.
• Tuition is less than the price of a babysitter. $250 a semester with no additional costume or rental fees.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://debuttheatre.org/
• Instagram: @debuttheatrecompany
• Facebook: @Debut Theatre Company

Image Credits
Poudre Digital