Doing what she loves most, Nancy Florkowski and her cast of characters are bringing drama to the masses here in the heart of Detroit.
Air Date: March 22 2018
Under the lights of a small theater in Livonia is a group of young players living out their dream of performing on the stage. Their director is Nancy Florkowski.
Nancy: I was teaching special Ed in elementary school then I went to the middle school and they gave me a drama class and I thought well if I am going to do this I better get credentials.
Nancy went on to get her Masters in Children’s Theater. With that, she founded Motor City Youth Theater, which has been running for over 30 years, giving children from all over Metro Detroit their chance to be in the spotlight.
Mitch: What are the challenges of working with children in theater as opposed to adults?
Nancy: Reverse that. Children have no fear they don’t demand sheet music (laughing) they are just and you can play…
Mitch: Or their own dressing room for that matter
Nancy: Right…they are just so much fun to work with
Mitch: How old are they?
Nancy: The youngest when I did Shakespeare in the beginning was like 5 they were my little guards in Hamlet
Mitch: Did they even understand what they were saying?
Nancy: Yes they do…they do I learn right along with them.
Whether they are doing a musical or a monologue, the players’ meet multiple times a week and learn acting, singing, dancing and even improvisation.
Mitch: And what lessons do kids learn from theater besides the fun of it?
Nancy: They do learn life skills they learn teamwork. Its just like being in sports and having to work together to make something work and to win a game it works the same way in theater. So its just so much easier and so much more fun they make me laugh I love them.
Doing what she loves most, Nancy Florkowski and her cast of characters are bringing drama to the masses here in the heart of Detroit.
