Eden was always a shy girl, but these days, she has developed a newfound confidence.
She now raises her hand high in the classroom, and speaks up proudly when asked a question. Eden approaches other people with determination, and remarkably, she has even found the courage to perform.
Eight-year-old Eden was withdrawn and timid. Her Pre-K teacher said she would sit on her observation chair and rarely participate, yet at home, her mom, Stephanie Karp, saw that Eden had a comedic side. Hoping to draw her out, Karp thought perhaps an acting class could help. Determined to enroll Eden in theater classes, she found a great program in Brooklyn that has changed Eden’s entire persona.
“I drove by the Acting Out studio a dozen times, never realizing how nurturing it was and what an important role it would play in my daughter’s emotional growth,” says Karp.
Acting Out Director Roberta Loew recalls this student’s initial hesitance, “Eden was a painfully shy child who wanted to quit our program once we gave out parts to our yearly show. She shut down and would not come to class out of fear of being on the stage. I could never let this happen.
“The thought of Eden forever being trapped in her fear was not an option for me,” continues Loew. “We put a plan into action. I called her mother and asked her to put me on speakerphone, so Eden could hear me as well. I told Eden I respected her decision and of course wanted her to feel comfortable. I knew she missed her classmates, so I reminded her how loved she was by all of us.
“I told her how smart she was and how, so many times, I was impressed by all the great ideas she had in class. She agreed.
“I brought up the idea of her being able to continue to contribute her great ideas and insight and still be able to enjoy her classmates by being my assistant director and costume designer for the show. I told her she would sit next to me and make all the big decisions with me.”
“She loved the idea,” remembers Loew. “She happily came to class the next week, still shy but moving forward, feeling safe by my side. I got her used to reading the script from off stage, just in case one of her classmates forgot a line, she then could read it out to them. She eventually got comfortable hearing herself read lines out loud.
“One day, there was a child absent. I very casually said, ‘Hey Eden, we are short an actor today. Can we use you on stage as a stand in?’ And it happened! She didn’t just stand in; she grabbed the script and did the lines! A bit nervous at first, but the trust had been built, and she got stronger and stronger as the day went on.”
By slowly easing Eden into the theater world by giving her important behind-the-scenes tasks, Loew had helped nurture an important understudy for the show.
“For the next two weeks, when some other kids were absent, she was eager to jump up and fill in!” says Loew. “Within the month, she came to me and asked if she could be back in the show! I hugged her and told her, ‘of course.’ I do believe I went into the bathroom and cried right after that. She was the star of the show!”
The training’s payoff was two fold: Eden felt self-assured on stage, and now she also has the courage to try new things off stage, too.
“I always loved acting, but I never really participated in anything before, because I was really shy,” says Eden. “When I was in the play recently, I felt really confident, and now I feel like I could do anything.”
Karp was relieved that her quiet daughter found a way to assert herself.
“Being an observer of life for so many years had Eden keeping her feelings and emotions inside,” says Karp. “She was able to harness these feelings and was finally able to express herself.”
A new, confident child has emerged who doesn’t waiver or doubt herself anymore. It has spilled over into her life in many ways, and she is no longer introverted. With her recently discovered poise, Eden was able to approach other children and now she has many friends inside and out of school.
“Thanks to the amazing encouragement and support of Roberta Loew and her partner John Isgro, and their nurturing staff of trained actors that night on stage, Eden shed her old persona and added a new one — star,” says her proud mother.
Now Eden can’t wait for the next season to begin so she can shine on stage once more.
Acting Out! [4724 Ave. N at 48th Street in Brooklyn and 7426 15th Ave. at Bay Ridge Parkway; (718) 236–6494; actingoutonline.com].
Mary Tomasulo is a freelance writer. She has four daughters, one of whom was also shy. She lives in Brooklyn and spends her days writing and gardening.
Reach reporter Shavana Abruzzo at sabruzzo@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2529. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/BritShavana
