Welcome to PLAYBILLDER Spotlight, where Playbill highlights shows from educational institutions or regional theatres and special events around the country (who have used Playbill's program-building service). By welcoming these PLAYBILLDERs center stage, we hope to give our readers a more in-depth look at theatre programs that are fostering the love of the performing arts in the next generation and the way theatre lovers are bringing Playbill along for life's big moments.

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This week's Spotlight is The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre in Avon, Indiana, and their production of How (Not) to Be a Wizard, which performed in the spring. When a school of wizardry finds itself in need of a new professor one day before classes start, someone has to save the day (and semester). A suspicious-looking centaur, a hapless man from Oz, and other magical mischief-makers come to throw their hat (and tricks) into the ring. 

Director Jamison Hemmert shared with Playbill which magical moment from this show made him most proud of his child actors and how his theatre company provides proximity to the arts for their community. 

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your proudest moment as a children's theatre director?
Jamison Hemmert: My proudest moment came while the kids were performing this show, How (Not) to Be a Wizard. On opening night, one of our leads, who was in every scene, had to unexpectedly leave the stage during a scene change. When the lights came up, we noticed she was gone and started to panic in the booth. The actors on stage, mere children, ran the scene perfectly. They didn’t miss a beat and picked up the lines for the missing actor and delivered them in their own character’s way. I had people tell me after the show they had no idea that that lead was even supposed to be in that scene. It was truly remarkable.

I felt so proud. I felt that the hours and repetition I put the kids through paid off. They didn’t panic, they had moved from trying to remember their lines to being able to think on the fly and still deliver an amazing show. They had become thinking actors, truly an achievement. To see this happen flawlessly in a live show filled me with immense satisfaction in my actors.

How does your organization impact your community?
The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre provides a safe place for kids to explore and grow in areas that many times aren't available to them at school. The school might not have a theatre department at all or kids might be involved in other extra-curricular activities that don't allow them to participate in the school productions. We are also very proud to be, for many young audience members in our community (and sometimes some not so young ones), their first introduction to live theatre! We operate in an area where it's a bit of a drive to get to other professional venues, so our proximity makes it easy for people to participate. Plus, we strive to keep our ticket prices affordable so that families, or others with limited funds, can still enjoy the magic of the theatre!

What are your dreams for how your organization can grow?
We are always trying to get the word out about our shows, classes, and camps so that more kids can benefit from being a part of the world of theatre. We love it when a kid does a show with us for the first time and has this "ah-ha!" moment of "I finally found my people!" 

In addition to that, a long term goal for us would be to raise enough money to purchase our own theatre. Right now, we have to rent out spaces in other locations to put on our productions. It makes for a very intense tech week. To have our own space for performances, as well as storage, would be a dream come true!

Tell us a little bit about the production. What made you pick the show?
When I direct a show, I try to pick one that will challenge the kids a little but also be a lot of fun for them. I work with my students. I collaborate and build off of their ideas. When it comes time to do the show, I don’t have to worry about them buying in since they helped develop the character. Many of the jokes or funny extras are their ideas that we have fleshed out.

What are the kids loving about the show?
In How (Not) To Be A Wizard, the kids love the parody aspect of a property (Harry Potter). Many of the kids auditioned because of their love for Harry Potter. They also loved all of the pop culture references in the show. Due to the smaller cast, I could also give everyone a microphone and essentially a “lead” role for the various scenes.

What message do you have for your students as they take the stage?
When I send my students on to the stage I tell them, "This is your show now, make it yours. Own it!" I encourage them to commit. Whatever they are doing, whatever choice they make, commit to it. We spend a lot of time on building the character, so that when the actors take the stage they know how their character would react and move.

How has PLAYBILLDER impacted your performing arts program as a resource?
We love using PLAYBILLDER. It makes our performances that much more enjoyable for both the kids in the show and the audience! The tool is very easy to use, but also allows a lot of customization, which we so appreciate. Our students love to see their faces and bios in print. They always want to keep Playbills from their shows as souvenirs. Some even have cast and crew sign them after each show.