Using Theater to Inspire and Empower Children

Fereshetian named bullying as one of the biggest recurring themes.

“They’ll tell you about an incident that happened, and I’m so glad they open up to you and talk about it because it’s really sad what’s going on — cyber bullying, ostracizing. It’s a problem of epidemic proportions at this point, how it affects children academically and socially. They want us to deal with the subject in our musicals,” she noted.

Fereshetian has noticed that having the children share their stories is like a healing process for them. It is an opportunity for them to creatively express their feelings as a group. Growing up, Fereshetian found her outlet for expressing her experiences in writing little books.

“When you’re creative and when you imagine and fantasize, you can be anything or anyone you want to be, and for that time you go into another world,” she said.

In fact, one of the productions dealt with the theme of self-respect, an idea formulated by the children themselves. The kids felt troubled by the way people would judge them based on appearances, and therefore they wrote a story about a “common” girl who saves a prince from drowning. However, after realizing her social inferiority, the prince acts in an extremely haughty manner and ignores her, even though she has just saved his life. In the end, the girl stands up to him, delivering a powerful performance in which she expresses feelings of pity for the prince who is so caught up in appearances that he cannot see the innate goodness in a person’s heart. The young actress who played the “common” girl composed most of this closing monologue herself.

“The last line brought the house down, it was so special,” noted Fereshetian.

Fereshetian uses her Armenian background to impart an important lesson to the students. To her, being Armenian means being true to herself and being proud of one’s roots. This inspires her to be the best person — as well as best Armenian — she can be.

“We tell the kids, ‘Be the best you can be, be true to who you are,’” she explained.

OneStage Productions’ performances have received positive feedback from parents and school administrators alike. She said they all want children to develop a sense of creativity and a sense of self, and OneStage provides the perfect avenue for such exploration.

She also emphasized the powerful impact that participating in OneStage productions has made on the children.

“They’re extremely eager, we know from their feedback. The kids are very enthusiastic, engaged. They compete for roles — they never fight but they encourage their friends,” she said.

The benefit is not just for the kids, however, as Fereshetian says she is constantly amazed by the children’s wisdom and their fearlessness when it comes to taking risks.

“They’re so honest; their minds are open to so much. … That’s when great creativity happens.”

Fereshetian cites her involvement in OneStage Productions as “one of the most rewarding experiences.”

“I get to spend time with wonderful kids who have a story to tell…Every child is creative, every child is unique. When you bring all those elements together, you get something very beautiful… [It’s storytelling and the innate creativity of children — that sums it up.”

Fereshetian and her husband, Belmont residents, have two sons.

A fall afterschool session will be offered at Belmont’s Benton Library branch.

For more information, visit www.onestageproductions.org.