Beloved Mount Prospect Youth Theatre Director retires after 26 wonderful years

Paula Winkler retires today after her 2:00pm final show, marking 26 years as Director of the Kids On Stage Youth Theatre Program for Mount Prospect Park District.

Her friend and assistant Director, Renee Bauer helped her for the past 10 years as well! The biggest difference with this program is that it took EVERYONE. No audition necessary. Everyone got a speaking role. When there were more kids than parts, Mrs. Winker wrote in parts so no one got turned away. And she nurtured these kids and gave them such confidence! They were kids from Grade 2 - 8 (a very big age difference that you can't find anywhere else in this day and age)....but the younger kids learned not only from Mrs. Winkler and Mrs. Bauer but from the older kids. The young actors learned to be a team, to help each other out when someone forgot a line, or a prop or an entrance. Weekly practices were Wednesday night at the Mount Prospect Park District Rec Plex Complex and the show was performed on the stage in the gym at Lions Park Rec Center. How exciting it was for these little kids to be on a real stage with costumes, sets, props, make up, sound and lights! So many of the kids went on to be the stars of their Junior High and High School Theatre productions. Some even went on to college theatre and a few.....Broadway. Mrs. Winkler and Mrs. Bauer were very positive role models for so many kids in our community. They are a Mount Prospect treasure and have left an amazing legacy.