By Dane Anderson, Staff Writer

One World Theatre opened its giant wooden doors to children for summer camp that ran from June 8-12. 

Led by the national touring company, Missoula Children’s Theatre, camp participants learned how to produce an a piece of musical theatre from the inside out. The nonprofit organization also put smiles on the faces of some proud American parents serving active duty in the Middle East.

“It was a chance to be a part of the magic as we create one world, one child at a time,” said Nada Stearns, executive director and co-founder of One World Theatre along with her husband, Hartt Stearns. “Camp One World exposes children to music, instrument building, teamwork and the art forms of diverse cultures from around the world. It helps them develop confidence and a better empathy for other people.”

Forty-nine children ages 5 through 14 got the chance for hands-on experience during the show’s production, from learning lines and dances to seeing the world behind the curtain as crew members. At the end of the week, they put a show on the One World Stage, “Beauty Lou and the Country Beast,” an adaptation of the classic fairy tale, “Beauty and the Beast.”

Most of the students in Camp One World came from areas of Austin, but the foundation and contributors sponsored 12 children from military families living in Waco, Leander and Austin. The performance was broadcast to certain locations in the Middle East where some of the campers’ fathers are currently serving in the military. 

“It was a great thing to be able to bring these kids to camp,” Nada said. “It was good for the community and good for the military.”

Although One World had the assistance of the American Red Cross, LifeSize, a high definition video communications company, and BAE Systems, a global defense, security and aerospace company, transmitting the children’s theatre performance did not go without a hitch. When Red Cross workers began to hook up high definition equipment at the military locations where student parents were located, the U.S. military shut them down. It turned out even the Red Cross needed the proper permits and authority to transmit on a military base. Project workers contacted satellite company FCS for broadcast assistance. At first the company quoted a $20,000 fee to broadcast the theatre production, but when they found out the American Red Cross was involved, the company donated its services. One World was able to transmit their children’s performance to three parent military locations in Iraq – Tajl, Tallil and Al Assad. 

“The cameras in the theater were able to pan the audience after the performance, and the audience gave the military a standing ovation,” Nada said. “There was not a dry eye in the house.”

She said some of the military children had not seen their fathers in more than a year.

“One little boy ran up to the screen, hugged it and said ‘Papa,’ ” she said. “One little girl showed her dad her new braces. It was a miracle that was meant to happen.”

Nada said Camp One World project coordinators are now working on connections with the Pentagon so that, next year, they will be ready with the proper authority to broadcast at military bases. 

Additional contributors to Camp One World were the Once Upon a Time organization and private contributors Robert Schmidt and Susan Penn. Military students with parents in Bagram, Afghanistan also attended Camp One World. 

To find out how you can contribute to next year’s camp, contact Nada at 330-9500, extension 132 or by e-mail at nada@oneworldtheatre.org.