The premise was simple: give kids of all ages an opportunity to get involved in local theater as young as possible. Make it simple, but grand; involve parents, and invite the community to celebrate youth through the shows and performances.

It’s been 10 years since Shelly Bottorff and her sister, Susan Ahlers Leman, came together to found Stage Door Productions in Fort Dodge. As sisters, they grew up on the stage and knew the value of theater to help build confidence, learn to work with others, and simply taking the bold move of stepping on a stage to perform in front of others.

Stage Door Productions celebrates its 10th year this summer with the fun-loving performance of ‘Madagascar Jr.’, this month at the Fort Dodge Middle School. Community members will want to “Move it, Move it, Move it” to get to this fast-paced show that will have the audience cheering and laughing for these kids who give it their all as young performers.

“The kids are really doing great,” said Director Alyssa Sparks. “They are having fun, which is the most important thing with a kids show.”

Stage Door Productions is known for its huge cast of young people, and ‘Madagascar’ is no exception. The group actually uses projected backdrops just to make room for all the characters that may be on stage at one time. “There’s 80-plus kids in the show, and that’s a ton of kids,” Sparks said. “They are pretty well focused when they are out there, and they are just doing a great job of staying on task.”

‘Madagascar Jr.’ is proving to be a very fun show for the kids, who knew the storyline so well from the popular movie. But it’s not really about animals and zoos, or even singing and acting, the real goal of Stage Door Productions is developing good citizens in the next generation.

“These kids learn team work,” Sparks said. “They learn so much about public speaking, and that’s a fear that a lot of adults have. Putting yourself out there in front of people can be scary. For the kids here, getting involved in theater really helps develop confidence and the ability to get up in front of people, for whatever the purpose.

Sparks gives great credit to the parents, some of whom were in the audience watching for a recent chorus rehearsal. With such a big show, and so many kids, it would not be possible without lots of support from parents.

“We wouldn’t be able to do the show without the parents,” Sparks said. “We teach them music one day a week, choreography gets them one day a week, I get them one day a week, but if the parents aren’t helping them practice at home, helping them memorize lines, helping with costumes, this just wouldn’t happen.”

Sparks said a rigid schedule is one of the keys to keeping so many working parts all moving forward to create a wonderful show for the public

Show times for ‘Madagascar’ will be 7 p.m., July 20, 21, and 22, with an additional 2 p.m. matinee on July 22. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 and up. Doors open a half hour prior to each performance. Tickets are available at HyVee and at stagedoorfd.org.

‘Madagascar’ is just the latest in a long series of performances to come from Stage Door Productions. In the early years, the group even did two shows each summer, eventually opting to concentrate on one ­ as they say ­ “really big show.”

“Since the inception of Stage Door Productions in 2013, we have done now 12 youth summer productions,” said Bottorff, who also serves as executive director of the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association. “We held an online talent review during COVID in 2020. We have produced nine small cast musical productions, and 11 cabaret shows featuring local performers of all ages and experience.” Bottorff is impressed with the team bringing ‘Madagascar’ to the stage this summer.

“I would argue that we have the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to our creative team,” she said. “Alyssa Sparks, at the head, does an amazing job keeping everything in line, handling the production schedules and managing the rest of the team.”

Sparks, an experienced director, is just one member of the team coordinating the various talent of some 80 kids on one stage.

“We couldn’t do this without Megan Cassady. She has a way with the kids that makes them feel confident on stage. And, man, they sing their little hearts out. Emily Eastwood, is another huge asset. She is organized and always finds a way to include all abilities when it comes to choreography.”

While youth is always the focus of Stage Door Productions, the organization has also branched out into cabaret shows that bring people of many ages together on stage. The next cabaret show is planned for Nov. 16 -17.

“These cabaret shows are a way of exposing the community to new musical theater numbers, as well as classic favorites performed by a variety of different community members,” Bottorff said. “We have had lawyers, bankers, teachers, singers, actors, from 5 years old to 80 years old, participate in the cabaret productions. It’s a great way for people to share their talents but without the commitment required when putting together a full-scale production.” The numbers of community members involved in both sides of the Stage Door performances is impressive.

“We have had over 150 people participate in the cabaret shows,” Bottorff said. “We have had approximately 75 people participate in our adult, small cast musicals. We have had over 500 youth, ages 6 to 17, participate in our summer musical theater productions.”

Bottorff is extremely grateful to all that have given their support to Stage Door Productions over the last decade. From volunteers and parents, to the kids themselves, none of it would happen without some generous support.

“Shows like this cost money,” Bottorff said. “We spend roughly $25,000 creating these experiences.”

The payoff comes in giving kids a safe way to spend time together, to give them goals and positive experiences, to help them become the responsible citizens needed for the future.

To learn more about Stage Door Productions, visit stagedoordf.org. Bottorff can also be reached directly at fdfinearts@gmail.com.

Fort Dodge Middle School

July 20th – 7pm • July 21st – 7 pm

July 22nd 2pm and 7pm

Doors open a half hour prior to the show.

$5 for anyone ages 5 and Up

$15 for adults

Tickets are available at HyVee in Fort Dodge

online at www.stagedoorfd.org