KANSAS CITY — A ferocious wolf creeps toward the home of an oblivious Big Pig. Though she pretends not to hear the kids’ cries of concern, the actress’ heart fills with emotion, moved by the audience’s show of energy. With their shouts crescendoing into a roar, she disappears off-stage, leaving an aura of suspense in her wake. So intensifies the conflict of “The Three Little Pigs,” brought to life by the Theatre for Young America production team.

Since 1974, the Theatre for Young America has put on theater shows for youth. Located at City Stage Theatre in Kansas City’s Union Square, the production holds a unique home in the center of bustling Kansas City. For the company’s fiftieth anniversary, they decided to bring back their most iconic shows, with the cast currently preparing for their “Goldilocks & the Three Bears” run from April 9 to May 4. 

“We do shows for children and families, and we really believe in literacy,” Artistic Director Valerie Mackey said. “We try to hook it with books that the kids read in schools. We tell the stories honestly and we try to promote connection, love and peace, especially in a world that doesn’t always reflect that. If we start at the beginning about collaboration, cooperation and mutual respect, I feel that builds students up.”

Valerie, whose parents founded Theatre for Young America, has served as the Artistic Director for the nonprofit production group for the past 28 years. Under her leadership, the organization seeks to cultivate curiosity in the community. Not only does Theatre for Young America touch the hearts and minds of the youth, but it also fosters connection between the actors, brought together by a shared love for their craft.

Actress Amy Hurrelbrink has worked on many productions for the theater and organizes choreography for their current show. She recently performed the role of Big Pig in “The Three Little Pigs” and recalled thriving off the authentic responses from young viewers.

“A lot of our audiences may have never experienced theater before and they come in and they have such an honest reaction,” Hurrelbrink said. “As an actor, getting to experience that energy coming at you from kids seeing something new and exciting — it’s just so much fun to connect with that and share that experience.”

Beyond the entertainment factor, the cast emphasizes providing a learning experience in every performance. Each show concludes with a Q&A for the audience to ask about theater and beyond, with people from different walks of life gaining perspectives and insightful takeaways. 

“What’s special for me is the Q&A that we do after every show because we get to hear from the next generation, what questions they have about the world and about theater,” actor Zachary Hampton said. “Some of them are discovering theater for the first time ever, so they get to learn a lot while they’re here.”

From actors to students to volunteers, a deep-rooted commitment to their community unites all those connected to Theatre for Young America. While each cast member may cite a different reason for what makes the production so special — telling meaningful stories, touching the hearts of a new generation, creating an environment for all to enjoy — all these ideals and more converge to form the confluence of community that is Theatre for Young America.

As the production’s legacy achieves its half-century milestone, the crew hopes to continue their acting traditions and innovate towards what’s to come.

“In our fiftieth year, I’m of course looking towards the future,” Mackey said. “Because I’ve been the Artistic Director for 28 years, I’ve been looking at bringing in other people. I believe that we all should support each other in mutual respect, so I’m trying to find ways to lift people up into doing more.”