Special Sections

April 2, 2020 • News Graphic & Daily News • Exploring the Arts • 7 This year, four scholarships will be given out. "It's very important for young students to see a story come to life," said Kramer. "It's a great literacy connection." The theater provides teacher resources on its website at www.wbchildrenstheatre.com to help navigate stories. WBCT wanted to make the materials readily available to fi t a teacher's busy schedule who may not have time to research each show. Show selection is completed by the WBCT board every year, which researches what shows are available and can be put together in their time frame. Shows must be entertaining for student-aged children, be 90 minutes or under in length, provide an opportunity for cast members of all ages and have a storyline with a theme. This year's selection was Seussical the Musical. "It also has great themes, there's loyalty, friendship, community and imagination within that story, so there should be an important message that can be the takeaway for the students," said Kramer. "We have 32 on cast and many for crew volunteers that make this show possible and mission is to provide a quality live theater experience for local boys and girls," said Kramer. Crew members build scenery, select costumes, make seating charts, handle sound and light design, market, design programs and serve as ushers. Auditions begin in January and the cast is selected the following week. Read-throughs begin in late winter and rehearsals increase as WBCT approaches showtime. The all-volunteer cast is made up of residents from West Bend, Kewaskum, Slinger, Cedarburg and Menomonee Falls. Their ages range from elementary students to high school students to adults. Kramer hopes that when young people see someone perform on stage, they may also become interested in one day performing. "The students are there to learn something whether it's about the storyline or Dr. Seuss or the literacy connection, or just to have fun," said Kramer. "That also applies for the cast and the crew. They do it because it's fun and it provides a service." West Bend Children's Theatre story continued from page 6. How to create an eye-catching gallery wall METRO — Gallery walls, also called moment walls, are one of today's hottest home decor trends. Gallery walls enable homeowners to create visually appealing groupings of photos, frames, wall art, and much more to dress up any room in the house. Gallery walls can make a statement in the living room, add fi nesse to an entryway or showcase special items along a staircase. Anyone with a little determination can design a gallery wall. • Find your muse. The fi rst step to creating a gallery wall is to choose a theme. If fl oral prints are your thing or you love abstract art, build your gallery around these elements. You can even use color or frame style as the coordinating factor. • Take your time. Some people rush into creating gallery walls, and that can be a mistake. Spend time picking out pieces and trying diff erent combinations before you take out the hammer and hardware. The mix should be captivating and look like it was a curated collection. Some pieces can be high-end, while others may be picked up at fl ea markets or even be your own artwork or photography. • Experiment with dimensions and levels. Gallery walls need not be restricted to fl at photos on a wall. Texture and depth can be used in wall designs. Intersperse shelving, sconces, wooden letters, clocks, and more to make the gallery even more eclectic. Feel free to build the gallery around items that are in the house, such as windows or televisions. This can help electronics blend into the design. • Establish your focal point. Pottery Barn suggests making the center of the display at eye level, roughly 66 inches off the ground. Then build the gallery out from around that focal point. There are many patterns that can be built into the gallery, from "spiral" to "centered" to "refl ection" designs. • Create a template. Lay the gallery design on the fl oor and cut newspapers or other paper to the size of each piece. Use masking tape to position these guides on the wall, trying a few arrangements until you are happy with the fi nished product. Then replace the paper with the artwork. • Hang items with precision. Don't skimp on technique. Use a ruler, level and the right tools. This ensures pieces are straight and in line with others. Gone are the days when large pieces of artwork fi ll empty walls. Gallery designs add statements and can balance rooms in creative ways. One need only do a quick internet search or browse through lifestyle magazines or Pintrest to see examples of gallery walls for inspiration.

• Cover