Nearly 50 students are being mentored in the art of theater, the objective of the classes offered each year by the Butler Little Theatre.

Three different age groups have been meeting on stage and off about various aspects of theater. Some students come with no knowledge while others are attending the classes to sharpen their skills.

Emily Cook, 17, of Adams Township is one of the older girls in the seventh through 12th grade group under the direction of Rikki Stupka.

“I decided to take the class purely because I just wanted more theater experience and because I enjoy acting,” Emily said.

She has enjoyed the experience of learning how to adopt different mannerisms, which is crucial to the course’s final production, “Geoffrey Chaucer’s Flying Circus” which is being performed on Wednesday.

But for her, the practical information offered has been the most beneficial.

“One of the most helpful things that the class taught me was how to write a theater resume and how to find agents,” she said.

“Before this, I’ve never really had someone sit me down and tell me about more of the practical stuff that needs to be taken care of in order to act. That was incredibly helpful, and it makes the whole process seem a lot less imposing.”

The teacher, Rikki Stupka of Butler, holds a degree in theater and in secondary education so this class is a natural fit for her. She’s also done her share of acting on the BLT stage.

“I began as an assistant teacher when I was in college and have been the head teacher for four years,” Stupka said.

Her class time has been spent teaching students warm up exercises, improv games, and how to write theatrical resumes and give a great audition.

“Students each chose a monologue to memorize, work on and perform. They then auditioned for me and three other adults with a lot of theater experience,” she said. “It never ceases to amaze me the amount of talent that can be found in our little city.”

Emily’s mom, Heidi was supportive of her daughter’s desire to enroll in the class, and she said she is happy with the results.

“I think the class gives students a wonderful exposure to a small and quaint theater house while receiving acting instruction from an experienced teacher and thespian. The students learn to work together on their performance skills as they prepare for their play production,” she said.

Tammy Whitmire of Center Township said her daughter Kara, 13, has had a good experience in class.

“Kara has been dealing with post concussion syndrome for months. The class has been a type of therapy for her,” Whitmire said. “Memorizing a monologue, then lines for the play has stretched her memory skills and focus. She’s grown in her confidence and abilities.”

Alison Carey of Butler, who is also a teacher by day, and Becky Plymale, also a certified teacher, are instructing the fifth and sixth grade class comprised of 19 students.

Carey’s first experience with the classes at the BLT was as a student in 1982 and she thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

“We are producing three short plays: ‘Love That Turnip,’ a comedy about a group of kids who are the biggest vegetable haters in the USA. ‘Murder on the Orient Express Subway,’ which is a (variation) of Agatha Christie mysteries and ‘The Lady Wore Pants!’ which is a historical play about Mary Walker, the second female physician in the United States,” she said.

Heading up the younger group of third and fourth graders is Amy Cannard Bole of Butler Township, who has been involved with the program for more than 15 years.

“I have the first-timers so we cover all of the beginning terms, introduction to stage work and basic theater etiquette,” Bole said.

Her class is performing two short works, “Trapped,” about seven people stuck in an elevator and “Henny Penny,” the classic the sky is falling tale.

With decades of background in theater, Bole still experiences herself one of the biggest issues she teaches the students about.

“The biggest lesson for the newcomers is getting over that first hint of stage-fright. I’ve been active in local theater for over 45 years and I still feel it myself when the curtain goes up,” she said, noting that getting the students to project their voices while not just yelling is sometimes difficult.

“Each year I am amazed by their energy and imaginations … and that I can still keep up!” she said.

While the final productions are open to the public, the theater seating preference is for family and friends of the performers.

Students who wish to try out for a full-scale production can audition for the summer youth production, “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe,” as dramatized by Joseph Robinette from the story by C.S. Lewis.

Auditions for youth ages 8 to 22 will be at 2:30 p.m. June 2 and 3 at the BLT site at One Howard St.

Program director Bob Snodgrass and student director Joey Hertzog will lead the production.

Show dates are July 26 to 29.

For more information, visit www.bltgroup.org.