Six Innings Interview: Mental Well-Being Spotlight with MLB and Crisis Text Line
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the youth mental health issues “the defining public health crisis of our time.” Weeks later, Major League Baseball (MLB) launched their social responsibility platform, MLB Together (MLBTogether.com), which included the pillar of youth empowerment with a focus on mental health, wellness, bullying prevention, encouraging physical activity, […]
In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called the youth mental health issues “the defining public health crisis of our time.” Weeks later, Major League Baseball (MLB) launched their social responsibility platform, MLB Together (MLBTogether.com), which included the pillar of youth empowerment with a focus on mental health, wellness, bullying prevention, encouraging physical activity, and increasing access to baseball and softball, in addition to educational and workforce development support.
As a key aspect of their efforts, MLB established a partnership with Crisis Text Line, a free, 24/7, confidential mental health service by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need.
“Crisis Text Line has been an incredible partner with Major League Baseball,” said April Brown, MLB Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and Diversity. “In 2023, when we launched our mental health initiative as one of our core pillars under our social responsibility platform, we were still coming out of the tail end of the pandemic, and youth were very much suffering from anxiety and depression. Major League Baseball wants you to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others, and know it’s okay to ask for help and that those resources are there.”
As part of this partnership, anyone can text MLB to 741741and receive in-the-moment support from a live, trained volunteer Crisis Counselor who is supervised by one of Crisis Text Line’s mental health professional staff.
“The audience that MLB reaches is so far and wide, and it includes young players, professional players, parents, children, coaches, family members, everybody who loves baseball now has the opportunity to see that Crisis Text Line is a resource, number one. And number two, players are talking about their mental health and normalizing the conversation,” said Shairi Turner, MD, MPH, Chief Health Officer at Crisis Text Line.
As part of its ongoing commitment to mental well-being, Little League® International began sharing MLB and Crisis Text Line resources with its players and families in 2024, including those competing at the highest levels of the Little League International Tournament. During 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month, Brown and Dr. Turner sat down with Little League for a special “Six Innings Conversation” to talk about some of the important mental well-being issues that Little League parents, volunteers, and families should be aware of throughout the season.
First Inning: Why is it important for Little League families and players to focus on mental health and well-being?
Shairi R. Turner MD, MPH (ST): Well, we know already that there’s an important connection between youth sport and youth mental health and well-being, and from our perspective, sport really helps to create a positive, supportive environment and allows young players to build confidence, resilience, teamwork skills, all those important relationship skills that they can use both on and off the field. And then, when we, as adults, help to prioritize their mental health, our young athletes are better equipped to enjoy the game, to handle the challenges, and really hopefully grow into much more well-rounded individuals.
April Brown (AB): Focusing on mental health and well-being is incredibly important for Little League families and especially for players. What’s between our ears is just as important as what we use to hit the ball. It’s a part of our full well-being. Little League gives that opportunity for youth to be able to step on the field and play the sport that we all love, so we want to make sure our whole being is taken care of and that we build not just our physical muscles, but our mental acuity and our muscles around mental wellness and health.
Second Inning: What are some of the common struggles that children playing Little League can face?
AB: From a mental well-being standpoint, we know that when we’re playing our game, you have to be incredibly resilient. When you step up to the plate, many times you’re not going to hit that ball, and that can really affect a young person, especially as you’re learning the game. You love it and you’re learning it, but maybe you’re feeling that you’re not so good at it when you’re just starting out. That’s why it’s incredibly important for us to teach those skills to support our youth as they step up to the plate and to let them know that resiliency is a part of life. Stepping up to the plate is not just on the baseball field; it’s when you step into the classroom, it’s when you step on the school bus, when you step into your circle with your friends. Being able to take care of your wellness is an important part of that. And knowing that it’s okay when you feel stressed or anxious, or on days you might feel sad, and that you have the support you need to be able to talk about it.
ST: As a pediatrician and as the mom of two student athletes, who are now in college, I remember that critical time period between ages four and 16. They have all of the struggles that young people that age might be experiencing around stress and anxiety. But then you layer on this performance pressure, the fear of making mistakes, and the balance between school and sports activities. Sometimes these kids are leaving class early and have to make up that homework or exams. Then there is just the emotion and the management of the emotions around wins and losses. Sometimes they’re playing against friends, right? So, winning is a bit of a double-edged sword around their emotions. Then, of course, there’s oftentimes the coach and parent dynamic that exists; and sadly, bullying that happens on the playing field for these young people. These are challenges that can affect their long-term confidence and their enjoyment of the sport if they’re not supported by the adults who are around them.
Third Inning: What are some of those warning signs that parents and coaches should be on the lookout for?
ST: Because parents and coaches are first responders in these instances, they know these children, and they should always be on the lookout for those changes in behavior. And what can that look like? That can look like a withdrawal from the team or specific teammates. It can be a loss of interest in a loved sport. It can look like a self-initiated disruption of a routine. Kids get into a school-sport routine, and then suddenly they’re not really interested in following that routine any longer. They can have changes in their mood or behavior, or start to exhibit excess frustration or self-criticism, and self-doubt. I think the key to all of this is both awareness on the part of the adults in their life and then, that support should come early. We don’t want our young people to be in a full-blown crisis if we notice that something is not right. It’s another sort of “see something, say something” moment for coaches and parents to both be open and compassionate and have those conversations. Many times, these parents and coaches were former players, so they understand those stressors and can have those important and vulnerable conversations with young people. Always remember that it’s harder to initiate those conversations as a child or a young player, and as the adult, it’s sort of incumbent on us to step forward and check in and start those important conversations.
AB: When you see that the young person in your life has a sudden change, that all of a sudden something that they love, they don’t love anymore; or, they’re resistant now to go to practice for Little League; or they are putting up a fight to get out the house – those noticeable changes, that’s when you want to have an open conversation. You want to let them know they’re in a safe space and that anything they tell a trusted parent or adult coach is okay. And it’s okay to have these feelings, and it’s okay to feel like you might need some additional support from an adult.
Fourth Inning: How do you feel that social media can have an impact on the mental health and well-being of Little Leaguers?
AB: Recent studies have shown that social media is an integral part of a young person’s life. At least 95% of 13- through 17-year-olds are on social media at least three hours a day. And it’s over the three-hour mark where you actually increase your risk of having anxiety. When we’re talking about young people who play sports, comparing yourself to other athletes or to other events you see on social media can be very much part of your daily routine. We want to make sure that as adults, we’re helping our youth to really decipher what they’re taking in through social media and making sure that we even put some steps in to reduce it and incorporate other great things like going outside, social interaction with others (you know, face-to-face and not just through social media), and enjoying things like the sport of baseball and softball.
ST: We know social media is not going anywhere, and it’s up to us as adults to help create the parameters, the discernment. We know that social media can have both positive and negative impacts on mental well-being. We know that for some children, it really offers that opportunity for connection, for self-expression, and access to support for young people who might feel isolated. And again, it’s the boundaries around the platform, helping them to know how it feels when you have been on social media too long — What does your body feel like? Are you having headaches, or are you feeling anxious? Well, that means it’s time to go outside, get some fresh air. Go play with those friends who you’ve been communicating with. Research does show that teens, especially in that 13 to 17 age range, say that social media makes them feel more connected and involved in their friends’ lives. And, it’s especially true for student athletes because they spend so much time at school and then with their sport, they oftentimes miss the games and the sports of their friends. So, to be able to be a part of that, even tangentially, can create and maintain some important connections.
Fifth Inning: What has this partnership meant to both Major League Baseball and Crisis Text Line?
ST: Our partnership is just so cherished. We so value our MLB partnership because it allows us to have an inclusive response and ability to elevate the need for mental health resources, to decrease the stigma around mental health, and to encourage more people to seek help. We’ve come so far in this partnership and truly value everything that we do with MLB.
AB: Social isolation was the number one health cause declared by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2023, just a few weeks before we publicly launched this campaign. To have a partner like Crisis Text Line that provides a credible resource 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English and in Spanish, was incredibly integral to us rolling out our core pillar around mental wellness, especially for youth to know that this is at their fingertips. We’re meeting them where they are. In just two years, we’ve been able to see the incredible reach through our 30 clubs and our MLB platforms, and we’ve been able to utilize the power of our sport to get this message and this resource in front of families across the country.
Sixth Inning: How can a Little League player, family member, or volunteer take advantage of the resources that Crisis Text Line that offers with Major League Baseball, and when should they take advantage of those resources?
ST: At any time that they are feeling alone or feeling like they can’t handle what’s in front of them, they should reach out. The key is – whether it’s a player, a child, a family member, a parent, a coach, an administrator – to always remember that they’re not alone. That Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7, confidential mental health service, solely by text, available in English and in Spanish. Anyone can text MLB to 741741and receive in-the-moment support from a live, trained volunteer crisis counselor who is supervised by one of our mental health professional staff. You can be at a game or in the classroom or at home by yourself at night, and know that there is someone out there to help you.
It’s just invaluable because suicide can be a very impulsive act where someone feels like there’s no one here supporting them. And I would remind parents, coaches, and staff that asking a child about thoughts of death, dying, suicide, or hurting themselves is not going to cause that child to do that. There’s enough data out there to show that is not the case. But in those moments where you see a young person struggling, when you ask those questions, it’s much easier for a child to say yes than to bring those feelings to a trusted adult. And you don’t have to be a therapist to ask those questions because all you’re saying to this child, this young person, is that you’re not alone.
All they need to know is that they have Crisis Text Line on their phone, to text MLB to 741741, and someone will be there to help them work through whatever feels so insurmountable in that moment.
AB: What’s also incredibly important for us is the fact that the Crisis Text Line has a QR code that parents and young people can scan, and then you’re able to save that information right into your contacts. If you go to MLBTogether.com, you’ll see the QR code, scan it, and save it into your contacts. We’re talking to our youth across the country all the time, but when we’re talking to them, it might not be the moment when they need the support. But when that moment comes – when they are off with friends or something happens at school and they’re on their way home – maybe they can’t get to a parent or an adult to talk it out. Now they have it right there in their contacts and can remember to utilize it.
Major League Baseball wants you to be kind to yourself, to be kind to others, and know it’s okay to ask for help and that those resources are there. More and more, you’ll see our players stepping up and talking about their mental wellness and how they’re taking care of their mental health. Everyone is breaking down that stigma. We want our parents to know it’s okay to talk about it, and it’s okay as a parent and as an adult to need help. Crisis Text Line is also available to you. It’s not just for young people, it’s for all ages. So, at any time text MLB to 741741 and get connected.
To learn more about the Mental Well-Being resources available for parents, volunteers, and Little Leaguers®, visit LittleLeague.org/MentalHeath.
“I pushed my wife away, I pushed my kids away, I was a jerk” – Battier admits depression almost ruined his life after he retired from the NBA
“I pushed my wife away, I pushed my kids away, I was a jerk” – Battier admits depression almost ruined his life after he retired from the NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network. Basketball was everything to Shane Battier, and so when his career ended, Battier was lost. Although Shane had everything he needed to […]
“I pushed my wife away, I pushed my kids away, I was a jerk” – Battier admits depression almost ruined his life after he retired from the NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Basketball was everything to Shane Battier, and so when his career ended, Battier was lost. Although Shane had everything he needed to live comfortably for the rest of his life — money, fame, friends and family — not being part of a team and competing for a greater goal almost drove him crazy and ruined everything he had worked so hard for.
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It all began during his final year in the NBA when Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra started sitting him on the bench during the fourth quarter of games. In the 2014 Playoffs, Battier averaged just 2.3 points per game in 12.6 minutes of playing time. It was worse in the 2014 NBA Finals, where the former Blue Devil played just 33 minutes and scored only five points.
“Nothing was worse to me than sitting me in crunch time,” admitted Battier during an appearance on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast. “That was my identity. It hurt me to my core. That’s when I knew I was done. I was embarrassed, and I checked out. And so when I retired, I was very cynical. And I was so sad, but I was also very cynical.”
Shane struggled after retirement
And so, after being “told without being told” that the Heat’s best chances to win would be with him on the bench rather than on the court, Battier retired following Miami’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals. Immediately, he an offer from ESPN to be one of the network’s men’s college basketball analysts.
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Looking back, Shane says that was a big mistake.
Although the job was still about basketball, it wasn’t the one the 6’8″forward was used to and not the one he truly wanted. Without the passion for what he was doing, Battier struggled on TV and was criticized. Instead of finding the relevance and purpose that he was looking for in retirement, it only made his internal struggles worse to the point that they were starting to affect his personal relationships.
“I shut people out,” Shane continued. “I was probably battling depression. I didn’t know what depression was. I never had this feeling before. But feeling very isolated. I didn’t feel anyone understood what I was going through. I felt very alone, and I pushed people away. I pushed my wife away; I pushed my kids away. And I was just a jerk. And I wasn’t like doing destructive things, It wasn’t like I was drinking every night. But I was emotionally unavailable. And I was hurt, and I was pissed off. I had all these emotions I had never associated with basketball.”
Related: “God, if you let me get through this, I won’t play no more” – Larry Bird describes the moment that made him retire for good
Being part of a basketball team again
Shane quit ESPN towards the end of 2015, and over a year later, the Heat hired him as Director of Basketball Development and Analytics. Suddenly, with an opportunity to be part of a team — his former NBA team at that — and compete for a championship, even though in a different capacity, Battier started to find his way back before his depression destroyed his life.
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However, in a surprise move, the Birmingham native resigned last year and opted to take a non-basketball position as strategic assistant to Heat CEO and close friend Nick Arison. Shane and his family also left Florida to start a new life in Charlotte. However, it wasn’t because of anything negative; it was because Battier was ready to explore new things.
“There is so much in life to experience and try my hand at,” he said. “So many interesting people around the world. I’m so fascinated about learning. I turned 46, and I feel I have so much to learn and have so much to do in the world still. I needed to go out and explore, and meet and learn. I wanted to learn new industries. It sounds very strange because I love basketball. For me to be truly happy, that’s what I need to do.”
Aside from him and his wife Heidi running his “Battier Take Charge” foundation, Shane has been busy being a professional speaker, podcast host, and most importantly, a sports dad to 16-year-old Zeke, whom he enrolled at Charlotte’s Providence Day School and is now a 6’7″ promising talent. Shane’s 13-year-old daughter, Eloise, is also a youth soccer player in Charlotte, so it’s safe to say Battier has his life back and is living it to the fullest.
Related: “I would not be able to sleep” – Shane Battier calls out players in the NBA today for missing playoff games
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Tom Barnett Earns Wm. Thayer Tutt Award for His Passion and Dedication to Hockey
Tom Barnett’s love for hockey is infectious. Barnett is so passionate about the game that he wants to inspire kids throughout upstate New York to love hockey as much as he does. In 2001, Barnett created the Buffalo Shamrocks, a youth recreational hockey club. More than two decades later, the organization continues to thrive while […]
Barnett is so passionate about the game that he wants to inspire kids throughout upstate New York to love hockey as much as he does.
In 2001, Barnett created the Buffalo Shamrocks, a youth recreational hockey club. More than two decades later, the organization continues to thrive while focusing on its core values of sportsmanship, team play and personal responsibility.
Thanks to his tireless efforts, Barnett is being recognized with the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award, presented annually by USA Hockey to a volunteer, who, during many years of service, has displayed a selfless dedication to the enhancement of ice hockey at the grassroots level in America.
“When I get up on Saturday and Sunday morning to go to the rink and coach, I can’t get in my car fast enough,” Barnett said. “It’s the same exact feeling I had when I was 5 and I couldn’t wait to step onto that sheet of ice. This is such an organizational award and honors everyone who helped us. We have a lot of unbelievable coaches and people who believe in the program and their selflessness and commitment to our mission is incredible.”
The Wm. Thayer Tutt Award is the top volunteer honor awarded by USA Hockey each season. It is named in honor of the late Wm. Thayer Tutt, who served as president of USA Hockey from 1972 to 1986.
“With the help of wonderful people, I was able to start the Buffalo Shamrocks 25 years ago, and it has taken a lot of hard work, but in no way do you start a program to be recognized for this,” Barnett said. “It’s an amazing honor.”
Barnett created the Shamrocks due to his dissatisfaction with other programs in the area while his sons Oliver and Cloogie started playing the game. Barnett sought a more nurturing, positive hockey experience intended to keep kids involved in the game longer.
Barnett initially faced some criticism for starting his own organization, as detractors said it wouldn’t last long once Oliver and Cloogie aged out of the program. More than 15 years later, Barnett is still on the ice every week with the Shamrocks.
“I did this for the community,” Barnett said. “Now, everyone is trying to win the national championship when they’re 7 years old. That’s cool, but the Shamrocks have this unusual little world that is very much a throwback to what hockey always used to be. It took a lot of people and a lot of courage to take a leap of faith and say that they wanted to try something different.”
Tom Barnett instilled that lifelong passion of the game in his son Oliver.
“It was never about chasing anything,” Oliver Barnett said. “You just couldn’t wait to get to the rink and hang out with your buddies. We grew up with it, and to a large extent, it’s part of our identity.”
The Shamrocks started with 30 players in 2001. The program now features more than 300 players with a waiting list. There are eight different levels of play, including Learn to Skate all the way to Bantam, girls hockey, an eight-team in-house league and more.
Sportsmanship, team play, personal responsibility and positive attitudes are the only goals throughout the organization.
“When you’re not focused on winning, the winning takes care of itself,” Tom Barnett said. “We want to teach respect, making sure the locker room is clean, respecting the Zamboni driver, respecting teammates and coaches … we want the kids to come to the rink and just have a blast playing the game.”
This isn’t the first time Barnett and the Shamrocks have been recognized for their efforts. In 2009, Barnett and the entire organization earned the inaugural Mark Messier Youth Leadership Award. The award was created to reward youth hockey players or mentors for their leadership and contributions to youth sports and education.
The Shamrocks had a chance to spend the day with Messier during Game 3 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh’s old Civic Arena.
“We were very new, we were building and growing and when that happened, there was a sense that maybe something special was going on here,” Tom Barnett said. “Mark left an indelible mark on our program.”
In addition to founding the Shamrocks, Barnett is in the fashion business. He has owned a clothing store for more than 35 years and now has locations in Buffalo, Washington D.C. and Beverly Hills. Throughout the week, Barnett designs clothing, suits and more for clients, which has included Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, Tage Thompson, and other top players throughout the NHL.
On the weekends, Barnett is on the ice with the Shamrocks.
“I’ve been fortunate to revolve my life around the two things that I love to do, and that’s fashion and hockey,” Barnett said. “If you’re doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life, and it’s not work to me.”
Barnett’s dedication to hockey shines through, particularly when he’s on the rink at 6 a.m. on the weekends with the Learn to Skate Shamrocks. Barnett, who recently celebrated his 40th wedding anniversary, said his wife, Lisa, is the “glue” that holds it all together.
Barnett will ultimately receive the recognition for the Wm. Thayer Tutt Award, but he would rather spotlight the organization and what it took to reach this point.
“He’s driven and his passion is contagious,” Oliver Barnett said. “My dad is someone who leads by example and has time for everybody at the rink. He’s so detail-oriented, he takes so much pride in his work, and he takes care of everyone around him. You can feel it — you want to be around it and it’s certainly something that has led to success in anything he’s set out to accomplish.”
Gerold W. Finckler, born April 1st, 1932, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 2nd, 2025, at the age of 93. He was active in all sports in Superior, and even coached youth football, basketball, and baseball. He was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and loved golfing. He excelled at […]
Gerold W. Finckler, born April 1st, 1932, formerly of Superior, Wisconsin, passed away in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 2nd, 2025, at the age of 93. He was active in all sports in Superior, and even coached youth football, basketball, and baseball. He was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and loved golfing. He excelled at golf, achieving three holes-in-one. In Superior, he was a member of Central United Methodist Church.
Gerold worked for the Superior Refinery (Murphy Oil) in Superior and was transferred to El Dorado, Arkansas in 1977, where he and his wife, Dorothy, spent many happy years. Gerold started working for Murphy Oil in March 1962, and retired on October 31st, 1992 after serving 31 years with the company. In 2012, they moved to Broken Arrow, OK. He played a lot of golf and also did woodworking projects.
Gerold is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy, with whom he would have celebrated 72 years of marriage on June 4th. He is also survived by: his son, Gerold W. Finckler Jr. of Broken Arrow, OK; his daughter, Terri L. (Tom) Kaiser of Hayden, Idaho; sister, Delores Hintz; and grandchildren, Aaron and Amanda Kaiser; great grandchildren, Brett and Bailey Kaiser.
Gerold was preceded in death by: his parents, Frank and Gladys Finckler; and brothers, Charles and Elmer Finckler.
Gerold will be buried in Superior, Wisconsin at a later date. Moore Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com
Former Israeli national basketball player Yoav Raver dies in Gaza Strip – Israel Sports
The Israeli sports world mourned St. Sgt.-Maj.Yoav Raver on Friday, who fell in battle alongside three other IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip. The soldiers were clearing a building in Khan Yunis when a bomb detonated, causing a building to fall on them. The incident occurred at around 6 a.m. on Friday morning, the […]
The Israeli sports world mourned St. Sgt.-Maj.Yoav Raver on Friday, who fell in battle alongside three other IDF soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers were clearing a building in Khan Yunis when a bomb detonated, causing a building to fall on them. The incident occurred at around 6 a.m. on Friday morning, the IDF reported. Five additional soldiers were wounded in the incident, one of them is critically wounded.
Raver, 19, played for the Israeli national basketball team in his teenage years and left a considerable impact on the basketball association. He reportedly could have chosen to continue playing at a professional level, but instead chose to enlist in the IDF’s elite Yahalom unit as a combat engineer.
“The Israel Basketball Association mourns the untimely passing of Yoav Raver, a former member of the Israeli national team for [the] under 14 [team],” the organization said in a statement.
“Raver played in the youth department of Hapoel Kfar Saba and, beyond being an outstanding athlete, won all of us over with his unique and humble character. The Israel Basketball Association extends its condolences to the family.”
IDF soldiers Yoav Raver and Chen Gross fell in the Gaza Strip, June 2025. (credit: ILLUSTRATION)
‘A true hero with a captivating smile’
Raver’s home team, Hapoel Kfar Saba, said that its members were mourning the loss of their alumnus.
“The Hapoel Kfar Saba Basketball Club family announces with great sadness the fall of the club’s alumnus, Sgt.-Maj. Yoav Raver,” the team said in a statement.
“Yoav grew up with us at the basketball school and progressed through the youth department up to the senior youth team. We are shocked and in pain!”
In the same incident, Warr. Ofc. Chen Gross, 33, fell in battle. He was a super fan of the Maccabi Bnei Yehuda soccer team, and was remembered by the club as a “true hero.”
“The Maccabi Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv Football Club bows its head upon hearing of the fall of the team supporter, Staff Sergeant (Res.) Chen Gross, 33, from the Moshav Gan Yashiya, a fighter in the Commando Brigade’s Maglan Unit,” the statement said. “Chen was a man of the earth, a true hero with a captivating smile, and a dedicated soldier. All of us in the club send our condolences to the dear Gross family, many of whom are supporters of the team, and to all his relatives and friends.”
The names of the two other soldiers killed in battle were not cleared for publication.
The deaths of these four soldiers bring the total number of soldiers killed this week to eight.
Crystal Theatre welcomes local youth to stage | News, Sports, Jobs
CRYSTAL FALLS — School is out for summer and the Missoula Children’s Theatre is at the Crystal Theatre next week organizing a production of “Red Riding Hood.” Under the leadership of trained theatre majors, a five-day workshop Monday through Thursday will culminate in two performances, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 13, and 2 p.m. Saturday, […]
CRYSTAL FALLS — School is out for summer and the Missoula Children’s Theatre is at the Crystal Theatre next week organizing a production of “Red Riding Hood.”
Under the leadership of trained theatre majors, a five-day workshop Monday through Thursday will culminate in two performances, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 13, and 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14.
The free workshop is open to students who have completed first through 12th grades. In-person registration and casting of characters will begin at 10 a.m. Monday in Stage Left.
Rehearsals will be 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; actors are asked to bring their own lunch.
Crystal Theatre has provided this experience for area youth without fee since 2016.
Tour actors/directors for this production are Abigail Marine and Sarah Lindsay Merriman. A native of Oregon, Marine studied music education and opera at Portland State University. Her favorite stage credits include Princess Pamina in “The Magic Flute” and the Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella.” She made her stage debut at age 5 in an MCT production of “The Little Mermaid.”
Like her partner, Merriman is thrilled to be touring with the Missoula Children’s Theatre. A lover of mountains and the outdoors, she hails from Palmyra, Va., and recently graduated from Radford University with double majors in music and theatre.
Some of her favorite credits include Janet Van DeGraff in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” Cassandra in “The Trojan Women,” and The Little Fish in The “Rainbow Fish Musical.”
“Red Riding Hood” is adapted from the classic tale and musically arranged by Michael McGill, executive director of Missoula Children’s Theatre. Organized in 1970, the nation’s largest touring children’s theater company aspires to help children and adults develop lifelong skills while enriching communities worldwide.
“Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house she goes,” McGill says. “‘Red Riding Hood’ and her pals try to stay on the straight and narrow path. The Big Bad Wolf, who is not so bad after all, and a friendly Forest Ranger urge them along, for in the Shadows lurk diversions and a sinister surprise or two.”
McGill continues, “And we can’t have a wolf tale without Three Little Pigs and even a Boy Who Cries … you guessed it. With help from her family and a loyal young locksmith, Red finds her Grandma and a whole lot more.”
The audience is sure to find a basket-full of delightful entertainment. Tickets for the two performances are $10 for adults and $5 for children, sold only at the door. Actors in the production will receive two complimentary tickets for guests.
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Texas foster youth overcome obstacles to earn high school diplomas
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas foster care students are defying statistics with only 63% of foster youth graduating compared to the state average of 90%. “Actually I’m really proud because I didn’t, to this day I never thought I would actually walk the stage or make it with all the thoughts I had in my […]
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas foster care students are defying statistics with only 63% of foster youth graduating compared to the state average of 90%.
“Actually I’m really proud because I didn’t, to this day I never thought I would actually walk the stage or make it with all the thoughts I had in my mind,” said Cortney Cantu, one of a dozen foster care students celebrating their graduation.
Foster youth beat the odds, celebrate high school graduation
Cantu’s cap tells her story: “If you knew my story, you would be proud.”
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services hosted their annual graduates reception, honoring high school graduates from Nueces and Webb County who have overcome significant challenges in the foster care system.
“I was moving around a lot. Five different high schools… But out of everything I learned one thing, I learned that no matter how hard it gets, as long as I don’t give up, I can do it,” said Devlin De Santiago, another graduate being honored.
Tony Jaramillo
De Santiago says the hardships made him more resilient.
“Four months ago, I was like, this high school doesn’t want me in here. I just got out of CPS, I don’t have a lot of money in my pocket. But I did it anyways,” De Santiago said.
For these graduates, this is just the beginning. Texas covers tuition and fees at state colleges for former foster youth, even up to a law degree or medical degree, opening doors to higher education that might otherwise remain closed.
Cantu hasn’t chosen a major yet but is considering becoming a nail technician.
Tony Jaramillo
“I just can’t wait. I really can’t wait. I’m just glad I’m out and I just can’t wait to move on with my next chapter,” Cantu said.
De Santiago is exploring a career as a dialysis nurse.
“Anything you do in life later on is gonna be for you and for nobody else,” de Santiago said.
When KRIS6 News asked what message they would share with other foster youth who might be struggling, Cantu offered encouragement.
“I would say stay focused, and don’t worry about anybody else. Just worry about you. Fight, push,” Cantu said.
De Santiago’s advice was equally direct: “So don’t give up unless you want to fail yourself.”
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