Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

In a concrete building tucked away on Everette Street in Ahoskie, students gather for rehearsals. Script in hand, they study their lines. They quickly hop on and off stage for each scene. The director nearby keeps everything running smoothly.

These are the Freedom Players, a local youth theater group getting ready for their upcoming performances of “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Great Gatsby.”

The group is an offshoot of The Cultivator, a local nonprofit focused on supporting literacy, which was founded by Como native Caroline Stephenson. Their first performance was “The Wizard of Oz” in summer 2023, and they’ve continued since then with renditions of “The Addams Family,” “The Outsiders,” “Matilda,” and “Willy Wonka.”

“The kids love it here. It’s their safe space, their creative space,” Stephenson said. “It’s really a chance for the kids who would never normally interact with each other to be together.”

The program is open to students ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. The diverse group is made of kids and teens of all races from Hertford, Bertie, Northampton, and Gates counties who attend public school, private school, or homeschool.

“I think our shows should mirror the area we live in,” Stephenson said about the demographics.

“Everybody is working together, and there’s no animosity between them,” added Amanda Lashbrook-Hoggard, a parent who volunteers with the theater group.

Stephenson and Lashbrook-Hoggard both noted that the program is a great opportunity for extracurricular activity, especially for kids who aren’t interested in sports or band.

“This is definitely a great outlet for them. And it helps them to be with other likeminded peers,” Lashbrook-Hoggard explained.

Though the camaraderie of performing together is a big advantage for the student actors, it’s not the only way they benefit from participation. Stephenson explained that reading and memorizing their scripts helps develop literacy skills and encourages them to pay attention. They also get experience in public speaking by performing on stage in front of a crowd of people.

While they usually choose to put on musicals, Stephenson said they also try to do one play a year, which is a little more difficult, but it provides them with a different kind of performing experience.

Stephenson said they picked “Charlotte’s Web” (mainly for the younger participants) and “The Great Gatsby” (for the older ones) because they’re both books that students read in school. Getting to portray the characters gives them an opportunity to better understand the stories.

Lucye Kunstler and Marissa “Bird” Lashbrook are two of the performers in “The Great Gatsby,” playing Jordan Baker and Daisy Buchanan, respectively. They’ve been doing theater performances for years, and have been with the Freedom Players since its inception, but said their upcoming show is a bit more challenging than usual but still fun.

“The characters are pretty complex, so it’s hard to get a good grasp on them yet,” said Lashbrook.

Kunstler said that everyone really starts to get a better feel for the show and characters once they get their costumes.

For students who are interested in pursuing the arts, the Freedom Players provide local opportunities for them that they may not have otherwise, and it’s a good resume-builder for future auditions. Stephenson credited her own theater experiences as a kid – at Chowan University and The Gallery Theatre – as part of her inspiration to pursue a career in filmmaking. And it also had a positive impact on her mental health growing up too.

“As a teenager here, it completely saved my life,” she said.

Allie Dye, a volunteer who is directing “Charlotte’s Web,” said the program gives students a place to fit in even if they feel excluded elsewhere.

“It feels safe, inclusive, and a great place for them to grow and learn,” she explained.

Many of the student actors said they get excited and nervous about performing on stage.

Kyleigh Tyree, who’s portraying Wilbur in “Charlotte’s Web,” said she’s used to being a little nervous about performing now, after participating in previous shows. But it’s also a lot of fun, which is why she’s continued to come back again and again.

“I’ve definitely improved with my acting,” said Aubrey Linzy, who’s playing Fern in “Charlotte’s Web.”

Linzy’s favorite part is being on stage, explaining, “I have the opposite of stage fright.”

Jayden Hall has done mainly comedic roles in previous shows, but he said he’d also like to try something new in the future. He also said he just wants to have fun and make more friends.

Mia Jimenez’s first show was “Willy Wonka,” which involved a lot of singing and dancing, so she said “Charlotte’s Web” has been more challenging because it’s dialogue only.

“It’s fun but a little bit scary,” she admitted.

Kunstler and Lashbrook both said they really enjoy getting to play different characters that they wouldn’t have the chance to do otherwise. And they’ve seen the benefits of being a part of the group firsthand.

“You learn how to interact with all different kinds of people, and I think that’s really important,” Kunstler said.

The group performs their shows at the Ahoskie Elementary School auditorium, and Stephenson said she’s grateful for the partnership with the school district to use the facility. Another big partnership is with Hope’s School of Dance, where owner Hope Miller provides choreography for the shows.

The program, which is free for the students, operates through fundraisers and generous donations. Stephenson said she appreciates the community support, and encourages more people to come out to see the shows.

“This definitely allows our kids to showcase their talents and take the world by surprise,” said Lashbrook-Hoggard, adding that she always feels a sense of pride seeing them on stage.

“It’s honestly an honor to get to work with these kids,” added Dye. “It’s been really fun to see them bring it to life and bring their own personalities to it as well.”

Stephenson said they ultimately just wanted the kids to have a chance to shine.

The Freedom Players get the opportunity to do just that under the stage lights of each performance.

For more information about the program, visit thecultivator.org or their Facebook page. Past performances of their shows are also available on the Cultivator’s YouTube channel.