sure," Sophia says. "I learn my lines by saying them when we practice, and I like acting because I can show what I can do. Sophia, who participates in soc- cer and takes ballet and voice lessons, hopes to keep theater as a hobby. As far as appearing with her brother, she sees two sides. "Sometimes it's fun, and some- times it's competition," she says. Sarah Kiperman, 11, a sixth- grader at Abbott Middle School in West Bloomfield, plays Angelina. She won the role after play director Master saw her perform with a new musical group, BEAKOE (see this week's AppleTree). "I think of theater as my way of relaxing," says Sarah, a singer and dancer who has performed at the Marquis Theatre in Northville, with Stagecrafters in Royal Oak and for Nancy Gurwin Productions at the Jewish Community Center. Sarah has been in The Music Man, Snow White and " The Wizard of Oz. think the moral of the Pinocchio story is important," Sarah says. "People have to know there are consequences for what they do." Also appearing in the production are Lindsay Acker of Huntington Woods, Lauren Gun of Bloomfield Village, Rachel Matz of West Bloomfield, Stephanie Moran of Beverly Hills and George Roberts of Birmingham. The adult staff includes Scott Aaronson of Southfield, assistant director, and Marty Mandelbaum of Berkley, musical director. ❑ Rick' s 11:14s Mosaic Youth Theatre founder Rick Sperling garners a prestigious award. ick Sperling emphatically expressed his commitment to stage productions by and for kids when he founded the Mosaic Youth Theatre in Detroit six years ago. Soon his vision will be recog- nized with one of the most prestigious honors in the state — a 1998 collaborates to write and produce the- ater pieces relevant to the age group of the performers, 12-17. "A lot of the things that are hap- pening were part of my dream, but I never thought they would happen so soon. We've built a solid presence in the community and developed the respect of the artistic community and the people who serve Rick Sperling, youths, particularly the right, and educators." members of the Sperling's troupe, Mosaic Youth which has been invited Theatre National to perform on stages Touring across the country and Company, meet also outside the U.S., is Vice President currently working on Al Gore following HeartBEAT, a story a recent Mosaic about love, hate and performance in rhythm told through Washington, music. Mosaic also has D.C. had interactive programs with other youth per- formers, including Governor's Award for Arts members of an Israeli dance company and Culture. touring the Midwest. Nine awards will be presented at a "Working with kids is quite gala ceremony and dinner Thursday, magical," says Sperling, a Detroit Nov. 19, at Henry Ford Museum in resident and Ann Arbor Temple Dearborn. This black-tie event serves Beth Emeth member. He finds that as the major annual fund-raiser for skills developed for theater impact ArtServe Michigan, which supports all areas of participants' lives and and advocates for the arts and cultural are of special importance to at-risk education in Michigan. youngsters. Taking theater seriously "It's pretty overwhelming," says requires group problem solving, Sperling, 32, whose troupe of 70 analysis, interpretation and adher- members is selected by audition and ence to deadlines, he says. Master Of The Souse Mitch Master brings his talents to Community House youth theater. P inocchio director Mitch Master, 31, has been artistic director of Sara Smith Productions for two years. The program was created by Smith, a California-based retiree who taught performing arts in the Detroit Public Schools for more than 30 years. She also was a director for Cranbrook Theatre for 16 years. Smith started the Popcorn Players Theatre Program at the Community House 11 years ago, and it has expanded with the program named in her honor. "Theater provides children with an escape from anxieties," says Master, who conducts Saturday morning act- ing and production classes for 7 to 12- year-olds. "They can forget about tests for a while and still learn the impor- tance of commitment, accountability and discipline. They also can learn how to memorize." The director has been interested in theater since he was a 9-year-old taking lessons and signing up for communi- ty productions. He went to arts camp in Canada and has a minor in theater from Grand Valley State University Master, formerly an assistant direc- tor for programs at Cranbrook, has performed in staged readings at the Birmingham Temple. "Young audiences can watch these plays and think that they can do the same thing," says Master, who has been a substitute teacher:at Kingswood and found acting to be a "I wish more people could see our rehearsals and how self-directed these youngsters are," says the Mosaic founder. "I think we're doing cutting- edge work, and the kids are motivat- ed, excited and talented. Sperling, who must raise funds from scratch each year to keep the troupe going, is working toward mak- ing some scholarships available for his group members. He hopes to interest a corporation or foundation in becoming a committed sponsor. While there is no specific date set, one of the exciting prospects facing Mosaic, which recently was given a Spirit of Detroit Award, is a booking at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In a world that often asks teenagers to slow down and be quiet, Sperling notes that theater asks them to use more energy and speak louder. "Theater is a good outlet for any emotions that they're feeling," he says. ❑ — Suzanne Chessler Mitch Master: Teaching kids about commit- ment, account- ability and discipline. personal -confidence builder. "Adults can see the possibilities of what their own kids can do." Master, whose Community House spring production will be Alice in Wonderland, is launching a new the- ater initiative. Working with the Village. Players of Birmingham, he is developing a program that will involve youngsters ages 12 and older. ❑ — Suzanne Chessler 11/13 199S Detroit Jewish News 1