Bay Area Children's Theatre Director Makes New Home in Orinda

Top schools were the reason Bay Area Children’s Theatre Executive Director Nina Meehan moved her family to Orinda in May of 2010.

“We had Toby, who’s now age three, and we started to look to his future,” Meehan said. She and her husband, Jim Meehan, are now expecting their second child in early June.

Sitting outside on a welcome, sunny day Meehan talked about her life and the work she treasures.

“Live theater is powerful," she said. "It teaches children empathy, creativity, and to pick up a book."

The BACT, founded in 2004 and until last year known as Active Arts Theatre, brings adaptations of children’s literature to the stage. The actors are all adults and the scripts deal with subjects children care about like family, friendship, and school.

“Most of the scripts tell the stories from a child’s perspective,” Meehan emphasized, “but they entertain adults as well.”

The current production, A Year With Frog and Toad, is based on a show written by Adrianne Lobel, daughter of the original book series’ author, Arnold Lobel. Robert Reale’s music earned the musical three Tony nominations and songs like “Toad Looks Funny in a Bathing Suit” give audiences young and old something to relate to as spring turns to summer.

For Meehan, who grew up in Berkeley reading Pippi Longstocking, Ramona Quimby and “everything written by Laura Ingalls Wilder,” it’s thrilling to see the effect the shows have on young people.

“Our outreach tour reaches audiences with the highest percentage of children who are seeing live theater for the first time," she said. "The energy is palpable!”

Although all of the main-stage performers are adults, the BACT offers classes and performance opportunities for children in both San Ramon and Berkeley. Meehan said she would welcome an opportunity to bring the programs to Lamorinda.

“The place where a child brings together theatre, imagination and literacy is a very special place," she said. "If I can make a child pick up a book after seeing one of our shows, I’ve done my work for the year.”