BAMtheatre grew from backyard players to the western suburbs’ premier youth theater

By Maureen Callahan

It’s not often a childhood dream becomes a reality, or a hobby becomes a career. But it is possible. Just ask Melanie Lamoureux, founder and Artistic Director of BAMtheatre, the western suburbs’ award-winning and nationally recognized educational theater program. 

It all started 25 years ago with a production of Annie in a backyard theatre. Hinsdale Middle School eighth grader, Melanie, along with friends Becky and Allie, were three schoolmates who loved theatre. They gathered their friends and younger siblings and put on a play. They called themselves BAM, as it was an acronym of the first initial of each of their names. “My dad came up with the idea and suggested the name,” said Lamoureux. Becky and Allie eventually pursued other paths, but the moniker stuck.

The title is indicative of the wide range of exciting opportunities offered by the group, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Regardless of a student’s age or grade level, BAMtheatre has something to suit their interest in the performing arts. Whether a child just wants to try theatre or is looking for more advanced, rigorous training, they’ll find the door wide open and a warm welcome before them. “Our community refers to ourselves as ‘The Bamily,’ Lamoureux said with a chuckle. “And it’s true. We’re a big BAM family because our students know they have a place to belong and can be themselves.” 

“For the longest time, BAMtheatre was just a summer thing,” said Lamoureux. “We did one show in the summer, and then one show became two. Then we added a summer camp, which turned into three summer camps.” These days, young performers can keep busy all summer with more than 20 different programs BAMtheatre has to offer. And that’s just summer. About 8 years ago, the theatre group began year-round programming.

Seussical brought out the performers’ whimsical side.

The enterprise has grown leaps and bounds since then. “Currently, we have about 3,000 students who participate in the program annually,” said Lamoureux.

Every year, BAMtheatre produces 10-12 musicals in-house. To be part of the show, you need only sign up. Auditions are then held within the pool of actors for role distribution. Full-scale productions are divided by grade level – kindergarten through second grade, third through sixth grade, and seventh grade through high school, with the average show featuring around 40-50 student performers.

When choosing the next production, shows with opportunities for a large chorus to accommodate many actors tend to win. “We look to our student base and take their interests into consideration when deciding on the next production,” said Lamoureux. 

BAMtheatre offers students a wide range of opportunities that cover all spectrums of theatre, from private or small group – around 4-10 students – dance, voice, and acting classes to full-scale productions. According to Lamoureux, enrolling in a class can be a good introduction to the theatre company.

The Conservatory Ensemble is BAMtheatre’s three-level competitive training program that competes around the country. It’s geared toward more serious students, some of whom go on to pursue careers in musical theatre. The Preparatory Ensemble (grades 2-6) recently returned from the National Theater Experience in Louisville. The middle school group attended the Junior Theater Festival this past January in Sacramento. The high school cohort competed in a similar event for their level in Atlanta, as well.

These are the ones you might see on Broadway in years to come. For example, BAMtheatre graduate and Chicago resident, Ariana Burks, who made her Great White Way debut this spring in Real Women Have Curves. But, as Lamoureux knows, “just as inspiring as those who make a career of the performing arts are the countless BAMtheatre alums who pursue diverse paths and thrive – whether in law, education, or another field. A strong creative education doesn’t just shape great performers, it cultivates confident, expressive individuals who are able to use their voices to achieve incredible things in their chosen industries.”

But not everyone wants to be in the spotlight. Those who prefer not to be onstage are welcome in the Crew Club, which focuses on the technical side of the theatre and serves as the backstage hands during performances.

That’s the thing about BAMtheatre – any student can find a place to belong here. The benefits of teaching a child stage presence go far beyond elementary and high school level performances. Players learn responsibility and gain oratory experience that will serve them well throughout life.

BAMtheatre mom, Alice Locatelli, knows that “the skills kids gain at BAM are lifelong lessons in confidence, kindness, and self-awareness. Not all students will go on to perform professionally, but almost everyone will, at some point in life, be asked to speak on a stage or present to a group. A program like this will give them that experience.”

Locatelli’s daughter, Dana, has appeared in more than 25 BAMtheatre shows. “One thing that impresses me about this organization is their constant desire to improve,” said Locatelli. “Every year, we see little improvements that make the program better. One year, it’s new costumes, lighting, or set design, and the next, it’s a new class offering or childcare option for between programs. They’re never satisfied to just sit back and do what they did the year before.”

The chorus Let it Go in Frozen.

The organization also supports the arts in education through partnerships with about 20-30 schools in the western suburbs – a newer arm of the association of which Lamoureux is particularly proud. “We’re happy to be able to bring the opportunity of musical theatre to these schools,” she said.

BAMtheatre is always looking to grow and build its programs – another reason for its level of success. The latest endeavor is the build-out of their own 200-seat theatre space! The group is thrilled to have moved to its own permanent brick-and-mortar location at 520 North Cass Avenue in Westmont.

As for the not-as-near future, Lamoureux said she would love to see the group start a professional theatre company – an area for which opportunities are few in the western suburbs. “It would also be something for our students to work toward,” she knows. At the rate this group accomplishes, it’s likely not too far down in the playbill.

For information on upcoming performances, camps, and classes, visit BAMtheatre.com.