Kids In Action
inspiration for creative youth

On Monday June 2nd at 7:30 at the Magicopolis Theater in Santa Monica, an extraordinary group of twenty young artists performed "VIVIMUS Said the Storyteller".  The performance was a sound conclusion to a intense workshop that these kids, ages 8-16, had just completed.  The workshop, run by Nathalie Gaulthier, founder of Kids-In-Action and Gaulthier Artists Inc, provides young actors with an outlet and means to practice their newfound talents.  Kids-In-Action was founded by Gaulthier in 1984, when she was just fifteen years of age.  However, because of her vision and motivation, Kids-In-Action is now a driving force in the lives of dozens of young actors.  The workshop not only spurs confidence in the young children it touched, but it has also been a main contributor in  launching several of today's successful young actors.

Taking monologues and comedy sketches, and combining them with the raw talent of the young stars, Gaulthier created a performance that allowed each child to show his/her strongest attributes.  Joined by Cirque Du Soleil's Erin Elliot and Japan's famous trapeze/aerial act "Legendair", the performance was an exhilarating spectacle, that also provided inspirational messages about life lessons on family, friendship, and individuality.

Nathalie says KIA creates a "family" for creative kids through the use of intensive acting, comedy, and "real life" original plays. KIA inspires kids to believe in themselves, and become powerful young performers and individuals. Kids take part in classes that cover real life inspiring stories (like ones from "Chicken Soup for the Kids/Teen Soul"), acting them out, drama, improvisation, film/TV acting, portraying difficult characters (like kids with special needs), "Cirque Du Soleil" style clowning, mask work, public speaking, folk-rock singing and presenting themselves with confidence.

Nathalie believes that all KIA kids make an impression, and here's what some KIA kids think about the program and what they have learned...

By Haylie C. KIA is a place were people can come in and just be, be them! Everyone will except everyone, and we do our best to avoid gossip, or anything like that. Everybody's ideas are excepted and no one is left out or put down. KIA helps kids sortout real life problems and halps you express your emotions. I remember one class where almost everyone was balling and telling some of thier most kept secrets. I call it the " Kids in Emotion Day."it was nice because everyone got to feel free, like, they just could be themselves now because everyone knew how thay felt and there were no bad feelings or doubts. KIA has become very special to me over the last two years. It gave so much confidence to so many people and being with people that love you for the way you REALLY are make you feel so good. KIA is a family, not a fake family, its a place where everyone loves you and it has been so helpful to me. It gave me the great abilities and so much more acceptance. People really unerstand me because I understand them. KIA can give anybody what it has given my. I love KIA. And I am not being cheasy. There are so many reasons that I stick with KIA. Partly because of Nathalie. She is so crazy and she knows what i like and We relate very well. She is so funny and we respect each other so much. vShe is like my best friend. KIA ia so valuble to me and I would not leave it for a gazilion dollars. Every time Iwalk into the KIA studio I feel good. I feel great inside.... I feel .... accepted. Alot of people in my school don't like me because I am kind of hyper, but KIA is not in any waqy like THAT. Nat is so hilarious. She once volunteered to do a donkey part for us, and she was a laughing and farting donkey, that charater was totally made by her, alone. She is creative and very loving. She senses when you are sad and she will help you fix problems. She is really, REALLY awsome. (accept at the opening of shows). She gets a little stressed sometimes.

By Bella H. KIA is not just an acting program. It's like a second home, a place where friends surround you. Everyone is like a brother or a sister. (And Nat is the mom). A place where work is fun, and hope and love is in everyone. I will keep doing KIA for as long as I can because it gives me a place to express my feelings, (and sometimes get rid of them). Nat is so crazy and wild. She helps me think and see what I am doing wrong. We're not all perfect and she helps us see that. KIA has made a big difference to my character and to me. KIA has changed everyone's character just a little, and has helped everyone get through life as a kid.

By Layla B. KIA for me has been my other family. When I first started there was only seven of us so we were all really close. I remember in the first class, Nat had us walk around staring into each others' eyes. That in itself was intense, we were bonded from that moment on. And even the kids that only came for a week or two felt like I was close to them. KIA was not the first acting class I have taken, but it was the first class that made me feel like I was important. It made me feel like I had talent, and for the first time, I was secure in my talent. This is not to say that I'm the best and that I don't need more work. All it means is that I am secure in the place I am at now and am excited about where I can go from here. Working with Nat is like working with an extremely, extremely wise seven and a half year-old. She has a child-like quality about her that always makes me smile. She is not afraid to look stupid, but she can also be serious. She has so much wisdom and she always shares what is going on in her life and listens to our stories with a warm heart. Nathalie Gaultier is a woman I consider to be one of my best friends and I don't know where I would be without her.

By Lora H. What is KIA? KIA is a safe place where us kids can go and really express our feelings. KIA is a huge family where we all love each other tremendously! KIA is a place where we can come if we've had an awful week and just need to cry. KIA is a place filled with people who love and care about each other. KIA has done so much for me as a person and as an actress. Before I joined KIA about a year ago I had only done musical theatre. All of the people I've done shows with have never cared this much about me. When I came to KIA I thought it would be the same, but I was completely wrong. KIA isn't just a place where we put on a show, it has become a place where we truly love and care about each other. And I don't know what I would do without it. A huge part of KIA is our director Nathalie, she is such a spazz. Nat comes to class looking like she just got our of bed sometimes, and is so funny. Any time I have a problems with something she always knows what to say to cheer me up. Nathalie has given so much to us and I don't know what we would have done without her. I have stayed with KIA because I never found an acting class like this, and it has improved my acting 100%. I love the people in it and I love KIA.