Teen smitten by acting bug donates to community theater after winning Shark Tub pitch
DEERSVILLE ? A student at Claymont High School has donated the profits from a Junior Achievement business he helped run to the Deersville Community Theatre, a place that has played a major part in his life for the last nine years.
Zane Kuczirka, 16, son of Michelle and Pete Kuczirka of Uhrichsville, made the $300 donation at the end of the run of "Charlotte's Web" on June 9. He had played a sheep in that musical production.
"It was suggested I make a donation by both my mom and my dad," Zane said. "And I figured since I've been here for so long, I may as well donate to something that I've donated my time and effort to, to make sure that this theater can be the best theater that it can be."
Information on the company
Zane, who will be junior this fall, started the Junior Achievement business late last year with three other Claymont students. The business was known as Age Well. "We made it to instill healthy habits to people 40 to 50 and over as they age," said Zane, who serves as the company's chief marketing officer.
More on Age Well: Senior spotlight: Claymont's Ellie Baker served as CEO of her own company in high school
The company sold a kit that included a curriculum booklet, a pack of playing cards, 25 challenge cards, a magnifying card and a timer with battery. The items were designed to help in the five areas of wellness they had identified ? physical, nutritional, social/emotional, mental and financial.
In April, Age Well competed in the second annual Shark Tub pitch competition at Buckeye Career Center. A total of 12 companies competed in this competition to support small businesses. Age Well came in first, winning a $5,000 prize.
The company is still selling its kits on its website, agewellja.com.
Love of the theater
Zane began his theater career at age 9, playing one of the lead roles in the musical "Mary Poppins Jr." He has appeared in numerous other shows at Deersville, as well as some at Claymont High School and one at the Little Theatre in New Philadelphia.
He said he thoroughly enjoys appearing on stage.
"Just the ability to be as dramatic as possible without getting any weird looks or murmurs from across the room. Be as dramatic as I want without any repercussion," he explained.
His plans after high school are unclear. "I'm still trying to figure that out myself," he said.
Money for the kitchen
Marsha Dodds, the theater group's president, said his donation will likely be used in the theater's kitchen. The group serves a meal before every show in the basement of the century-old building which is part of the Deersville Historic District.
"Our kitchen's kind of always the last thing that gets attention from us because we have so many other things, lighting and sound, money for copyrights and all of those kinds of things, costuming," she said. "Costs are endless when you're doing something like this. We certainly appreciate people coming in for our dinners, but we need a few basic things in our kitchen. We think that might be a good place to put that $300 donation."
The theater itself has gone through some recent upgrades. New sidings and gutters were installed on the building, thanks to a $60,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded through Harrison County. The work was completed the morning of June 6 ? hours before "Charlotte's Web" premiered.
Dodds said she enjoys working with Zane at the Deersville Community Theatre.
"If all the kids in the theater were as easy to work with as Zane, it would be a wonderful place to be. And it is a wonderful place to be. But I've enjoyed watching him grow up here. He's turned out to be a wonderful young man. He's always an asset. Any show that he's in, I know that I can count on Zane. He will learn his lines, learn his songs, usually before the majority of the rest of the cast. He's quick, fun to be around. Everyone loves Zane," she said.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Claymont student donates to theater after winning Shark Tub pitch