Jeana Womble has always believed that creativity, community and opportunity should be within reach for every child.

Now, her imaginative indoor playland and theater space is working to make that dream a reality for youth in Moffat County. 

Womble is the director of The Yampitheater Playhouse, which is located inside the Centennial Mall in Craig.

The board-run 509(a)(2) non-profit will be hosting a three-day theatrical event featuring nationally recognized ventriloquist Todd Oliver this week, marking a milestone for the business and the evolution of performing arts in Craig.

Womble’s journey toward building a youth-based performing arts scene in Northwest Colorado began long before she moved to the area nearly 18 years ago.

“I grew up in the suburbs in Arizona,” she said. “My husband and I met in college in marching band. I always loved all kinds of music, but especially singing.”

After majoring in recreation management and youth leadership, Womble moved to Craig in 2007 when her husband accepted a job at Memorial Regional Health. Over the years, she raised five children, became involved in Sweet Adelines International and eventually became a leader of the Yampa Valley Chorus, which has been renamed Bella Voce.

“We have since reformatted ourselves, rebranded and renamed ourselves,” she said. “We are now a commuter chorus that has members across eight states.”

Through this work, Womble developed a deep understanding of group performance, directing and the importance of providing meaningful cultural opportunities to communities.

“Culturally, performing arts and other opportunities for families and kids to gather in indoor spaces just didn’t happen,” she said.

Thus the playland and mini-theater inside the mall came to be. 

The 4,000-square-foot space features two-level pirate ships, castles, an old west jailhouse, a puppet theater and a magic wardrobe. Visitors are also greeted by vibrant murals, handcrafted puppets and spaces designed to spark the imagination when they step inside. Children can climb, act, sing and dream, all in a setting that encourages creativity and play.

“It’s been really, really fun to be there and to see that happening with the kids and families,” Womble said. “When the parents join in too, it’s extra awesome.”

Womble’s passion for an expansion of community-based performing arts is connected with her larger hopes for Craig’s future.

“We need to make this a place where people want to come,” she said. “I want Moffat County, and Craig itself, to be a place where families want to come and raise their children. We want to have the same opportunities here that there are elsewhere.”

Historically, Craig’s youth activities have centered heavily on 4-H, FFA and sports — traditions that Womble praises. But, she believes a vibrant performing arts scene is essential to diversifying opportunities and ensuring the community’s long-term growth.

“If we want people to want to come here, if we want new businesses to settle here, if we want a new economy to come and settle in Craig, we need to have these kinds of things to offer those families to make them want to stay here for their children,” she said.

Partnering with local organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado has helped widen the reach of Yampitheater Playhouse programs. A music programming grant the club received has allowed Womble and other instructors to provide free classes in vocals, music and movement for area youth.

“Our classes revolve around small group classes and we’ve been working on that format to make it successful where it’s not nearly as expensive as private lessons,” she said.

Those small group classes in guitar, piano and vocal performance are now regularly offered at the center.

Womble is also working to establish a scholarship fund to ensure that cost is never a barrier to participation. She also recently received another grant to support the scholarships.

“I want anybody who wants the opportunity to be able to get that opportunity,” she said.

Growing momentum has also led up to Womble’s first full-scale public performance featuring a series of shows with Todd Oliver.

“Todd Oliver has been doing this a long time,” she said. “He’s been on shows. He’s been on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and those sorts of things.”

Oliver’s act combines traditional ventriloquism with live animals including his talking dog, rabbit and bird, alongside audience participation that promises laughter for both youth and their parents. 

The performances will take place May 1–3 at Yampitheater Playhouse inside the Centennial Mall at 7 p.m. There will also be a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

“I think this is a very good first show to start here,” Womble said. “It’s perfect for the amphitheater and perfect for the community across all ages.”

Womble has worked hard to create a stage that, though modest in size, can support creative productions by fully utilizing the play structures and open spaces around it.

“We’ll be experimenting with that for all of our productions to be able to accommodate as many people and as many actors as we can,” she said. 

Womble hopes the Todd Oliver performances are only the beginning as this summer she plans to expand programming with theater workshops, additional music classes and a children’s production set to debut at Whittle the Wood in June

“Between the community support, the programs and the grants, I want the space to be able to pay for itself,” she said. “I’d like this to become a new part of the culture of the community where the rising generation gets that taste of performing arts and they’re able to grow up with it.”

For more information on Yampitheater Playhouse, or to purchase tickets to the Todd Oliver performances, please visit YampiTheaterPlayhouse.com