BRUNSWICK

Kids can be heard belting out lines from “The Knight at Dawn” on stage at Studio 48 on Davis Street, while owner Rebecca Beck answers the phone, guides students and tends to a chihuahua who tangled with a bee, all while trying to eat lunch. Expanding the business should be a piece of cake, right?

“It’s just too small now,” Beck said, “I cannot accommodate voice lessons, violin lessons, glee club dance and theater rehearsals all in one location.”

With so much going on in the 50-seat theater Beck had built onto her house, she decided it was time to find a space that would accommodate the growing demand for the arts.

Studio 48 began in 1998 at 48 Maine St. above the Shere Punjab Indian restaurant and through growth has since moved on to Senter’s Place and Fort Andros before building onto Beck’s home. Now, Beck envisions keeping only her music program at the Davis Street location and creating a multi- use center in the Cook’s Corner area.

Beck said at the moment, the organization is finding itself renting space for weekends to the tune of $1,500; money better spent on kids, props and keeping the lights on in a space of their own. Besides, it would give the kids who do not necessarily want to perform a place to build sets and work on lighting design.

“They want to be behind the scenes and this is a great way to teach them,” Beck said.

In the last year, Beck has taken on business partner Ben Smith, leaving Beck to focus on being the artistic director.

“ We have a good team, partnership going on here so I can go and perform,” said Beck, whose also worked with the Maine State Music Theater in “ Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and is currently playing violin for “ The Music Man.”

Smith said, “It’s been a lifelong dream for Becky and it’s definitely something we think is going to help the community a lot because it’s space that, not only are we going to use, but we’re going to make available other dance studios, and community theater and local schools who may need more space as well.”

Smith said Beck has been building up her business little by little over the last 20 years.

“This is not an easy business,” Smith said. “It’s certainly not a get rich quick scheme and she has poured just unimaginable amounts of blood, sweat and tears into this.”

“You can really see her passion for working with youth and building up their self esteem and their confidence so they can finally move on to Maine State and some of the bigger playhouses,” said Smith, adding that seeing what the kids achieve is most rewarding part of his job.

As rewarding as it may be, Smith realizes the business end isn’t a cheap venture.

“Our biggest challenge right now, above all, is raising the capital. It’s not a cheap project by any measure and we’re budgeting well into the six digits trying to make this happen but we really think it’s worth it,” said Smith.

The studio currently has a GoFundMe page where Smith and Beck hope to raise an additional $50,000 to get their theater off the ground, but are looking more in the neighborhood of $100,000; funds they hope to raise by donations, annual memberships and sponsor a-seat efforts.

Already on their team for when a suitable space is found, architect David Matero.

“He’s one of the smartest guys I’ve ever met. We’re really blessed to have him on board,” Smith said.

With five instructors currently at the studio, Smith said they are looking to expand classes and have activity in the new theater all day. He said he’s already been approached by instructors willing to offer martial arts, Zumba, yoga and aerobics,

“Basically whatever the community wants. Whatever they support, we’re willing to look at,” said Smith.

Beck said Studio 48 also does a lot of work with children with various disabilities and even nonverbal children who have found their voice in song. Beck recalled one child who came to her not speaking who now sings opera. Smith compared her voice to Susan Boyle.

“I’ve had kids that people have told me they will never be able to play the piano with both hands, now they’re playing, so there’s some really wonderful success stories here,” said Beck, who will be volunteering at Mt. Ararat Middle School next year providing music therapy.

One such story is that of Carolyn Sweet’s 11-year-old daughter, Jaclyn. Sweet said her daughter Madeline, 6, began first with Studio 48 in a program called Broadway Toddlers. It wasn’t long before “Miss Becky” was also working with Jaclyn, who is nonverbal.

“She’s starting to discover her voice; Miss Becky is helping her do that,” Sweet said of her daughter, who can now modulate her voice using pitch and holding notes.

“ That itself is a huge step,” Sweet said.

Sweet said the thought is that Jaclyn can access the musical side of her brain creating notes, then words, to cross over into speech. Sweet said Jaclyn has been working on “w” sounds and can almost say the word “world” from “Part of Your World” from “ The Little Mermaid.”

“It’s such a great studio,” Sweet said. “ Jaclyn and Miss Becky have a really cool relationship.”

Then and now

STUDIO 48 began in 1998 at 48 Maine St. above the Shere Punjab Indian restaurant and through growth has since moved on to Senter’s Place and Fort Andros before building onto Beck’s home.