DECATUR - Sarah Birchenough, a 7-year-old actress, walks slowly across the stage, pulling imaginary objects from empty space.

"Library, she's in a library," one of the other children in the drama class shouts.

Sarah was taking part in an acting exercise called "finding the where," in a drama class for young children at the Decatur Park District's new Arts and Recreation Center.

The class, led by Marie Jagger-Taylor, park district cultural arts supervisor, taught children, kindergarten to second grade, some basics of acting, such as stage positions, breathing techniques, posture, voice projection and interaction with fellow performers.

Jagger-Taylor, who has extensive experience as a professional actress and choreographer, takes a lighthearted approach in training young thespians. She participates in several games with the children, including the "zip, zap, zop" concentration game, in which those who miss their cues are eliminated.

Jagger-Taylor said the children were shy when they were asked to perform in the first classes, a couple of months ago.

"They have really blossomed and are so much more confident and disciplined," she said. "It's been a real joy to teach them."

The park district is staging its first musical in March in Decatur Civic Center, "Seussical Jr." Jagger-Taylor, who will direct the production, featuring the characters of Dr. Seuss, is hoping that some of the children taking acting classes this fall and winter will audition for parts.

"I will try to find a spot for every young actor that auditions," Jagger-Taylor said.

The next acting classes for grade school and high school students offered by the park district will begin Saturday, Jan. 5.

Ann Birchenough, mother of two acting students, Sarah and Elena, 5, said her girls have thoroughly enjoyed working with Jagger-Taylor. Sarah previously had worked with her in "Sound of Music," at Sullivan's Little Theater-On the Square, in which she played the part of Gretel. Jagger-Taylor was the choreographer for that production.

Birchenough said Sarah caught the acting bug in Sullivan and might audition for "Seussical Jr."

"As soon as 'Sound of Music' was over, she wanted to know when the next show was," Birchenough said. "She wanted to start another one right away."

Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985.