Anna and Kelly Banker (Courtesy photo)

Most pre-teen girls at the age of 10 are playing kickball with the neighborhood kids, dressing up Barbie dolls, maybe crocheting potholders, or possibly playing pranks on the older couple next door. What Oak Hill Road residents Anna and Kelly Banker were doing was producing musicals. Now, at 13, the identical twin sisters are veterans, having put on more than seven shows in four years. And next week, their newest show, Oliver!, will open in the Cronin Auditorium.

How did they get started in such a venture? “For fun,” says Anna, the older of the sisters. “We went to a drama camp the summer before fifth grade and had fun being part of the show.”

“We decided, we could do that. So we invited all my mom’s friends with kids to join our summer camp. At the end of the week, we held a 15-minute performance.” shares Kelly. They went on to do several more shows with preschool kids, putting on shows in their living room.

The desire to direct was reinforced by their sixth-grade brother, Drew. After the family attended Littleton High School’s production of Grease, Drew enjoyed it so much, he challenged his sisters to put it on. “He loved the music and wanted us to do something with older kids—his friends,” said Anna.

Anna and Kelly wondered what it would be like to work with kids that in some cases were just a year younger. “Would they listen and respect us? Would they take it seriously?” Although at times it was challenging, even getting to the point of having to have a one-hour lecture with the group, everyone ultimately came together and the show was a great success. Most cast members agreed that it was so much fun they couldn’t wait to do it again. “That was the best feeling for us. They all wanted to be part of another show” says Kelly.

Anna and Kelly are part of a lively family where the dinner table serves as stage for many discussions about the current production. The entire family gets involved with Anna and Kelly’s productions, now known as A&K Productions, with parents Nancy and Peter providing endless support and encouragement. Brother Drew has held leading roles in many performances. Nancy attends every rehearsal and helps with the fine details, from organizing costumes and providing publicity to giving a non-director’s view of how a particular rehearsal went. Peter assists with advice on how best to manage the challenges of putting on a major production. Not to be left out, the twins’ youngest brother, Matty, always has a walk-on role at each show. “It’s a tradition” Kelly says, beaming. The girls are also quick to recognize the support of the parents of cast members, attending rehearsals, gathering props, and doing the running around.

Anna and Kelly say they have always been planners, and consider themselves very organized. They are the best of friends and have the magical bond of identical twins, often finishing each other’s sentences and leaning on one another for support. They spend hours talking every night before bed about the variety of topics facing a 13-year-old.

To produce a show the size of Oliver!, Anna and Kelly, along with their cast and crew, have been hard at work since early February. Starting just weeks after the curtains closed on their hit performances of High School Musical in January, they were conducting auditions for Oliver! More than 75 kids in grades three through six showed up at their house to audition for what would turn out to be only 40 spots. “We were shocked” says Kelly. “It wasn’t easy turning kids away,” adds Anna. “Everyone was so great, but we just couldn’t have that many people. Our biggest concern was that the younger kids who didn’t get a part would be so disappointed they wouldn’t try again. We really hope that doesn’t happen.”

A week in the life of Anna and Kelly includes spending at least 10 hours on the current production. They have to “manage” 40 kids, organize them by scene, provide them with lines and lyrics, help them shake off the nervous jitters, and choreograph the moves for each scene.

“We get so much satisfaction watching the whole thing come together and knowing it was all done by kids,” says Anna. Kelly continues the sentiment by adding, “The fact that kids can entertain other kids and adults is so cool.”

They know what they want to be when they grow up. “Broadway producers,” they answer in unison and without hesitation. If hard work, perseverance, and a love for what you do is what it takes, then at some point Harvard residents may be bragging that the greatest producers on Broadway came from their little town.

Colleen Terry is the mother of two sons performing in the A&K production of Oliver!