Autumn Kersey performs on local stages and in commercials: She also has a day job selling ads for Idaho Business Review. But for the past 13 years, she’s given her summers to the youth theater program she helped create.

“I didn’t feel I was launching a legacy. I just wanted kids to have the same experience I did,” said Kersey.

Her family didn’t have a lot of money to spend on extracurriculars when she was growing up in Twin Falls. Luckily for theater lover, Twin Falls has the Junior Musical Playhouse, or JuMP, an affordable youth theater program that thrives to this day.

“That was my summer vacation,” said Kersey.

When Kersey came to study theater arts at Boise State in the late 1990s, she wanted locals to have a program similar to JuMP.

A lucky confluence: Parks and Rec liked the idea. Boise Little Theater had a stage that was sitting dark every summer. A partnership was struck.

The culmination of each summer: A full-blown show at BLT that enlists the talents of scores of volunteers and students. This year’s offering, “Willie Wonka Jr.,” opens July 19. More than 80 kids tried out for 40 parts. The cast ranges in age from 8 to 18.

An experiment that worked: Kersey directed the program’s first show, “Bye Bye Birdie,” in 2000. It was also her first time directing.

“We sold out all our performances and said, ‘Let’s try this again,’ ” Kersey said.

She’s volunteered every year since, seven of them as director.

Past shows: “Grease,” “Anne of Green Gables,” “Guys and Dolls” and others.

What are tryouts like? Kids audition in groups of 10. They have to sing.

“We get a lot of Katy Perry, and a lot of ‘Annie.’ The sun will come out tomorrow,” quipped Kersey.

Is it tough to say ‘no’ to kids who try out? “Every child has a talent, a gift to give. I don’t want to deny opportunities to explore that, but I also want to work with kids who want to be there and be committed,” said Kersey.

She doesn’t want the program to develop a reputation for playing favorites. So sometimes kids who have been in shows for years don’t get a part the next time. It’s not that they’re not talented, it’s just that it’s someone else’s turn, she said.

“You might get frustrated,” said Kersey. “But this is just one show in one summer. You have to learn how to cope with disappointment, pick yourself up and look for the next opportunity. That’s not just a theater lesson. It’s a life lesson.”

A volunteer crew: Fifteen adults form the production team, with the exception of a high schooler who runs the spotlight. Three of the adults were in Kersey’s productions as teens.

Where does the money go? The city and the theater share ticket proceeds, and money is set aside for the next year’s program.

Kids pay $20 to participate. That gets them two months of theater training. The cast rehearses five nights a week for two-and-a-half hours, plus Saturdays to build the set. If families can’t afford the $20, scholarships are available.

Art for life: Kersey misses out on lots of summer because she spends so much time at the theater.

“But this is the highlight of my life, working with these young people in this capacity,” she said. “It’s not just about producing a play. It’s about creating an environment where young people can figure out what it means to be a citizen, be bold, be compassionate.”

On the topic of this year’s show, how do you determine the proper shade of orange makeup for Oompa Loompas?

“Our Oompa Loompas are not orange. But the audience will see other things that will make up for it,” said Kersey.

“It’s a simple set, but Violet Beauregarde will blow up into a blueberry and Augustus Gloop will fall into a vat of chocolate.”

Anna Webb: 377-6431