Ilana Bolotsky is currently making her Broadway dreams come true, although you won’t find her singing or dancing on stage. Bolotsky is behind the scenes as a Child Guardian at Once on This Island for the two actresses playing the role of Little Girl. Speaking with her, it became immediately evident that this is her calling. She has a passion for working with children in the theater and an unbreakable bond with her charges. Read our conversation to find out more about what a Child Guardian does, how she creates a strong relationship with these children, the emotional wallop of seeing her young actors make their Broadway dreams a reality, and how she made her own Broadway dreams come true.
With her current charges Emerson Davis and Mia Williamson (Photo: Used with permission)
Did you get into this work from having a theater background or working with children?
A little bit of both! During college, my first job was as a camp counselor at a sleep away camp in New Hampshire. I was the Head of the Theater Department for two summers, in charge of casting, choreographing, costuming, and directing the shows. I loved every single aspect of my role at camp, especially helping the children learn the ins-and-outs of backstage etiquette and professionalism. Those two summers were life-changing and I realized that I felt fulfilled being offstage, even though I was studying Musical Theater in college and planning to pursue a Broadway career.
After college, I worked in several facets of the industry, and found myself not wanting to audition. I loved everything I did whether it was sitting behind a table in a casting session or assisting Company Managers, but I never found the fulfillment I once felt while working at the sleep away camp. I missed the feeling of helping and working with kids.
In 2012, I learned that being a Child Guardian was a career when I saw the Broadway revival of Annie. I left the show thinking, “Who supervises the children during a show?” I looked in the Playbill and learned that this was the perfect job was for me.
Before making my Broadway debut as a Guardian with Once on This Island, I had the honor and pleasure of working on several Off-Broadway shows, labs, and workshops. I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.
Bolotsky with former charge Gaten Matarazzo (Photo: Used with permission)
What is a Child Guardian or Child Wrangler?
My job as a Child Guardian is to supervise children backstage and throughout every aspect of rehearsals, tech, and performance processes. From the moment I pick them up from their parents, to the moment I release them at night, they are under my supervision. It is my responsibility to take the best care of them, while ensuring that they are meeting all expectations of their job as a performer while they are under my care. It’s also important to make sure that not only are they enjoying what they do on stage, but that they are still able to be kids off stage. Before every show, I check in with each child about how their day has gone (i.e.: How their day at school was? Anything exciting happen?, etc.) to gauge what is necessary to have them enter the world of the theater. That may mean we will play games like Uno and relax a bit, do jumping jacks for energy, or put music on and have a dance party. Every single day is different! I find it important to be on their level, no matter what that entails. I ensure that they feel ready, safe, and comfortable to go onstage and engage with the audience and cast surrounding them.
You wear a lot of hats. I’m hearing teacher, aunt, mother, friend, stage manager. Which of those titles do you feel like most accurately describes your role?
What I will say is, I’m definitely not a teacher, though I have so much respect for all teachers (true heroes)! To become a guardian, you don’t have to be a certified teacher, a child actor will have a tutor because their job overlaps with school and it’s my responsibility to work with Stage Management to ensure the child is receiving the mandated hours of school. I would say that my job is a mixture of being an authoritative figure and someone to look up to and feel comfortable coming to with any issue or concern. It is my job to be strict with our backstage routine and to be extremely time-regimented in order to create a nice flow before each show. I’d like to think of myself as a maternal figure because parents are not backstage and I’m the child’s first point of contact for anything that may arise.
Emerson and Mia’s dressing room door at Once on This Island
How do you develop that relationship with your young actors?
When I’m assigned new child performers, I call or email the families and we discuss what would be helpful in order for the child to be successful and safe on the job. We also work together to lay a foundation of trust and fun. Instilling a nurturing environment from the get-go changes everything. A project can be stressful because everyone is learning a lot all in a very short period of time. I keep a smile on my face, always maintaining a positive attitude so they know that they’re in good hands.
They are professional actors but also children. How do you balance that?
There’s a fine line between being a child and being a professional actor. Yes, they are at the theater to enjoy themselves but they are also there to work. The girls and I are so lucky to be working on such an incredible production. In the slight moments of fatigue, I remind them that we should be so grateful to be a part of such a beautiful show and company.
Given the bond you have with the kids you work with, is it emotional for you when you have a moment to really take in seeing your girls on stage does?
It’s an out-of-body experience when I remove myself from our everyday routine. When I go out for coffee with a friend and they ask how it’s going, I do nothing but smile. I have 100% confidence and trust in them and it amazes me that even with going to school daily, they still give it their all when they are out on stage. I always say that adults can learn from kids and I learn something new every single day. I’m so proud of them.
Mia and Emerson know me better than most people because we spend the most time together. Just as I know when they’re not having the best day, they know me backwards and forwards. It’s a two-way street, we’re here together in this relationship and friendship, even though I’m their Guardian.
With Ayla Schwartz who plays Young Elsa in Frozen (Photo: Used with permission)
One of my favorite parts of my job is to support the kids that I have worked with after we finish a project. Whenever I sit in the audience of a show that my previous children are in, I feel such pride. I get emotional watching them on stage, continuing to hone their craft, and doing what they love. One of girls that I’ve worked with on two shows, Ayla Schwartz, is now in Frozen, making her Broadway debut. Watching her in the show, I was so overcome with emotion. It was such an honor to watch her over the past year grow into such a skilled performer and for her to make her Broadway dreams come true.
Not all Broadway dreams are made for the stage. Mia, Emerson, and all of the child actors with whom she has worked are lucky to have the guidance of someone who leads with kindness and, in doing so, has found her place in the theater.
You can follow Bolotsky and her adventures as Child Guardian on Instagram @ilanabolotsky
