Local teacher offers kids' acting classes

      Mary Beach plays Batgirl, Barbie, the Sugar Plum Fairy and even Darth Vader on the weekends. She's also been known to be part of a murder mystery or a wedding party down at one of the Strip hotels.
      But most of the time, she's directing children's theater at Becker or Johnson middle schools.
      Her next production is "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp," running at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 at Becker Middle School, 9151 Pinewood Hills Drive. Admission is free.
      The cast includes 35 area children, ages 11 to 16. Castmembers have been rehearsing for about three months for the play, Beach said.
      Beach teaches children's theater classes and holds four major productions each year. Rehearsals for her next children's play, "Cinderella," will come during early summer.
      Beach moved to Las Vegas from her hometown San Diego, three years ago. For two years, she sold spaces at a local condominium-timeshare. It's only been in the last year she's pursued an acting career and offered children's theater classes.
      She received a degree in theater and dance from San Diego State University in 1989, but said she hesitated to seriously pursue acting.
      "(There's a) 99.9 percent job unemployment (in the occupation)," she said.
      Long odds notwithstanding, Beach has been finding jobs. She's getting parts in local commercials and some voice-over jobs. And she's working for local producer Marilyn Mayblum in murder-mystery dinner and mock wedding shows for corporate parties during convention season.
      Beach and Mayblum are launching a children's show at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at Circus Circus. The show features an interactive drama workshop, a Barnum and Bailey Circus clown and a magician as guests.
      Tickets are $36 for a parent and child, ages 5 to 11 and $43 for a party of three. Those interested can call 387-2642.