There are not a lot of spaces where kids can just be kids,” observed Josie “Dr. Jelly” Scanlan, co-owner of The Hoot’n’Holler Inn, an artistic play space for youngsters located behind an unimposing storefront in Mid-City.
Described by Scanlan as “a cardboard labyrinth with a stage,” it is full of tunnels and perches and colors and creatures, making it the ideal setting for free-flowing, free-playing birthday parties, of which it hosts four to seven per weekend.
“They crawl through the tunnels, perform kid’s karaoke onstage and can go upstairs to the crafts area,” she added. “It’s a space driven by kids’ energy.”
Scanlan and her co-owner, Brian “Spitz” Spitzfaden, opened Hoot’n’Holler in the fall of 2017, though its genesis was much earlier.
“We’d been doing something similar at the Newman day camp for 16 years,” Spitzfaden recounted, “and it grew from there.”
The duo located the space and, with assistance from two other fellow artists, turned their imaginations loose. Cardboard is the primary construction material, which Scanlan noted is both surprisingly durable and a free resource.
“We used to do cardboard scavenging, but now we’ve come into contact with friendly local businesses,” explained Spitzfaden. Everything from refrigerator boxes to Halloween pumpkin cartons are donated to the build-out, which is in a constant state of refinement and creative expansion.
The partners are also full-time teachers, who draw on their experience.
“Our experience as educators gives us a really good sense of what’s safe for kids,” noted Scanlan. “And something that’s really lacking in our classrooms is independent problem-solving, kids learning how to figure things out. Free play lets kids practice those skills.”
“Things that I’ve learned as a children’s performer have greatly influenced my classroom management,” added Spitzfaden.
On the performance side, the duo combines storytelling and dramatic interpretation of the stories. They have performed in the Kids Tent at the last four Jazz Fests, and last year at Mardi Gras joined with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in a rendition of Camille Saint-Saens’ “Carnival of the Animals,” acting out stories between each movement.
Between teaching, performing, hosting the birthday parties and maintaining the space, Scanlan and Spitzfaden have a lot on their plates.
“We’re both pretty involved at our schools,” he said, “Balancing our careers as educators with the upkeep and always wanting to add to the play environment is our biggest challenge.”
The pair is actually considering handing the party business off to one of their employees so that they can focus more on performing, including the musical component of their stagecraft. Putting together an album is a tentative project for this fall.
Adding to the types of uses for Hoot’n’Holler is also on the horizon; it has previously hosted everything from performances by comedians and puppeteers to a variety of creative workshops, and they would like to bring some of these events back.
Young people, however, will remain the focus. Both have had students in higher school grades tell them they remember birthday parties at Hoot’n’Holler.
“It’s always celebratory here,” said Scanlan, “We’re helping kids and families create memories, and we get to be a part of these people’s happy times.”
“It’s everyone’s favorite trash palace,” concluded Spitzfaden, smiling.
The Hoot’N’Holler Inn
217 N. Pierce Street, New Orleans
@thehootnhollerinn
