The Center’s annual Summer at the Center program for students in Orange County ACCESS schools triumphed again! Every year, the program culminates in several performances of a musical revue they work on for two weeks.
On Friday, August 2, they unveiled this year’s show and received an enthusiastic standing ovation from family, friends, teachers, underwriters of the program and Center board members. Among the special guests was Dr. Al Mijares, Orange County Superintendent of Schools.
President Terry Dwyer, Dr. Al Mijares and SATC star.
This award-winning program utilizes the arts to inspire, motivate and provide high-risk and underserved youths with opportunities to interact in positive ways with their peers. A musical theater format employed by professional teaching artists creates a fun and creative environment that also encourages productive dialogue and introspection.
Jarmin Roach, David and Diane Steffy, Karl Copas with kids.
Daily sessions include singing, dancing and acting lessons. Throughout the years, SATC has demonstrated that the arts can play a strong and positive role in developing personalities, attitudes and coping abilities. Guest speakers, such as musicians, actors, directors and program alumni help reinforce what the students are learning. This year, Cheri Steinkellner, Emmy, Golden Globe and Writers Guild Awards honoree and one of the creators of the Broadway hit SISTER ACT the Musical spent a day working with the kids.
Growing up as an only child in Los Angeles, a city that is as vast as it is diverse, I had seemingly endless opportunities and experiences to be exposed to art, culture, and entertainment. I remember sitting inside our local theater for the very first time, wide-eyed with wonder and swept up in the beauty and emotion of the talented cast of 42nd Street. From there, I developed a passion for the arts, particularly musical theater, and have seen some of the most legendary productions performed in theaters all over the world.
My children saw their first Broadway production before they turned five and my hope is that early exposure to the arts will inspire their own creativity and passions. Here are three ways children benefit from exposure to the arts.
Ta'Rea Campbell, Alysha Deslorieux and Trisha Jeffrey in SISTER ACT Photo by Joan Marcus
1. The pursuit of undiscovered talents. Children have an innate sense of creativity that must be fostered at an early age. Exposure to music, dance, and theater can inspire children to take a class or participate in a school production.
2. Exposure to educational opportunities not replicated inside of a classroom. Classroom education is only a part of what helps a child grow and mature into their own person. Live theatrical productions offer children the opportunity to explore new places and cultures through music and dance. Similarly, many productions are period-based, exposing children to history in a way that is visual and meaningful.
3. Unique family bonding opportunities. Some of the best family experiences are those that happen after the production where lively discussions can take place. Very often these productions have themes and messages that parents can then discuss with their children long after the curtain has closed.
Cast of SISTER ACT. Photo by Joan Marcus
There are still plenty of summer days left for families to head out to the theater! Segerstrom Center for the Arts will offer three free performances on August 3rd as a celebration of their award-winning program Summer at the Center. And on August 6th, SISTER ACT debuts at the Center. Broadway's musical comedy is based on the 1992 film and features original music by Alan Menken, whose work includes Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. This family-friendly show is a remarkable testament to the power of friendship and will have audiences young and old on their feet! _________________________________ In celebration of August being Family Fun Month, the Center is delighted to share stories by some of Orange County’s favorite family bloggers. Speaking of Family Fun, the Broadway musicalSISTER ACTwill be in town from August 6-18.
Terry Dwyer receiving special commendation from Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido presented Center President Terry Dwyer with a special Award of Recognition at the May 7 City Council meeting. In his remarks, Mayor Pulido expressed thanks on behalf of the city for the Center’s contributions to the schools, students, educators and residents of Santa Ana. Many schools and students in Santa Ana have benefited from a range of programs offered by the Center, including Arts Teach, Summer at the Center and special events conducted by the casts of the Trey McIntyre Project, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, In the Heights and STOMP.
Center President Terry Dwyer and Vice President, Education
Talena Mara with participants
Thirty-five high school-aged young people participated in
this year’s Summer at the Center program for at-risk, underserved youths. SATC
is a two-week program of musical theater classes conducted by professional
artists to help empower these wonderful kids overcome what seem like
insurmountable odds. Through the power of the performing arts, they learn
self-esteem, build confidence, find alternative ways to deal with challenges
and give their lives a new start. The program culminates in performances that
demonstrate the fun and thrill of live performance – and here are just a few
photos from Friday, July 27th opening night.
Mark Porterfield,
representing lead corporate sponsor PIMCO, with Crystal and Sommer
The Center's Summer at the Center program for at-risk and underserved high school aged youth culminated with the students performing free Broadway revue-style shows in Samueli Theater last weekend. The public performances included the title song from the Tony® and Grammy® Award winning musical In the Heights, which is currently playing the Center through August 15. The students will return next week to see the show - for many it will be their first experience seeing a musical. Click on the video to watch the students' performance.
For two weeks, 38 Summer at the Center students were immersed in intensive music and theater workshops. The program utilizes the performing arts to engage the participants and empower them to overcome adversity in their lives, build self esteem, develop social skills and become peer role models. During the program's 19 years, it has continually been praised for helping to change and improve the lives of young people.
The nationally recognized program Summer at the Center returned this week for its 18th year. Watch the video above to learn about how this inspiring program helps local at-risk and underserved high school students by engaging them in the performing arts.
The program culminates in a one-hour Broadway revue-style production which is performed in Samueli Theater. The public is invited to attend this summer’s free performances on Saturday, August 1 at 12:30, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. The theme for this year’s Summer at the Center show is “be” as in believe, be creative, be the best and anything else with the word "be." We hope you will attend a performance and celebrate the students’ personal journeys.
.jpg)
.jpg)
