‘Farm Team’ plans a summer musical program
Tom Titus
The pros, whether in sports or entertainment, look to the colleges
for up-and-coming talent. The colleges look to high schools. But
where do the high schools look?
In the case of Huntington Beach’s Academy for the Performing Arts,
the answer lies just down the road at Dwyer Middle School, where a
feeder system for the academy has been established for youngsters in
fifth through eighth-grades.
The Junior Academy for the Performing Arts, launched last fall to
acquaint elementary and middle school students with the beginning
stages of show business, is a magnet school for the high school
program.
It’ll officially get under way in June with a youth production of
the musical “Bugsy Malone” scheduled for mid-July.
Spearheading this blossoming summer arts program is Cathy McGough,
vice principal in the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s
Adult/Alternative Education Department. She’s using the months
between now and June to get the word out to interested students and
their parents.
“We are receiving calls from donors who wish to sponsor students
in need with either 50% or 100% scholarships,” McGough said. “We will
accept a principal’s recommendation as the basis for awarding these
payments.
“Principals are being asked to reach out to talented students, or
students with potential, who are interested and who might benefit
from the program, to apply for a fee scholarship. These students will
be put on a waiting list.”
Any student in fifth through eighth-grade in the 2002-03 school
year from any public or private school is eligible to enroll in the
program. Preference will be given to sixth through eighth-graders
from Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Midway City or Westminster.
Applications are due by May 1 in order to receive priority
enrollment. The first day of the summer program, June 16, students
will audition for a role in “Bugsy Malone.” Apart from performing on
stage, youngsters will work technical positions or assist in the
production crew.
During the daily schedule, students will attend classes in their
selected “major,” such as acting, dance, voice, TV/media, technical
theater or design. Once a week, students also will attend a class in
each of the areas that was not their selected major in order to gain
experience in all aspects of production.
Finally, students will attend a daily class of production, working
on “Bugsy” in the area they were assigned and rehearsing. They’ll
also create a musical variety show to be presented to the public at 3
p.m. on July 11, giving additional opportunities to students not cast
in “Bugsy.”
Tuition is $450, which covers the faculty and staff salaries,
licensing fees, T-shirts, materials, sets, equipment, some costumes,
photocopying, marketing, facilities, custodial services,
administrative overhead and other costs incurred to provide a quality
program.
The 26 students who are cast in “Bugsy” will be asked to pay an
additional participation fee of $25 to $50. The faculty includes
Diana Makas-Weber, artistic director and dance instructor for the
Huntington Beach academy; Laura Canzone, vocal director; Weslie
Ching, production assistant; Brent Weber, director of TV/media
production, and Keith Bangs, director of technical theater
production.
“Bugsy” will be directed by Robert Rotenberry, an instructor and
director at the academy for the past seven years. Prospective Jr.
academy members should contact McGough for more information. She can
be reached at cmcgough@hbuhsd.k12.ca.us, or by calling (714)
847-2873, ext. 218.
* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Independent.
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