‘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.