Grant to go toward musical ‘Empire’

The Costa Mesa nonprofit Arts & Learning Conservatory received a $5,000 grant from the Doreen D. Marshall Fund, which it plans to use to give scholarships to Newport-Mesa Unified School District students who want to participate in an upcoming performance of a musical version of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.”

The instruction for the program takes place at Vanguard University and costs $135 to $295 per student, according to the conservatory.

Theatrical auditions will be Sept. 12, and orchestral auditions will be Oct. 3.

Performances will take place at the beginning of December.

For more information, visit www.artsandlearning.com or call (714) 623-1907.

— Alan Blank