Theatre 29’s Summer Youth Theatre is accepting applications now through June 18. Entertainment Reporter Charlie Thomas says that local support is keeping the program cost low…
Theatre 29 is reopening with their award-winning Summer Youth Theatre program, and generous local support is keeping fees low and enabling scholarships. Theatre 29 has opened registration for the 2021 program, which will run July 5-August 8.
“The costs of putting on the program including the rights and production costs for “Disney’s MOANA Jr.” are significant.” said Program Director Gary Daigneault, adding “We are fortunate to have a caring and supportive community to assist us with the overhead. While similar programs charge upwards of $100.00, Theatre 29’s program is just $60.00 per child with scholarships available for families facing financial challenges.”
After having to cancel the 2020 program due to Covid, the 2021 program is getting generous support, including a $1,000 grant from the City of Twentynine Palms Public Arts Advisory Commission, $500 from the Rotary Club of Twentynine Palms, $200 from the Military Spouses Association aboard the 29 Palms Marine Base, and many other private donations. A request for scholarship assistance is on the application for the program, which is available online at theatre29.org.
Following all CDC and California Public Health guidelines for day camps, the community theatre organization will welcome back their students, age 7-17, for the five-week intensive course in all aspects of live theatrical production, which will culminate in presentations of Disney’s newest stage musical “Moana Jr.” the weekend of August 6-7-8 for limited familial audiences.
The program has two age groups: 7-11, who meet Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon and 11-17, who meet from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. The program starts by taking the terror out of auditions, trying out for parts in the show and subsequently rehearsing and performing. The students build their own sets, learn about running lights and sound, costuming, and basic stage make-up. For Covid safety, the program will be limited to 25 students in each age group.
The all-volunteer staff includes Seniors Director Daigneault, Juniors Director Char Childs, Music Director Bianca Stoker, Choreographer Lisa Goldberg, Accompanist Matthew Bennett, and Dance Captain Ava Roberts. Cindy Daigneault and Tera Bottorff will oversee costuming while Cole Subriar is the Technical Director and Ron Bottorff will assist students on the bridge with lights and sound. The Program Administrator is Jayme Bateman with Assistant Michelle Richardson.
Theatre 29 is an IRS 501(c) 3 Non-Profit organization (EIN 55-0808217) and welcomes additional tax-exempt donations to the program. For information, e-mail Gary Daigneault at [email protected].
