SENIOR
TROUPE
Developed
in 1997, this outreach program provides a showcase for developing
the unique qualities of a talent base for ages 50 and older..
This group may choose to memorize lines or carry a script
if memorization has become too stressful. The Senior Troupe
provides exciting opportunities for men and women to renew
creative skills or discover new ones. In addition to performing,
other options for the participants besides acting include
set building and design, directing, props, costumes, singing,
dancing or playwrights. This group is not limited to the NCP
stage. Variety shows are appropriate for retirement homes,
AARP groups and all interested organizations. A third segment
of the Troupe is a staged reading of Footprints of a Pilgrim.
A cast of five tells the life story of Ruth Bell Graham, Billy
Graham's wife, as told through her journals and writings.
This program is more applicable for church or spiritual groups.
Jane Anderson,
Senior Troupe Coordinator
Spotlight on Youth (SOY)
As
the oldest educational outreach of the Playhouse, Spotlight
on Youth is very proud of the fact that we’ve reached
over 241,000 students in Northeastern Ohio in its past 17
years. This program uses live dramatic presentations showing
real life situations to illustrate social issues and dangers
affecting the lives of our young people today. Interactive
drama has proven to be a most effective teaching tool causing
emotional responses which are vivid, understandable and lasting.
Spotlight ha added the
Chagrin Valley Little Theatre of Chagrin Falls as a satellite
facility. Spotlight is seeking other community theatres, in
the other ten counties funded by the Ridgecliff Foundation,
to be part of our program as well.
Spotlight has completed
over 1100 performances with nearly $600,000.00 in grants and
donations. The task has been made lighter with the support
of such groups as the Stark County Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Services Board, the Ridge Cliff Foundation, the Henry and
Louise Timken Foundation, and Sisters of Charity Foundation
of Canton.
Era
Lynn Tripp, Executive Director
Mary McManaway, Artistic Director – Kami Stanley, Admin.
Asst.
VSA
arts of Ohio/Stark County Service Division
The
Stark County Service Division of VSA arts established its
local representation as an outreach of the NCP in 1995. They
provide children and adults, with and without disabilities,
opportunities to share their creativity through all of the
arts, promote self-esteem, cultural awareness and self-determination.
VSA Stark County has partnered with Stark County MRDD and
The Workshops, Inc. to present programming that focuses on
inclusion in the performing arts. In the past, large scale
musicals were presented honoring Disabilities Awareness Month.
One musical won the 18th Annual Media Access Disability Awareness
Award for Live Theatre, presented by the California Governor’s
Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons. Annually in
August, VSA arts offers Camp Jukebox, a week long day camp
of singing, drama and dance for individuals 8-25 years of
age who have a disability. The year 2007 marks the 10th anniversary
of Camp Jukebox. Other programming, local and national, is
offered throughout the year by VSA arts of Ohio and the Stark
County Service Division.
Norma
Capocci, Representative, Stark County Service Division
