American theater | A school musical has thwarted by forest fires to go on the largest scene of CTG

January 7, 60 California students Altadena Arts And Eliot Arts Magnet schools started rehearsals for their production of Shrek, Jr. The same night, while young artists slept deeply, Eaton fires began to ravage their Los Angeles region. During the week that followed, while the fires of Pacific Palisades simultaneously rage in West Los Angeles, the fire of Easton destroyed a large part of their school, including their theater, which lost its roof. About 40% of students also lost their own house in the fire.

For three weeks, they didn't know what they would do. But as the director of the arts of Eliot, Mollie Lief, said, “No matter what, let's always say, the show must continue. It is more important now than it has ever been. Our beloved city was removed from us. ”

During a pizza dinner on January 26, Lief revealed that they would associate with Central theater group And Pasadena PlayhouseAll leading to “One Big Giant Performance featuring you on a large stage in the city center of” Where? CTG Ahmanson theaterApril 18. (The two performances are already sold.)

Students, who saw Sutton Foster Once upon a time there was a mattress At CTG last fall, were immediately excited. “You all walk up! “The choreographer Billy Rugh said.” It was like a rock concert; there were cries and tears, “said CTG director general, Meghan Pressman.” We are so delighted to present this show and give children the night of their lives. “

This is the last CTG efforts to support short and long -term resumption for the Los Angeles region following forest fires. After the fires were contained, CTG listed as an available rescue space and offered “emergency care camps” where teacher artists offered trauma care and education in local parks for students who had disrupted or lost schools, they therefore had a place to go during the day. This amounted to 700 hours of teaching “to help spend the first difficult weeks,” said Pressman.

“The fires were devastating and it is obviously a real crisis for the community,” continued Pressman. “But it was also an incredible moment for Los Angeles. People have come together, presented themselves to really support the people who were affected and to really give many congratulations and thanks to the first stakeholders. This was, in many ways, a period of recovery from the comforting community. I think that will help people to go through what will be a recovery period of several years.”

The company has also created its Forest Fire Fire Fund and a campaign for Baby2baby Collection of childcare supplies, offered free tickets to the first stakeholders, supported their own displaced and contacted staff to support the spring productions of local schools to offer virtual educational resources to remotely teaching educators. Altadena and Eliot are among these schools.

For these Schools of Title 1, where 63.3% of their student population comes from low -income families, and 42% of Eliot students and 55% of teachers had houses in the Altadena evacuation zone, the loss of houses is “even more difficult,” said Pressman. The chance to perform in the downtown CTG city center gave them strength, support and hope during this period of turbulence.

They repeated in a variety of spaces through Pasadena because it is closer to Altadena. But they get technological time and their performance in Ahmanson, which is greater than what they are used to. (To fill the space, the production team rents picturesque and projection packages.). On March 13, CTG was bus to the Ahmanson students for the “orientation day”, where they met the staff assigned to the show, visited the space and participated in workshops and courses. During all the time, said Pressman, they wore sherk headbands.

In a letter of appreciation to CTG staff, the director Lief wrote: “By lifting these theater children and giving them a space to express and cure, we will help cure the broken heart of our school and our extraordinary community of Altadena.”

Pressman said that the school's desire to go through is a source of inspiration. “Change can be difficult. To see how fast the arts of Los Angeles and public school districts will say “yes, we will discover it”, was so incredible, “she said. “Anyone else could say” we can't do this for the moment. ” Instead, they said, “This is the first thing we want to do.” »»

CTG continues conversations with parks and leisure for activities in city and county parks, and has made offers similar to the schools of the Palisades. “History is not over yet. We are honored to support people with the programming we have,” said Pressman.

Daniella Ignacio is a contributory publisher for American theaterBased in Washington, DC, it was previously an intern and editorial assistant. Bylines include Washingtonian, The 51st, 3views on Theater, DC Theater Arts And more. www.daniellaignacio.com