Page 20 - LRCC June 2022 Focus

Beachler says Wharton Center has given the region Among the many programs offered through Wharton is
another reason to be proud. Take It From the Top, which are musical workshops taught
by experienced Broadway professionals who take time out
“Wharton Center has been a magnet for arts and of their schedules and shows to come to East Lansing and
culture not only in the Greater Lansing region but for engage with local students. Wharton’s Young Playwrights
the entire state of Michigan,” said Beachler. “When we Festival has allowed Michigan high school students to see
started this project, we were referring to the center as their one-act plays brought to life on the Pasant Theater
the state’s Center for Performing Art. We wanted it to stage. The Sutton Foster Awards honor outstanding student
be recognized both locally and statewide as an official achievement in high school musical theater. Wharton
Performing Arts Center and I think that has happened.” sponsors Michigan’s statewide contest, sending two
winners to compete on a Broadway stage in New York City.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS The Disney Musical in Schools program is an opportunity
for younger children to learn how to do a Broadway
Brand is particularly proud of Wharton’s progress musical. The program was started by the Disney Theatrical
during his tenure in education programs and in New York City. Wharton is one of many sites around
community outreach that have served to connect the country that offers the program to provide under-
people to the arts. Thousands of students have gone resourced schools with help in producing a 30-minute
through various education programs at the Wharton version of a Disney musical. Disney originally underwrote
Center. Brand notes that many of the performers that the program, but Wharton funders and supporters have
come to town are actively involved in that educational since taken it over.
outreach that is helping kids in the community grow.
“Students get 17 rehearsals with a professional
“You may see the actors in their roles on the stage, choreographer and musical director in their school to learn
but a lot of them during the daytime hours and how to do a Disney musical,” said Goldstein. “They can then
sometimes even before and after the shows are perform the show for families in their schools as many times
in the school systems and at the university working as possible. Then, they come to Wharton for a sharing day
with teachers and faculty to enhance their ability to when they get an opportunity to share the play for family
bring arts education into the lives of students,” and friends on the Cobb Great Hall stage.”
said Brand.
The Disney program also works to create a sustainable
The Wharton Center Institute for program in schools by helping train teachers to be
Arts and Creativity offers many ways choreographers and musical directors so they can keep
to inspire the mind and move the the program going year after year.
soul through arts engagement and
education. In many cases, people Mike Brand and his team have placed a strong emphasis
who participate say the experience on reaching out more deeply into the community to bring
has been a difference-maker. the arts to disadvantaged populations that cannot afford
the cost of tickets. A new program to help cover some of
“We just did the Young Playwrights Goldstein those costs will be available next season.
Festival in Traverse City and one of
the playwrights wrote a play that
got produced and over 100 people
saw it,” said Bert Goldstein, director
of the Wharton Center Institute
for Arts and Creativity. “The young
woman who wrote the play
described it as life-changing.”

The Institute exposes kids to
singing, dancing and Shakespeare.
The program also helps teachers
integrate arts into the classroom Wharton Center for Performing Arts
and touches many people from
disadvantaged populations.

“We have a lot of people who never
had an arts experience before,” The Wharton Center Institute exposes kids to singing, dancing and Shakespeare. The program
said Goldstein. “It opens up a whole also helps teachers integrate arts into the classroom and touches many people from disadvantaged
new world for so many kids.” populations.

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