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Go to the Studio B website - click here Parks Foundation Board comes to the rescue of our Fine Arts Programs! Sleeping Beauty Debuts Friday, August 2, 2002 Stuart Little Performance July, 2002 City Council Feedback on Fine Arts in Highland Village Toy Story Photos - June 14, 2002 Press Release - July 5, 2002 The inaugural summer of drama, music, dance, and art is being presented through Highland Village Parks and Recreation. Signups are going on right for all classes and workshop productions. There is something for everyone from four years old to adult. The fine arts program is designed not only to inspire love of the arts, but also to build self-esteem and confidence for the children and adults who participate. Under the direction of Pamela Putnam Whittaker, the program provides a safe environment for artistic expression. Several events and productions are scheduled this summer for Highland Village and surrounding communities. “The philosophy of our program is noncompetitive. Every cast member get a speaking part that allows them to be an important part of the play,” says Pamela Putnam Whittaker, the director of the program. “Learning about theatre should be fun with emphasis on key words in drama, ‘play’ and ‘action’, not ‘sit’ and ‘watch’. Theatre is a team sport where individuals learn to work as a creative group.” With the closing of the Academy of Fine Arts in Highland Village in May, the arts program was left without a home. Highland Village Parks and Recreation quickly found the space and budget to provide an opportunity to continue a fine arts program for the community. “Whether you participate in the play or come as an audience member, you’ll have a good time,” says Ryan Nolting, Recreation Coordinator of Parks and Recreation. “When Dennis (Dennis Slayton, Director of Parks and Recreation) found that the community wanted to continue to have a fine arts program, we approached the city to allow us to include this in our summer program. The city has been incredibly supportive.” The first play productions is Stuart Little, E. B. White’s classic tale of a little mouse born into a normal New York family and his adventures in the people world. Actors will learn what it takes to put a show together by learning lines, creating characters, wearing costumes, performing, and working with a director, choreographer, music director, and other actors. The second production is Sleeping Beauty, the ageless story of good over evil and the indestructible beauty of life. Stuart Little is the culmination of a half-day two-week workshop for children 5 years to adult beginning July 8. Sleeping Beauty is a full day one-week workshop for children 5 years to adult beginning July 29th. “Experience the Arts” is a half-day weeklong workshop for children 4 to 12 where they can experience art, music, drama, and dance. The children are grouped by age and taught by experienced professionals in each area. Parents and friends can come on the final day to see a presentation of what the children have experienced. The next two sessions are “Out of Africa”, July 8-12, and “Under the Sea, July 22-26”. “One of the most exciting workshops we offer is ‘Middle Earth and Other Realms.’ The final production is written, produced, and performed by the students. It offers an unlimited opportunity for individual and group creativity,” says Mrs. Whittaker. During the workshop, the students will prepare monologues and songs suitable for auditioning and have guest artists in radio, TV, film and make-up. Mrs. Whittaker has over 20 years of experience directing and teaching amateurs and professionals. She is well known in the Highland Village community for her outstanding work at the Academy of Fine Arts with children and adults over the last three years. She has directed shows with as few as two and as many as 70 performers. She is a veteran of stage, TV, radio, and film and has appeared on stage at The Globe and The Attic theatres in Los Angeles and on screen in Tender Mercies, The Dry Waller, and The Contestant and on TV in “Nickelodeon”, “Lassie”, “Dallas”, and “The Young and the Restless” as well as numerous commercials. She is a member of Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA, and Actors Equity. In the past she has also used drama to work with emotionally and learning disabled children. She received her BFA from Texas Christian University and her master’s and doctoral candidacy from University of California, Santa Barbara. She taught theatre history, theory, and acting at Westmont College and University of the Redlands in California. Contact Highland Village Parks and Recreation at 972-317-7430 or drop by city hall at 1000 Highland Village Road to sign up. You can also inquire about the productions and classes starting in September.
June 11, 2002 - Presentation to Highland Village City Council by Pam Whittakar I’m Pamela Whittaker. This summer I am heading the fine arts summer program through the Highland Village Parks and Recreation Dept. With the closing of the Academy of Fine Arts two weeks ago, the arts were left without a home in this community. Because of their cooperative agreement with the school district, Parks and Recreation quickly found us a space to continue with the summer program. However, I am concerned with what will happen when school starts. The schools will no longer be available to us, and we need a space for performances, rehearsals, and classes. Without a physical home, the program will disappear as students choose programs in other towns to replace the very vibrant one now in Highland Village. Finding a space is not impossible. I have some options in Flower Mound and Lewisville. But I don’t want to take something created by Highland Village for its citizens and give it away to another community simply because we can’t find a space for the students. 50% of the participants are Highland Village families. We have attracted students not only from Flower Mound and Lewisville, but Argyle, Leonard, Coppell and other towns. I use the word “attracted” because it is the reputation of the Highland Village programs that bring these students. I know that there is a proposal before the council for the purchase of the building that previously housed The Academy of Fine Arts. The classroom and stage space worked well for the staff and students, and I think returning to that building would be perfect. Sharing space with other events is not a problem. Theatres traditionally have served as multipurpose facilities for communities. Location is important, and the Academy building is very suitable. However, if there is a facility in a suitable location, it doesn’t matter where we are as long as we have minimum space requirements (3,000 sq. ft), walls, electricity, and are located in Highland Village. The crux of my appeal is two-fold. Number one is to keep the program in Highland Village, and number two, find a space for classes and performances. During the last three years, the arts program has attracted more and more people. I have directed plays with 50 to 70 actors of all ages. The philosophy of our theatre is non-competitive—everyone gets a part. The experience for the kids is one that is aimed at building self-esteem and confidence. Theatre is a team sport where individuals learn to work as a creative group. I have given you a copy of the budget for this summer’s drama sessions. The numbers are for break even, usually around 15 students. Past participation in these workshops is much higher depending on the play. Toy Story had 73 students, Beauty and the Beast 56. The school year will offer similar workshops plus regular weekly classes. This program is not only self-sustaining but can contribute to support other programs. Finding family entertainment is always a challenge, and people have come to rely on Highland Village to furnish them with performances suited for all ages. Attendance for the plays has been tremendous. Parents, grandparents, friends, and family come to enjoy the shows. The name of Highland Village is part of this outstanding fine arts identity. Please don’t let it leave the community because of lack of space. Parks and Recreation have saved the arts reputation of Highland Village for the summer. Please help support a year-round program by providing the space and giving the Highland Village community a way to hold on to this incredible and unique fine arts program. Call about Experiencing the Arts Summer Productions at 972-317-7430 Contact Pamela Putman Whittaker at 972-724-3524
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jim@highlandvillage.info with
questions or comments.
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