2014 Sunny Side Up Benefit Breakfast

Last Tuesday, April 8, 2014, friends and supporters celebrated together in honor of Encore Stage & Studio’s 47 years of Theatre by Kids, for Kids. With great food and good company in the beautiful ballroom of the Washington Golf & Country Club, benefactors enjoyed an entertaining program hosted by Encore Board of Directors Secretary, Ashby Rushing, while learning about Encore’s great accomplishments and vision.

“It opens up a world of opportunity: confidence, people skills and leadership…” stated Lauren Monsivaiz.

Followed by their testimonials was an exciting number performed by Encore’s Musical Theatre Intensive class, “New York, New York” from the musical, On The Town. This exciting and challenging program is offered to students grade 8 through 12 and is designed to put vocal and dance skills into action. Students work once a week with choreographer Kelsey Meiklejohn and Music Director Douglas Ullman, Jr. to sharpen their musical skills both in the classroom and onstage.

Encore Stage & Studio also honored Robin Baxter with the 2014 Celeste Award for outstanding volunteer. Robin Baxter served as Board President from 2006-2009 and as a Volunteer Executive Director 2009-2010, and is currently a member of Encore’s Programing Committee. Robin’s early life was enriched and formed by children’s theater participation, beginning with playing “Widget” the elf in The Elves and the Shoemaker in community children’s theater here in Northern Virginia. Through three other community and children’s theater productions, and then in high school (Madison, in Vienna) joining Thespians and playing Anne Frank (in The Diary of Anne Frank) and Puck (in Midsummer Night’s Dream), Robin learned all the great things that Encore provides its participants: teamwork, confidence, literacy, public speaking, history, culture… the list goes on.

During her time as President of the Encore Board, Robin and a great team of officers, board and staff members contributed in achieving the following accomplishments:

– Development/increased public support

– Educational opportunities for Board and Staff

– Moved Board towards Governing Board from Working Board

– Development of Strategic Planning

– Celebrated 40th Anniversary of Encore

– Procured & produced original drama, The Jamestown Adventure

– Modernized Bookkeeping & began process to hire professional bookkeeper

– Increased offerings of programs

– Result: Passed along a much healthier Encore to the next generation of leaders!

Ashby continued to share the accomplishments from Encore’s 2013/2014 season and the impact of donations for our programs:
-Since September: 9,179 people have seen an Encore production!
–Encore’s new partnership with Nauck Community Services Center in South Arlington, dedicated spaces for these students for camps and classes, as well as tickets for productions and a backstage tour
-Encore is on track to work with PTAs to donation 500 tickets to low income students at schools in Arlington this year alone–an approximate cost of $4,000.
-200 children and youth have participated in our productions this year – at no cost to them. Our productions typically cost about $30,000. Ticket sales only cover approximately 45% of this cost. We rely on donations to cover this gap.

Check out the video highlighting some of Encore’s 2014 seniors:

2014 Encore Seniors from Encore Stage on Vimeo.

Meanwhile, our guests traveled back in time to our fall production of The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe with Encore participants Isabel Tate and Laura Wade as Lucy Pevensie and Mr.Tumnus, performing a short scene recognizing Encore’s programs and how to donate.

“Oh, Mr. Tumnus, I think all of Narnia will want to donate to an organization this great.” -Lucy
“You know, Lucy, I think even the White Witch might be convinced to get involved.” -Mr. Tumnus

Thank you for supporting Encore Stage & Studio. Click here to donate today.

View more photos from the 2014 breakfast:

Photos by Larry McClemons.