100 Things You Give When You Choose Encore for #GivingTuesday
Thanksgiving has come and gone. Maybe you had a fantastic time with your family. Maybe you did some shopping this weekend. Maybe your food coma had you out until your Monday alarm. Now, we’ve landed on Giving Tuesday. The day when we ignite the holiday spirit and think of others’ needs. But what are you giving when you give to Encore this #GivingTuesday? It’s hard to tell because we do so much but each gift made to Encore makes a lasting impact. You’ll see as you look at the list that it takes a lot of supplies and people to put on a show or camp. But more importantly, that each child that participates with Encore reaps the benefit of an arts education.
Here’s a list of 100 Things You Give When You Choose Encore for #GivingTuesday.
1) Smiles
2) Paint Buckets
3) Experienced Teaching Artists
4) Scripts
5) Costumes
6) Puppets
7) Tissue Paper
8) Mic Tape
9) Stage Make-up
10) Summer Camp Talent Shows
11) Friendship
12) Masks
13) Scholarships for Families in Need
14) Affordable Family Fun
15) Musical Instruments
16) Picture Books
17) Markers
18) Crayons
19) Colored Pencils
20) Classroom Scissors
21) Glue
22) Magic Wands
23) Pens for Signing Autographs
24) Ghost Collecting Kits
25) Pirate Eye Patches
26) An Enchanted Bookshop
27) Robin Hood’s Bows & Arrows
28) Clementine’s Classroom
29) Lots and Lots of Newsie newspapers
30) A Sidewalk Stroll‘s Pool Noodles
31) Rocket Woman‘s Space Ship
32) Safety Pins
33) Keeping the Lights On
34) Role Model Moments
35) Make-up Sponges
36) Hundreds of Batteries for Microphones
37) Internship Opportunities
38) Streamers
39) Swords
40) Castle Sets
41) Magnifying Glasses
42) Cat Ear Costumes
43) Growing Noses
44) Stamps
45) Qualified Staff Members
46) Early Childhood Classes
47) After-School Enrichment
48) Spike Tape
49) Gaff Tape
50) Masking Tape
51) Duct Tape
52) Electrical Tape
53) Scotch Tape
54) STAR Awards
55) Wireless Microphones
56) Gobos
57) Music Directors
58) Choreographers
59) Props Designers
60) Stage Manager’s Headset
61) Summer Camps
62) School Holiday Mini Camps
63) Hands-on Learning
64) Lighting Designers
65) Set Designers
66) Costume Designers
67) Sound Designers
68) Directors
69) Playwrights
70) Professional Actors for Theatre for the Very Young Productions
71) Lasting Memories
72) Forever Friends
73) Encore Cares
74) Dance Moves
75) Confidence
76) Stage Combat
77) Original Music
78) An Understanding of Shakespeare
79) Story Telling
80) The Healthy Play Initiative Outreach Program
81) New Theatre Works Created Just for Kids
82) Practical STEAM Experience
83) Opportunities for Kids to Shine
84) Rubber Chickens
85) Tree Stumps
86) Communication Skills
87) Literacy
88) Improvisation
89) Teamwork
90) Public Speaking
91) Cooperation
92) Imagination
93) Creativity
94) Empathy
95) Leadership Skills
96) Diction
97) More Time to Just be a Kid
98) A Safe Space
99) A Community Treasure
100) “Theatre by kids, for kids”
Here are further examples of how you could bring theatre to all types of children, on stage, backstage, in the classroom, and in the audience:
$50 offers 4 Title I students the chance to experience a theatrical production, possibly for the first time.
At $75 your gift allows a child to play the day away at one our Holiday Mini-Camp experiences.
A gift of $100 represents a week of morning care for our spring break camp scholarship students.
Your impact goes far beyond the product you see onstage; your gift could last a lifetime to a student discovering the magic of theatre through Encore.
Photos by Aileen Pangan Christian, Cindy Kane Photography, Connie Polnow, Larry McClemons, and Rosemarie O’Connor. Blog contribution by Rosemarie O’Connor.
Celebrating the Catalogue for Philanthropy
Every four years, Encore applies to the Catalogue for Philanthropy for Greater Washington. This year is our third time being recognized as #OneoftheBest nonprofit organizations in the D.C. area.
Hi, all! Your friendly neighborhood Development Associate, Rosemarie, here. I had the pleasure of filling out our application to the Catalogue for 2018-2019 and have seen first-hand what being a part of the Catalogue means. Here are three reasons why we are honored to be in the Catalogue for Philanthropy.
1) The Blue Seal
Fun fact: I interned the summer of 2015 at Encore (here’s proof), the last time we were selected by the Catalogue. That meant that everything I designed or created had to have this blue seal on it. But what does it mean? Every time you see this logo, it means that an outside organization who specializes in nonprofit organizations, took a fine-toothed comb to a bunch of groups and found Encore excellent. The Catalogue for Philanthropy for Greater Washington’s vision is to build, “a stronger, more resilient community, here, where we live.” The Catalogue believes that Encore is part of the fabric of that community. We are honored to be a part of the Catalogue and Encore shares that vision. From the summer I interned to now, Encore’s leadership in Northern Virginia has only grown. When I see the blue seal, I think about Encore’s scholarship programs, outreach initiatives, and the mentorship I see every day in rehearsal. I am proud to work for such a community focused organization.
2) Connecting Passionate People with our Mission
The Catalogue for Philanthropy is a place where people can find nonprofits doing great work in their own backyard. Knowing that an organization is a part of the Catalogue, gives peace of mind to people who are looking to make an impact with their time or with their dollars. With so many wonderful organizations serving a myriad folks, people can use the Catalogue to find a group that aligns with their passions. Each organization in the Catalogue receives a webpage (here’s ours) and becomes listed in their physical catalogue that gets mailed to over 10,000 people. How cool is that?
Halloween 2018
3) Training for Encore’s Staff
No, we are not training for next year’s Costume Caper with the Catalogue. But, they do offer seminars for all facets of nonprofits. Aileen and Shannon on our Marketing Team can go learn about how other groups utilize social media. Sara and I can learn about trends in grants or fundraising. That means all of our wonderful, fun, and intelligent staff members can do an even better job serving Encore and the kids in our area. And our wonderful apprentices, Caolan and Alana can further their learning and dive deep into any of the subjects offered. My favorite workshop from last year was about how to write thank you letters to donors. It helped me connect the words on my computer to the impact of the donor’s contribution. The workshop helped put into perspective that a great letter can communicate how one donation makes a difference for our organization.
I love seeing how much the D.C. region cares from the organizations to the donors and even the Catalogue! If you want to show that you care, make a gift to Encore today to share the power of children’s theatre with the people in your neighborhood.
All About Community: Encore’s Healthy Play Initiative
This #FrontRowFriday, we’re getting into the spirit of the season: community, sharing, and giving. We want you to hear from four of our teaching artists that work with the Healthy Play Initiative (HPI), a program created in 2016 to partner with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to provide enriching creative play for the children of families experiencing food insecurity in Arlington. Read on to find out, from those closest to the program, just what makes HPI so special.
Mara Stewart, Teaching Artist: HPI is one of my favorite classes to teach. I feel like I always leave with a smile and a new experience. It has taught me so much about communication. Even when we can’t speak the same language, we are able to create a positive experience and learn from one and another. For most of the kids, this is their first time in a classroom setting. Healthy play focuses on engaging and dynamic activities. We sing, we dance, we color, we play outside, and we learn about healthy food choices. We focus of transitioning from one activity to the next, sharing and expressing ourselves. This program helps us meet kids in the community that we otherwise might not ever get to know. It is an amazing experience to see these children week after week and watch them grow. The first day we meet a child, they often don’t participate or speak and after a few weeks they blossom. They are engaged, singing and are excited to come to HPI and to me that is the best part.
Caolan Eder, Arts Apprentice: To me, HPI is all about community. The children who participate get a chance to play together in a safe setting and make new friends, learning to cooperate in a group as they prepare for the structured environment of school. The program also helps with communication skills. Many of the children live in non-English-speaking homes and struggle to connect with people outside of their families, so finding new ways of interacting really expands their worlds. I remember well how one child’s whole face lit up when she and I discovered that we spoke a common language and could explain ourselves to each other.
The parents and caregivers build community through HPI, as well. In addition to giving them a breather from the responsibilities that come with raising a family, the program allows adults to form a network of people with shared experiences.
Madaline Langston, Education Programs Manager: HPI has made me more patient. Most of the children that I have had the pleasure of serving are learning English and are trying to do their very best. In the classroom, we focus on listening, focus, and engaging students’ motor skills. HPI is a way to provide social interaction with peers. They learn how to make friends. When I first meet most of our HPI participants, I’ve noticed that they usually only interact with their families or friends. I recall one young boy who had just arrived from Peru and did not speak English. I used my cell phone to translate Spanish to him and he smiled and then slowly pronounced Spanish words to me and I spoke to him in English. So cute and funny at the same time. From that point on, he came to the classes with a smile on his face.
Alana Gibson, Arts Apprentice: [Through HPI,] I’ve become more attentive to the children as people and not just children who are unaware of their surroundings and circumstances. HPI is such a meaningful program because, for the most part, this is the only exposure to English speakers that the children get if they don’t go to classes. It’s also meaningful to Encore because it makes us more culturally aware and understanding which helps us standout in the region and theater community. A few weeks ago, at the Arlington Mill location, we had a pair of siblings that came in because they didn’t have school. Mara, the lead teacher, told me that, just a year ago, these siblings spoke almost no English. I was completely shocked because if she hadn’t told me that, I would have never known. So I’m sure that them coming to the program in combination with their language class helped with this amazing feat! In the classroom, I try to focus on being caring, but also keeping some structure. Most of the children are in the house all week with a parent so I want them to have a chance to run around, but I also want to start to help them get the understanding of how a classroom would work at a real preschool. I’m hopeful that HPI plays a real role in preparing these kids for school as they grow older.
It’s through the generous support of our donors that we are able to bring programs like the Healthy Play Initiative to our community here in Arlington. We believe that this type of outreach and engagement is essential for our mission of bringing “Theatre by kids, for kids” to all types of children and families. The empathy, problem solving, and creativity born in the classroom extends far beyond remaining active in the arts – the skills gained through theatre education can last a lifetime. As the holiday season approaches, make an impact in the lives of Arlington children by making a donation today.
Photos by Shannon McCarthy, Sara Duke, and Aileen Christian. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Theatre Magic Monday: Honoring Fairlington Dental
Welcome back to The Front Row, Encore fans. Today we’re pumped to share a new feature with you: Theatre Magic Mondays. It takes a wonderful group of participants, families, volunteers, and community supporters to bring 50 years of “Theatre by kids, for kids” to Arlington. We want to share some of these awesome people with you!
On Friday, October 5th, Encore was thrilled to honor longtime supporters, Fairlington Dental. Their generous support has brought many Encore productions to the stage, including this season’s Ghostchasers, as well as The Jungle Book (2017), the world premiere of Cul de Sac (2016), and many more.
Development Associate Rosemarie O’Connor and Board President Carole Russo proudly presented the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award to Dr. Michael B. Rogers, DDS before the opening performance of Ghosterchasers! Dr. Rogers was kind enough to share some words about his relationship to theatre:
Dr. Rogers shared that he initially started supporting Encore because he personally knows the benefits of children participating in live theatre. He played the Wizard in his school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, a show that reminds us about courage, heart, and bravery. As he waited backstage for his first entrance, Dr. Rogers was so nervous. His first few lines were fine because he was behind a curtain – then came the reveal scene. Dr. Rogers was anxiously waiting, then the curtain opened and he saw the audience. Instead of running away from his fear, he showed bravery in his performance and had a great time. Dr. Rogers reminded us that theatre makes an impact on the lives of young people and teaches them life skills that carry over into all sorts of careers, even dentistry.
Many thanks to Fairlington Dental for their continued support of “Theatre by kids, for kids” over the years. Their generous sponsorship will bring two of our upcoming productions to life: Jingle ARRGH the Way sets sail November 16th, 2018 and the Sherwood Forest comes to life in Robin Hood, starting February 22nd. These lively tales feature casts of hilarious and wonderful characters, so you won’t want to miss these shows. Act now to purchase your best seats today! Tickets can be purchased online or by calling our Box Office at (703) 548-1154.
Photos and GIF by Aileen Christian. Logo provided by Fairlington Dental. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy and Rosemarie O’Connor.
Visit Encore at Clarendon Day 2018!
With students back to school and the first crunchy leaves on the ground, fall is just around the corner! With fall comes the annual Clarendon Day street festival. This year’s festivities will take place on Saturday, September 22nd and Encore will be there to celebrate! Why should you come join us? We’re so glad you asked!
2) Satisfy your cravings! You might be on your way home from Saturday classes or headed to rehearsal – in any case, the plethora of delicious restaurants at CD will surely have your tummies rumbling, but not for long!
3) Take in a show! From Irish step dancing to ballet and local singer-songwriters, there’s so much to see and hear at Clarendon Day. Perhaps you’ll discover a new favorite band or be inspire to dance a jig yourself!
4) Get crafty! Looking for something to decorate your locker or your desk at work? Maybe shopping for a birthday gift or getting a jump start on the holidays? With over fifty vendors featured, Clarendon Day is a great place to start!
5) Spread the Encore love! We love our Encore family of students, teachers, families, and volunteers – so much that we love watching that family grow! Come visit our booth and share your stories of Encore shows, camps, and other adventures with new friends. Looking to get some volunteer hours in for your organization? If you’re an Encore alum (or current show participant), sign up for a shift at Encore’s booth using our SignUpGenius! Our volunteers are so great at sharing that we won’t have to “chase” anyone down to come see the first show of our season!
Photos by Larry McClemons, Connie Polnow, and Aileen Pangan. Graphic by Aileen Pangan. Blog contribution by Shannon McCarthy.
Five Reasons to Choose Encore for Your CFC Giving
We are celebrating our 50th Anniversary this year at Encore! We’ve done a lot in our time. Check out some quick facts about our 50 years and how you can help make the next 50 even better.
This year we are excited to produce Disney’s The Lion King Jr., Sherlock Holmes, Seussical, and more!
From leadership skills, to empathy, to self-confidence, Encore brings out the best in each student that walks into to a class, camp, or production.
Encore classes start for children at 6 months old and go all the way through high school!
Encore started with A Pocket of Preposterous Poems in Lubber Run Park in 1967. Now we produce at least six shows a year!
Our CFC Designation number is 69654. With you help, “theatre by kids, for kids” can continue on for another 50 years and beyond! Click here to choose Encore as your CFC giving today.
Encore Receives Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award
Encore Stage & Studio to Receive National Theatre Award
Encore Stage & Studio, Inc. of Arlington, Virginia is being honored with the Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award from the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT). The award will be presented at an awards ceremony during the AACTFest 2017 national festival in Rochester, Minnesota June 26-July 1, 2017.
The AACT Twink Lynch Organizational Achievement Award recognizes AACT member theatres for successfully completing major steps in new directions, expanding services to their community, or moving to the next level of organizational development. Visit aact.org/awards for information on all AACT National Awards, 2017 AACT Award winners, and previous honorees.
Encore Stage & Studio, Inc. founded in 1967, is a children’s theatre that creates casts comprised entirely of students ages 9-18. The theatre invites children ages 12-18 to participate as backstage crew members, board operator, house managers, and stage managers. Until 2010, when their first Executive Director was hired, Encore was managed solely by a small team of dedicated volunteers. Since 2012, staffing has expanded to include six full-time and two part-time staff members, an arts administration apprentice, multiple summer interns and hundreds of production and education contractors. In just six short years, the organization’s budget has grown from $225,000 to $750,000, and programming has expanded not only in the number of shows per season, but in various camps, educational, and business partnership activities. The theatre has been recognized for its consistently excellent programs and was featured in a Backstage.com article entitled “12 Great Children’s Theatres across the U.S.”
AACT provides networking, resources, and support for America’s theatres. AACT represents the interests of more than 7,000 theatres across the United States and its territories, as well as theatre companies with the U.S. Armed Services overseas.
Dreams Come True with Encore Cares’ Director Xander Tilock
Welcome back to Encore’s Front Stage blog! Today we’re excited to share an interview with Xander Tilock, the student director of Just Like Us, the first installment of the new Encore Cares project. This is a community service based program that brings a live theatre experience to kids who may not be able to access the theater. This production will travel to the Culmore Boys and Girls Club to share the joy of theatre with all members of our community, as well as performing at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Encore: Tell us about yourself! How long have you been involved with Encore and how did you come to be a director at such a young age?
Xander: I’ve been involved with Encore since January 2015, first appearing onstage as Guard 1 and Thug 3 in Encore’s The Three Musketeers. However, being a director someday was my first dream, since I was four years old. Once I saw an Encore show for the first time, I also wanted to make the audience laugh and be onstage as an actor. After participating in five shows as a cast member, I am thrilled to fulfill this dream of mine by directing this show.
Encore: What drew you toward the role of director?
Xander: There is nothing like the genuine laughter of a young child who is watching a story come to life on stage. Once the curtain goes down, everyone walks away with something special too. In my littlest brother’s case, he always takes the characters home with him after the show and they live in his imagination for years afterwards! Encore is my family. I love everyone and their unique characteristics. From my view, this passion is one that I want to share with everyone, even if they aren’t able to experience it at a typical Encore performance.
Encore: Could you tell us a bit about Just Like Us? What influenced your choice of this script?
Xander: I chose Just Like Us because right away I knew I wanted a short play with a powerful message. When doing a search and this show came up, I was drawn to it right away. This play is by Craig Sodaro who also wrote Night at The Wax Museum (a recent Encore play I was in) and other great shows. Just Like Us also has a message that most resembles how I feel when I’m at Encore. Anyone can be or do anything they choose, and that is beautiful. This is what Encore means to me.
Encore: What’s been the best part of the rehearsal process?
Xander: Probably that awesome feeling when I arrive at Encore and someone says, “Hi Xander!” To know that I have an important role to play and that I feel I have a family at Encore is a very special to me.
Encore: What do you enjoy most about working with other young theatre-makers?
Xander: That it’s easy to have a good chemistry and connect with my fellow Encore family. They truly understand the circumstances that kids my age have and experience every day, which they bring to all of the great work they do.
Encore: What’s been the biggest challenge?
Xander: Probably that kids can be involved in lots of activities and schedules can be hard. Now I see from the director’s point of view what happens when kids miss rehearsals. But, Encore is worth every moment that you put in, which comes across when everyone gives their best on stage.
Encore: Could you describe Just Like Us in just a few short words?
Xander: Life can be hard, but united we win.
Encore: What about anyone who might be considering auditioning for the cast or crew of a show?
Xander: You need to be the right piece of the puzzle the director is looking for – and if it doesn’t fit this time, don’t give up, because there’s always another show!
Thanks so much for discussing the show with us, Xander. We want to say “Break legs!” to you and the whole cast of Just Like Us as you prepare for your performances this week.
If you’re hoping to audition for Encore this coming season, be sure to mark your calendars for our Season Reveal Ice Cream Social on June 4th. It will follow the 3 PM performance of The Jungle Book. We are so excited to share our 50th Anniversary season with you – we guarantee that it will be #SweeterThanEver!
Photos by Larry McClemons and Aileen Pangan
Blog contribution: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice
Keeping Healthy in the New Year with HPI
Holidays greetings from Encore! If you’re anything like us, the holidays have been full of wonderful meetings with family or friends, festive fun, and, of course, more than a yummy treat or two. While it can be lovely to indulge during a celebration, we wanted to chat with the ambassadors for our Healthy Play Initiative (HPI) to ask for some tips as we look toward the New Year and our resolutions.
Encore: Hello! Please introduce yourselves.
Enrique: Hello! My name is Eat Healthy Enrique.
Mona: And I’m Get Moving Mona!
Encore: What are your favorite things to do?
Mona: I love to dance and exercise. I also have a beautiful voice. I sing like the birds. My voice soars high above the trees.
Enrique: I enjoy trying new foods. I also love to sing songs of joy and happiness with my friends.
What about your favorite things to eat and drink?
Enrique: When you look into my refrigerator, you will see all kinds of foods from the five food groups. But my favorite food is fish! And, of course, you need water. What fish doesn’t need water?
Mona: What?
Enrique: What? It makes sense!
Mona: I like to keep it natural. I’m happy with chicken, brown rice, carrot, apples, and milk. Not necessarily in that order.
Encore: What do you like most about coming to visit at HPI?
Enrique: I love seeing the children every week; they make me laugh and we have a lot of fun. They share their favorite foods each week. It helps me create new recipes.
Mona: I too love hearing the sounds of laughter and encouraging them to keep moving. At the end of class, it is so wonderful to ask the kids about which activities they participated in. They tell me everything, from jumping, hopping, hula hooping, singing, dancing, all kinds of fun and games!
Encore: How can our readers join in on the fun?
Enrique: Join us at the Gates of Balston, every Friday from 1pm-3pm.
Mona: But come prepared to move and have FUN!
Encore: What are you most looking forward to over the holidays?
Enrique: I can’t wait to try out some new healthy recipes! I hope the children will share some of their favorite foods with me in the New Year.
Mona: I can’t wait to spend time with friends and family. And to work on some new dance routines!
Encore: What are some of your top New Year’s resolutions to share with our readers?
Mona: Life is beautiful! Treat your body right. Get plenty of exercise and rest.
Enrique: Know that change is possible. Eat to live. And, of course, stay healthy!
Thank you so much for sharing about HPI and your tips for living healthily in the new year, Mona and Enrique! To learn more about the Healthy Play Initiative, please click here. If you and your young ones would like to learn more about making positive food choices, be sure to mark your calendars for Encore’s very first Theatre for the Very Young production, Kitchen Adventures, premiering February 9, 2017!
Photo credits: Aileen Pangan, Shannon McCarthy, Sara Duke
Graphic Design: Aileen Pangan
Blog contributor: Shannon McCarthy, 2016-17 Arts Apprentice