We just can’t believe that Thanksgiving is a week away! As they say, time flies when you’re having fun, and it’s been quite the exciting season for Encore so far. From The Best Haunted House Ever to our first-ever Costume Caper 5K, we’ve been having a blast – it’s no wonder the time has taken off on us!
We couldn’t be more thrilled for the holiday season to begin, because that means that #GivingTuesday is right around the corner! As this day of philanthropy approaches, we want to take a moment to consider why we are so thankful to have Encore Stage & Studio in our lives.
#1: Encore provides an artistic home for theatre-makers of all ages.
Our philosophy is that it is never too early to start developing a love for theatre. We’ve recently begun to offer a new series of Baby and Toddler classes to cater to the youngest artists among us. Encore offers camps and classes for students of all ages up to 18. The fun, however, does not stop there! Encore alumni are always encouraged to stay involved through the annual summer musical, and some have even remained a part of the Encore family as teaching artists!
#2: Encore is a part of the Arlington community.
Our goals extend beyond connecting with people as audience members to have a broader impact within our community. This desire to make connections leads us to partnering with other stellar institutions to create programs that will have a positive impact on our neighbors. We are certainly thankful for our collaboration with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) to create a Healthy Play Initiative for the children of the Buckingham neighborhood at the Gates of Ballston, encouraging nutritious eating habits and an active lifestyle.
#3: Young leaders emerge through the Encore experience.
Here at Encore, our students lead the way. Overseen by an adult director, our high school stage managers tackle the enormous responsibility of organizing and running a full-scale production. In recent seasons, we’ve been lucky to have several students step up to tackle design roles on our shows. The dedication, focus, organization, and presence required for these positions are just a few of the innumerable skills young artists acquire by taking on leadership roles in Encore productions.
#4: Innovation drives us forward!
Resting on laurels, wonderful though they may be, just doesn’t cut it for us here at Encore. We are constantly finding ways to expand and grow as an organization. We achieve this through new classes and camps, new events (like our Costume Caper 5K), and even the commissioning of new plays for the children’s theatre canon.
#5: Celebrating 50 years of “Theatre by Kids, for Kids!”
What an amazing thing to be thankful for! Encore has been serving the Arlington community since 1967 and we couldn’t be more thrilled to share our upcoming 50th season with all of you and your families.
Please join us in raising the curtain on 50 more years of “Theatre by kids, for kids” by supporting Encore during this year’s #GivingTuesday event on November 29th, 2016.
Photo credits: Aileen Pangan, Rosemarie O’Connor
Cul de Sac graphic by: Richard Thompson
Blog contributor: Shannon McCarthy, 2016 Arts Apprentice
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