Drama Warehouse a Success!!!

On Thursday, May 3^rd the North Central Louisiana Arts Council (NCLAC) and the Jackson Parish Library concluded their five week session of Drama Warehouse.  Drama Warehouse is literacy based educational outreach project aimed at high school students who do not have theatre in their public school curriculum. During the five weeks session students worked with instructor Allison Gilbert Bennett who holds a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre from Louisiana Tech University and who owns Stitchville a downtown Ruston business.  When asked why this project was so important she responded “The pro’s of this project are not just the exposure to performing arts but rather the skill building exercises that strengthen public speaking.”  Each student performed Poetry, Short Story, or a self written piece.  Bennett said “It was amazing experience to watch the students blossom from the first week to the final performance…to see them become confident expressing their points of view and standing in front of an audience.”

NCLAC would not have been able to achieve this project without the generous donations of our community.  Special thanks to Jackson Parish Library, Casey Parkinson, Joshua Chambers, Travis & Kitty DeFreese, John O’Neal, KLS Physics Group, Gary & Terry Nix, Laura Hunt, Hi Tech Computers, Roberta Green Hinton, John & Nancy Wallace, and Charlotte Bailey.  Without individuals like these our programs would not be a success.

Drama Warehouse Finale: A Fairytale Ending

Families at the Bernice Civic Center were given a special treat last Monday, when Drama Warehouse participants performed creative fairy tales under the direction of Allie Bennet. Drama Warehouse is an arts education program that creatively pairs theatre fundamentals and literacy. NCLAC holds the workshop annually in one of its four-parish service area locations. This year for the first time, NCLAC and the Northeast LA Adult and Family Literacy Consortium (NELAFLC) joined forces to hold the workshop in Bernice. Union Parish has a 40% dropout rate, so this program is aimed at breaking the dropout cycle through arts in education. The on-site coordinator for the workshop was NELAFLC's Kay Brown.

Allie Bennet, actress and owner of Stitchville in Ruston, worked with children and parents for 5 weeks, teaching theatre basics, from audition to performance. Involving parents in the program made learning a family affair, with homework assignments that could be discussed at the dinner table. Each week, participants explored various aspects of fairy tales and fables, from reading, writing, illustrating, re-interpreting and finally to expressing themselves in character on stage. The theatre exercises employed by Bennet boosted confidence, promoted literacy and increased communication for the Drama Warehouse members. The final performance gave the participants a chance to perform their new skills on stage for an audience: from scripts and blocking to costumes and cues. After the performance there was a celebration with Raising Cane's, thoughtfully donated by NCLAC Board Member Josh Shirley.

The Drama Warehouse workshop was made possible by generous donations such as these, and through the "Move Up, Not Out" campaign. Financial support was given by:      Muddyfingers Pottery, ETC      Elizabeth A. English      John A. O'Neal      Catherine & Winston McVea      John & Nancy Wallace      KLS Physics Group      Johnny Maxwell      John & Sallie Emory      Mary Louise Carter      Hollis Downs      Jane N. Atchison      Davison Transport      Raising Cane's      Margaret Ann James Without our tireless supporters, the program would not have been possible.  Thank you all so very much! The exposure to the arts offered by this workshop will perhaps be the spark to ignite a love of learning and creative thinking.

SAC Encounter

Allie Bennet is our star teacher in today's SAC Encounter. Allie will be teaching Drama and early morning yoga classes for many of our camps this summer. Allie has theatre experience in both the US and Germany, acting in many shows including Sleeping Beauty and I Remember Mama. Allie's theatre credentials also include costuming, having designed and constructed shows such as Seussical the Musical, Alice in Wonderland and A Few Good Men.

Allie taught for NCLAC's Summer Arts Camps last year, and she just completed our Drama Warehouse workshop, where she instructed children and parents in Bernice on theatre fundamentals. Allie is the owner of Stitchville, downtown Ruston's new fabric and yarn shop, where she holds children's summer camps, and adult sewing and knitting classes.

Our camps are filling up, with only a few spaces left at the Ruston 1 Camp (June 27-July 1) so be sure to register now! Call us at 255-1450, or download the registration PDF in the "My Shared Files" box at the bottom of your screen. Camps begin in 3 weeks!

Drama Warehouse Update

Every week we will be hearing from Allie Bennet, our Drama Warehouse Instructor, about her experiences with this year's group. Thanks to all our individual donors who made this amazing project possible. WEEK THREE

Today we began by warming up with our tongue twisters and name games again. Then we read a great version of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” along with a few of Aesop’s Fables. I explained that Aesop’s Fables always have a moral, and we talked about the importance of that for a few minutes. As an example, I read a well known fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” ending with the important moral. We then began reading the scripts which we will perform on our final day- May 23 at noon. Our 3 stories will be “The Three Little Pigs,” “The Gingerbread Man,” and “The Little Polar Bear.” Everyone got a turn to read. And I’m proud to say, I could hear everyone from the back row (some with a little prodding). Our last assignment for the day was as follows: Each child got a sheet of drawing paper and writing paper. They were to draw any character from our 3 stories and then form a story around that character, one that was different than the stories we were already telling. We had some great imaginative tales! Each child and mother got up in front of everyone and told their tale as illustrated in their drawings. The purpose of that activity was to use already established characters (a starting off point) and create our very own fairy tales. Who knows, maybe we’ve got some budding Aesops or Grimm Brothers in our group!

Drama Warehouse Update

Every week we will be hearing from Allie Bennet, our Drama Warehouse Instructor, about her experiences with this year's group.  Thanks to all our individual donors who made this amazing project possible. WEEK TWO

The kids (and their parents) did a great job with their homework assignments.  I had quite a few bring in books and stories to read aloud today.  We also read some other fairy tales, The Emperor’s New Clothes was a big hit, lots of “ewws!” when the king decided to flounce around town in his birthday suit.  What surprises me so much about these classes is that there are many of the children who know of these stories. We also started a few tongue twisters.  The kids really enjoy this, and giggle when we try to say  “Rubber baby buggy bumpers” three times fast.  Some of the mothers, who are still mastering English, are unsure but nonetheless participate willingly. We also play a special game of hangman, where the kids have to act out letters instead of just guessing and yelling them out.  It’s amazing to see kids, who are so shy to speak, hop up and act out the silliest of examples!

Drama Warehouse Update

Every week we will be hearing from Allie Bennet our Drama Warehouse Instructor about her experiences with this years group.  Thanks to all our individual donors who made this amazing project possible.  WEEK ONE

NCLAC, for the first time in Drama Warehouse history, has partnered with the Northeast LA Adult and Family Literacy Consortium (NELAFLC).  Located in the Bernice Civic Center, every week, multiple families of multiple backgrounds meet in an attempt to improve their way of life.  NELAFLC offers care and support to preschool age children, academic support to school age children, and language and GED assistance to adults in the community.  Many of the participants are Hispanic American and are in varying stages of learning the English language.  The Drama Warehouse goal for this particular enterprise will be to further integrate literacy and reduce the dropout rate of youth in the area.

The plan for this endeavor is based in Fairy Tales.  I have introduced well-known fairy tales to the group, and encouraged them to come up with their own narratives.  Their “homework” for the first week was to go home, and, with their families, read rhymes, stories, and tall tales until they find a favorite.  We will read and explore the stories and they will delve into script writing and performing based on these tales.

Our final show, where we plan to perform our original interpretations of our tales, will be Monday, May 23, at the Bernice Civic Center.  All are encouraged to come.  The Bernice establishment and their vast undertaking is truly a worthwhile battle not to be lost.

Drama Warehouse: Moving Up, Not Out

NCLAC has partnered with the Northeast LA Adult and Family Literacy Consortium (NELAFLC) to bring our annual Drama Warehouse workshop to Bernice at the end of the month. The primary goal of this partnership is to break Union Parish's 40% dropout rate through dramatic activities that boost confidence and promote literacy.  Allie Bennet, local actress and owner of Stitchville, is our teacher for the program.  Using the fundamentals of theatre, she will work with the student/parent pairs in an effort to increase communication and build toward a final performance to which the participants may invite family and friends. Drama Warehouse will run through the end of May.

Thank You Drama Warehouse Sponsors

The North Central LA Arts Council would like to thank our 2010 Drama Warehouse Sponsors: Muddyfingers Pottery, ETC Elizabeth A. English John A. O'Neal Catherine & Winston McVea John & Nancy Wallace KLS Physics Group Johnny Maxwell John & Sallie Emory Mary Louise Carter Rep. Hollis Homer Downs Jane N. Atchison Genesis Energy/Davison Transportation Margaret Ann James

This particular program is one of our most successful and well-received, and it would not be possible without supporters like you.

NCLAC and NELAFLC Join Forces to Move Students Up, Not Out

The Problem Did you know Union Parish has the highest high school dropout rate in north central Louisiana?

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, nearly 40% of Union Parish teens don’t receive a high school diploma. While reasons vary, nearly half of students said they dropped out because classes were uninteresting. Others said school became too difficult.

While there are exceptions to every rule, the Alliance for Excellent Education reports those without high school diplomas are generally less healthy, have babies earlier, and die earlier. They also need social welfare more often, and their children are more likely to become dropouts, creating an endless cycle of poverty.

NCLAC’s Move Up, Not Out Philosophy

Literacy leads to academic success, and this year, NCLAC is partnering with the Northeast Louisiana Adult and Family Literacy Consortium (NELAFLC) to present our program Drama Warehouse in Union parish. Our goal is to break the dropout cycle by inspiring potential dropouts and adults who’ve dropped out to value education, so they’ll be better prepared to move up in life.

Since 1994, NCLAC has presented Drama Warehouse in Lincoln, Jackson, Bienville, Claiborne, and Union parish. Traditionally, the program has focused exclusively on the basics of theatre from auditions to performance.

This year, we will be adding a new literacy-building component. Scholarly research shows that dramatic activities increase literacy. Plus, drama is fun and boosts confidence.

While working with at-risk youth and non-traditional students in Union parish, NCLAC and NELAFLC will also encourage teacher observation and will give teachers resources about using drama to promote literacy.

How You Can Help NCLAC

NCLAC needs to raise $1500 locally to make this program happen. Your tax-deductible donation will help NCLAC pay our program coordinator and will provide supplies such as costumes and notebooks.

Coordinator Chris Tamez is currently seeking a dual Master’s degree in theatre and education, where his emphasis is on stage movement and working with children with disabilities. Chris has also coached high school football, has a Bachelor’s degree in English, and has worked with NCLAC in other programs.

Please consider partnering with us. Those who give at least $50 will be thanked on our Drama Warehouse T-shirts. Those who give $100 will receive a free T-shirt. Thank you for supporting arts and education in north central Louisiana. Further questions? Please contact us.