Chance Theater Opens Up Summer Youth Program SPEAK UP to All Students

This year, Chance Theater is opening up its summer youth program Speak Up - Take A 'Chance' to all students. Over five weeks, students will work collaboratively with their peers to write, design, and perform a new play under the mentorship of Chance staff, professional designers and professional actors! Led by Chance Resident Artist Tanae Beyer, this program is designed for students 12-18 years old, and runs from June 24 through July 29, culminating in two performances of their original show on July 29 and 30 at 7pm at Chance Theater. Students must register by June 15.

"Speak Up- Take a 'Chance' has allowed me to express myself in an artistic manner and for once I felt like I had a voice and it mattered. I felt like I was a part of something great, positive and important" - Daphne R., grade 9

"I learned to be more outgoing and trusting of my fellow actors and how to build an entire play from the ground up. It was an extremely productive summer and a great experience!" - Carolina M., grade 7

"Every time I watch a show that our Speak Up kids create, I have an 'a-ha' moment," said Managing Director Casey Long. "It's truly remarkable what the students come up with. Since we are only there to guide them to tell the story they want to tell, one that is personally important to them, a lot of them really open up and explore what it means to express yourself in a safe and creative environment. I look forward to what they're going to say every year."

For almost a decade, the Chance has worked with Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) students to present original productions as part of the Speak Up - Take a 'Chance' program, completely free-of-charge to AUHSD students. This year, for the first time, we are offering non-AUHSD students the opportunity to apply for scholarships, to help ensure we have as many voices as possible involved in Speak Up.

Over the five-week course, students are guided through a collaborative process as they explore their own creativity while writing an original production. By participating in all elements of constructing and producing a new play (playwriting, acting, marketing, etc.), under the guidance of artistic staff and our program director, the students take ownership of every aspect of an original theatrical work, and learn that theater can be a powerful means for self-expression. Additionally, during the process, they also gain confidence, grow a sense of community, as well as learn leadership, teambuilding, communication and public speaking skills.

Studies show that developing "21st Century Skills," which include problem solving, critical and creative thinking, dealing with ambiguity and complexity, integration of multiple skill sets, and the ability to perform cross-disciplinary tasks, is in decline due to the loss of many arts programs in schools. By teaching these skills to our students, they will personally benefit and, ultimately, our community will benefit ten-fold as they mature and join the workforce with these skills.

Tanae Beyer has been a Chance Theater resident artist since 2005 where she served as education director for 5 years before going back to school to get her MA in Theater from California State University, San Bernardino and secondary teaching credential from California Baptist University. Currently she teaches drama at Santiago High School in Corona and recently directed their production of A Christmas Carol. Aside from directing five "Speak Up" productions and two Chance summer youth musicals, Tanae's production credits with Chance Theater includes Little Women - The Broadway Musical (Associate Director), The Who's Tommy(Stage Manager, also performed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts), A Christmas Story (Stage Manager), and is currently the Stage Manager for this summer's Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. She is a graduate of Concordia University, Irvine with degrees in Theater and Communications and she also studied Theater of the Oppressed at CUNY and Creative Arts Team of New York.

This program is generously funded, in part, by Anaheim Community Foundation, Elizabeth George Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Greater Anaheim, Assistance League of Anaheim and Anaheim Arts Council.

PROGRAM FEE: $150.00. Must submit a completed Speak Up Registration Packet by June 15, 2013. Download the Registration Packet atwww.ChanceTheater.com; or request a packet be e-mailed to you by calling (714) 777-3033.

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