Bay Street Theater Welcomes New Director of Education

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce that AVA LOCKS has joined Bay Street Theater as the DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION. Her role at Bay Street Theater encompasses theater arts education through administering Bay Street's kids camps, as well as acting and audition Master classes for young adults. She will develop new educational programs at Bay Street for children and adults. In addition, Ava will continue to grow the reach of Literature Live, a BOCES-approved Arts-in-Education program, which brings regional schools in to see curriculum-based literature come to life on stage in a professional production. This year's production of John Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN will run November 9-29.

"Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is a resource for the East End Community the whole year round," says Bay Street Artistic Director Scott Schwartz, "Educational programming built around live performance and the work we do on our stage is a central part of our mission. I am thrilled to welcome Ava Locks to the Bay Street team. She is a talented and accomplished educator, a long time resident of the East End with deep ties to our community, and is someone who I am confident will bring new energy and growth to the educational programs we offer for both kids and adults."

"I am delighted," says Ava, "to join the team at Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts where I can build upon and expand the unique and educational offerings for the community. As a New York State certified Special Education teacher who attends Bay Street's Literature Live productions I am thrilled to be a part of this BOCES-approved Arts-in-Education program that offers students' varied learning styles prospect in content comprehension and exposure to the performing arts for free!"

In addition to teaching, Ava has developed and written curriculum and promotional materials for a variety of educational organizations. She enjoys the opportunities they present for educational outreach within her community. Ava is on the board of trustees for East End Special Education Parent Teacher Organization, (East End SEPTO), and on the Town of Southampton's Business Advisory Council. She was a founding staff member for the Children's Museum of the East End, (CMEE). As Director of Education and Marketing at CMEE Ava established community partnerships and programming with local organizations. Ava is committed to encouraging community organizations, members and new audiences to participate in current and new programs at Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts.

Ava received a Master of Science, Childhood Education, from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts, Theater Production, from Bennington College. She has worked off Broadway, regionally, network television and in film before moving to the East End. "There are countless opportunities for community stake holders to participate in offerings that will continue to shape the theater and its center for the arts as a treasured resource."

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is a year-round, not-for-profit professional theater and community cultural center which endeavors to innovate, educate, and entertain a diverse community through the practice of the performing arts. We serve as a social and cultural gathering place, an educational resource, and a home for a community of artists.

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