The Barn Theatre School Delivers Family Entertainment and Increased Youth Outreach

As the summer season passes the halfway mark, the Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training expresses thanks to the community for supporting youth outreach programs and efforts to deliver top notch family entertainment to Southwest Michigan.

The Barn Theatre School has already reached over 900 youth participants in The Backstage Xperience, and BSX attendance for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN will push this number over 1,000.

This increased community impact is due in large part to the new nonprofit administration of The Barn Theatre School. As announced in May, The Barn Theatre School for Advanced Theatre Training now fully runs all administrative operations at the Barn Theatre.

"Going nonprofit has given us tremendous opportunity to increase our education outreach efforts and impact in the community," says Barn Theatre Producer Brendan Ragotzy. "It's a big change in how we operate behind the scenes, but it's a positive change, an opportunity for us to grow. We not only continue to provide the very best professional theatre entertainment, but we also have a chance to inspire the youth in our community."

In an effort to draw more young families, the 2013 Barn Theatre season features more family entertainment than ever. Under the artistic leadership of Brendan Ragotzy, the summer's theatre lineup has featured family friendly musicals, such as Peter Pan, Tarzan and Shrek.

Patrons and participants in the Backstage Xperience have responded with enthusiasm:

· Trish Farris Young - The Backstage Xperience was fabulous! I brought my daughter and 3 of her friends. They can NEVER get enough about learning and seeing theatre things....Everyone at the Barn was amazing and made us feel welcomed!! Wish we lived closer!

· Jaime Ward Nichols - The Backstage Xperience was AMAZING. I attended with my daughter for Peter Pan and the 7 year olds were entranced the ENTIRE time (hard to do @ that age. Cannot wait till my other daughter attends Shrek with outstanding program. Go Barnies, we love you!

· Jody Baker-Washington - Amazing experience last night!! I had 4 very happy and tired girls on the way home after getting a behind-the-scenes look at Tarzan then seeing the play!! Words cannot describe how grateful I am to you for having this Backstage Experience program!!!

· Colleen Christie Mullins Valkema - Thank you so much for last night's Backstage Xperience! Shrek was phenomenal! My kids are still singing the songs this morning! Loved it! "...now I'm a Believer!!!!" This was the best!!!!

With only one more show on the schedule, Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein, the Barn Theatre School would like to thank our patrons and donors for their generous support in funding our programs.

We would like to thank the Barn Theatre Board of Directors, Battle Creek Tile & Mosaic, CM Contracting, Inc., Cook-Jackson Company, Union Electric, Inc., and United States Lumber for donating professional time, materials, and labor in renovating the Rehearsal Shed Lounge.

A huge thank you to our numerous individual, corporate, and foundation partners for their support in bringing the Backstage Xperience to the Barn Theatre School. Our Founding sponsors are The Guido A, and Elizabeth H. Binda Foundation, CM Contracting, Inc., Eaton Corporation, and Worgess Insurance. We also have additional support from The Battle Creek Community Foundation, Battle Creek Tile & Mosaic, the Kruse Arts and Theatre Fund of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Mark and Cheryl Hires, OMNI Community Credit Union, Post Foods, Ralcorp, and Turner Veterinary Clinic.

The Barn Theatre School Board, lead by President Mark Hires, has been tireless in their push to fund the summer theatre program. "We have made great progress. There is more work to do," says Mr. Hires. "Our Backstage Xperience volunteers are extremely appreciated, and we find that they encourage others to donate not just funding but also their time - It's incredibly appreciated. Corporate, charitable and individual donor support is absolutely vital to continue our work onstage and off. We thank you for your support!

Secure online donations may be made online via PayPal at www.barntheatreschool.org or simply mail your donation to: Barn Theatre School, PO Box 277, Augusta, MI 49012.

Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 8:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 PM. The Barn Theatre is located on M-96, west of Augusta. Tickets are $35.00 for all performances. and Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. The Box Office is open daily 10:00 am-10:00 pm. Tickets may now be purchased on the internet or on your smart phone via PayPal at www.barntheatre.com. ~ To reserve tickets at the Box Office Call today: (269) 731-4121.

Pictured: (top) First Year Apprentice Kelsey Braman (right) presents Props workshop for the Peter PanBackstage Xperience; (side, middle) Fairytale characters emplore Shrek (Eric Parker, Center) to help them; (side, bottom) Roy Brown as Igor, Eric Parker as the Monster, Kevin White as Frederick Frankenstein and Bethany Edlund as Inga in Young Frankenstein.

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