The Cast of Eagle Theatre's THE FANTASTICKS Supports Arts Education

Eagle Theatre's THE FANTASTICKS hosts a cast full of arts education advocates. Paul Weagraff, a professional actor hailing from Wilmington, Delaware, has appeared in six Eagle Theatre productions. Currently starring in THE FANTASTICKS, his view on the importance of arts education spans far beyond the theatre itself. Weagraff states, "As a former history teacher, integrating the arts into my classes engaged students that otherwise would have been marginalized, and infused energy and enthusiasm into topics that, to them, seemed distant and irrelevant."

Eagle Theatre Conservatory, a year-round theatre intensive, boasts a curriculum that offers enrollees an opportunity to gain access to arts and culture that have been cut from the classroom.

Kimberly Suskind, Director of Youth Education, claims, "Attending one theatre intensive can present an opportunity for growth in confidence, social skills, and cognitive ability. Arts education has the power to help us connect to ourselves, as well as each other. That is a power we cannot afford to ignore." Eagle Theatre Conservatory offers a variety of intensives throughout the year held by professional teaching artists, including; acting, music, improvisation, dance, stage combat, sketch comedy, and technical theatre.

"Implementing arts education goes beyond artistry. Even more than cultivating creativity, it teaches discipline, promotes tenacity and encourages teamwork. On a personal level, I have become the hard working and determined person that I am because of arts and theatre education," states THE FANTASTICKS ingénue and NY native, Morgan Smith. Eagle Theatre Conservatory's has grown exponentially, doubling it's enrollment in just one year.Shamus Hunter McCarty, Philadelphia native and THE FANTASTICKS comedic relief, claims, "Theatre teaches collaboration and the best way to learn it is by doing. Ï would not be the person and performer I am today without learning from professional theatre artists throughout my life and career."

Currently running in tandem with THE FANTASTICKS is Eagle Theatre Conservatory's Fall Intensive, "Be Your Favorite Character." From Riverdale, to iCarly, Star Wars to Harry Potter, this offering allows children 6 - 17 to work with industry professionals on learning how to craft and develop any character. Eagle Theatre plans to open enrollment for their Spring Intensive in December. Weagraff concluded, "The value of arts education cannot be overstated. It provides essential skills for the broader workforce: creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and social skills. Engagement in arts education builds self-esteem, enhances an understanding of self and society, and contributes to a comprehensive educational experience." This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts

Eagle Theatre, South Jersey's only year-round Professional Equity Theatre, is dedicated to redefining regional theatre. The theatre produces more than 160 live performances each year, including full-scale Broadway caliber World Premieres and re-conceptualized revivals; New Works Development Series play readings; a traveling Theatre for Youth Audiences program, specializing in providing arts education to schools in under served communities; an Annual Fringe Festival, a 3-day street fair and theatrical marathon, featuring multiple eclectic productions, a beer and wine garden, pop-up art, food, live music, and street performers; and Eagle Theatre Conservatory, a year-round tuition based theatrical institute for all ages and levels of professionalism.

This award-winning culturally diverse epicenter boasts state of the art technical equipment, a free double parking lot, Sharrott Winery's on-site Wine Lounge, and is located within walking distance of several boutiques and acclaimed dining destinations in beautifully revitalized Downtown Hammonton, serving patrons from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and beyond.

Eagle Theatre originally opened its doors in 1914 as a silent movie theatre. The theatre was restored in 2009 to serve as a performing arts center. Since the reopening, Eagle Theatre has quickly grown into a nationally recognized non-profit producing organization.

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