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San Diego Junior Theatre News & Reviews
Question: What are you doing this summer?
Leasa: I will be teaching at JT Camp all summer! I’m also going hiking/ camping, planting a garden and building a waterfall in my back yard.On the weekends I’m trying to to get stuff done around my house which is almost 100 years old and is a never ending project! At the end of Summer I’m going to Las Vegas!!!
Question: How did you get involved with JT?
Leasa: I was asked to come teach Ballet at The San Diego Civic Youth Ballet and discovered that I had a knack for teaching, choreographing and directing.
Question: What sparked your interest for theatre?: I was pretty much born with it… I was writing plays, making up dances and putting on shows for family occasions, parties, etc. since I was about four years old.
Question: What are you doing when you aren’t at JT?
Leasa: When I’m not at Junior Theatre, I am working on film projects. I have a film company and love to go to Film Festivals all around the world. Although lately I haven’t had as much time for film work, because I got a dog(Beazley) and if I’m not at Junior Theatre I’m usually playing with him and taking him for walks. Beazley played the part of Bruiser in the musical Legally Blonde, which I did the Choreography for at the Outreach Program that I teach at Roosevelt Middle School… He was a big hit and I discovered that I’m a total Stage Mom! I also love to go hiking and camping, especially to waterfalls, hot springs and places to swim out in nature!!
Question: What do you love about teaching at JT?
Leasa: What I love about teaching at JT is getting the chance to share my love of art with the students and also working in Balboa Park!
Question What is your favorite…Fill in the blank?
Leasa: DANCING!!!!!
Question: What are you doing this summer?
Molly: Aside from aiding at Junior Theatre of course, I’m spending a lot of time at the beach and catching up with friends.
Question: How/why did you become a teaching artist?
Molly: When I was 16 and doing shows at JT, kids my age were doing this miraculous thing called “working.” I needed money for gas to get to rehearsal and I was thrilled that JT would trust me (and pay me!) to teach kids about something I loved to do. I remember first aiding a Disney Drama class with four-year-olds and their unsuppressed enthusiasm was so refreshing. Since then the aiding monster was born and this is my fourth summer doing it. I love seeing the kids’ reactions to their aides, because they really do make a difference in the camp experience. When I was 9 I remember talking about Harry Potter with my aide and she became my new favorite person. I have a camper this summer who gets a kick out of holding my check-in clipboard and standing at the front of the line so he can feel like an aide. It’s fun to think that I can set an example and that maybe when they get older they’ll have my job.
Question: What moment sparked your interest/passion for theatre?
Molly: My uncles were at one time professional ballroom dancers in Los Angeles. I would often go to visit my grandparents and cousins every summer and would inevitably be convinced to join in on some of the adult salsa or swing classes. I was five, and soon my uncles started using me as a miniature example. Thus my love for performance started, because it’s great when adults gawk and clap and talk about how cute you are when you’re performing. My cousins were a lot like older brothers, and when they started doing musical theatre, I knew I should start, too.
Question: What do you do when you’re not at Junior Theatre?
Molly: I go to school in New York City, so when I’m not at JT I’m usually not in San Diego. I try to take in as many shows as possible, walk around and explore all the time, and eat at new restaurants. If I ever have free time after that, I’m usually writing or rereading Harry Potter. In San Diego, I am probably at the beach or watching SNL with friends.
Question: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
Molly: I love that JT gives kids the full experience of putting on a production. Students are in charge of everything from the lights to the sound; they get to help with the costumes and sell tickets. All of the cast and crew members have so much responsibility, and I think that’s great, because on opening there’s this sense of great achievement for all involved.
Q: My favorite ? (fill in the blank)
Molly: Hogwarts house is Ravenclaw.
Question: What are you doing this summer?
Patrick: Aside from teaching summer camps and AMT’s, of course, I’ll be playing in The Music Man at Lamb’s Players Theatre and Little Shop of Horrors at Cygnet Theatre. If there’s any time left after all of that, maybe I’ll find time to hit the beach.
Question: How/why did you become a teaching artist?
Miss Andy brought me in to teach classes and camps after I directed music for Richard Scarry’s Busytown up at the La Jolla Firehouse. I absolutely love sharing my passion for music and the theatre with our students and am thrilled to be here again this summer!
Question: What moment sparked your interest/passion for theatre?
Patrick: I have always had a strange fascination with Stephen Soundheim’s Into the Woods. The first time I had the opportunity to actually play the show I was really hooked.
Question: What do you do when you?re not at Junior Theatre?
Patrick: I enjoy taking my dogs to make friends at the dog park.
Question: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
Patrick: I love that kids of all ages and skill levels can come together and put together professional-level productions in a fun atmosphere… Or just simply play and make friends at camp!
Question: What is your favorite…fill in the blank…?
Patrick: My favorite Cheese is Gruyere.
This Summer Jordan will be around JT all Summer, both as an aide and as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. He will also be in the AMT Camp Lucky Stiff.
Question: How/why did you become a teaching artist?
Jordan: I started working as a JT aide so that I could expose kids to the absolute joys of the theatre. The theatre is one of the most important things in my life and the opportunity to share this love with kids is something truly special and just plain fun.
Question: What moment sparked your interest/passion for theatre?
Jordan: Hmmm… that’s an interesting question. I’m not sure if there was an eact moment but I know that I was fortunate enough to be exposed to classic movie musicals, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Mary Poppins”, “The Sound of Music,”etc. at a young age. I also distinctly remember seeing a production of “The Wizard of Oz” at JT in 1998. I believe. It was a rainy day and my other, brother and I were running late and entered during the tornado. The whole experience was pretty thrilling. I still have my program. Since my childhood I had always loved musicals and the theatre and for years I put on “living room productions” but it wasn’t actually until age twelve that I finally got up the courage to audition for a production of “The Wizard of Oz.” The rest, as they say, is history.
Q: What do you do when you?re not at Junior Theatre?
Jordan: I sit at home and watch musicals.
Q: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
Jordan: Junior Theatre is the greatest place in the world. It’s family. A crazy family, but one nonetheless. It’s the most fantastic place to grow up and learn and experience and be yourself. If you’re a kid growing up in San Diego, who loves theatre, there nowhere else you should be.
Q: My favorite ? (fill in the blank)
Jordan: My favorite person is Carol Channing.
Question: How/Why did you become a teaching artist?
To make a living doing what I love.
Question: What moment sparked your interest /passion for theatre?
I saw “The Nutcracker Suite” when I was in 3rd grade. I very quickly became the “Really Rosie” of the neighborhood, directing sketches and playing drama games with all of the neighborhood kids.
Question: What do you do when you’re not at Junior Theatre?
Go to the beach; meet at Crabcatcher or Baja Betty’s; do power yoga and gardening; have bbqs in our courtyard; and read, read, read.
 Question: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
I get to write scripts and direct them. I get to watch students discover their talents and develop confidence in who they are.
Question: What is your Favorite… (fill in the blank)?
Day. A sunny at the beach with a good book, followed by dinner al fresco with a close friend.
This week’s feature: Erin Petersen of the Junior Theatre Aide Brigade
Ms. Erin will be working as an aide all summer long with pre-schoolers, high school students and everyone in between, as well as co-directing our AMT production of The Crucible with Desha.
Question: How/why did you become a teaching artist?
Erin: I can remember every single one of my JT aides from yellow team to white team. I remember my aides as being fun, energetic and most of all they really wanted to ensure that I had a great time at camp. All my previous aides and teachers really motivated me to want to give others the same great JT experience that I had.
Q: What moment sparked your interest/passion for theatre?
Erin: When I was a wee child, my parents sent me off to summer camp at JT. I was on the yellow team and performed an abridged version of “The Princess and the Pea”. I was cast as a knight in shining armor. After a role like that how could I possibly want to do anything else? I was bit by the acting bug and have been back at camp ever since!
Q: What do you do when you?re not at Junior Theatre?
Erin: I’d love to say that when not at JT, I’m basking in the sun and taking lazy afternoon naps — But that just sounds far too peaceful for my liking. I work with Intrepid Shakespeare Company with their education tour, “Shakespeare For a New Generation” as well as perform with professional theatre companies in San Diego.
Q: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
Erin: I love the feeling of family here at Junior Theatre. You’re given the opportunity to grow along side of your peers from age 3 all the way up to 18 and with that comes great comradery. Even if you participate in JT later on in high school, you’re welcomed in with open arms and feel as if you’ve been here all your life.
Q: My favorite ? (fill in the blank)
Erin: Golden Girl is Sophia
San Diego Junior Theatre is proud to be a sponsor of the Creative Catalyst Fund; a program designed to help advance the careers of selected San Diego artists by providing opportunities to develop new work in collaboration with sponsoring nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
Program Description:
The San Diego Foundation seeks to encourage artistic innovation through the CCF Program by partnering local San Diego Artists with established arts & culture organizations in the creation of artistic projects that are both transformative and distinctive. In this pilot year, artists will be awarded grants ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to bring their artistic projects to fruition. San Diego Junior Theatre will select an artist’s project and submit a proposal to the San Diego Foundation for grant funding.
San Diego Junior Theatre is seeking performing artists (directors, choreographers, playwrights or musicians) with new projects they wish to stage or workshop in a black box venue in the Spring of 2012. This program must be geared toward theatre for youth (ages 8-18 years old).
Individual Artist Eligibility:
In this pilot year of implementation, CCF Fellowships and San Diego Junior Theatre will support professional artists who:
- Are working at all stages of their careers- early, mid-career and established
- Have a history of artistic achievement and high quality work given their years of practice
- Are current residents of San Diego County, have resided in the area for the past two years, and are expected to retain residence through the completion of the fellowship
- Work in one of more of the artistic disciplines: Playwright, Director, Choreographer, or Musician.
- Have the potential to grow and advance in their artistic careers as a result of the fellowship
- Are at least 18 years old
Who cannot apply?
Individuals who:
- Are working toward any degree program, arts or non-arts related, at the time of application or planning to work toward a degree during the course of the Fellowship, with the exception of ABD status Ph.D. candidates
- Practice their art primarily as a hobby or avocation
- Are NOT residents of San Diego County
- Are immediate family members of the Foundation staff or regular staff of San Diego Junior Theatre
If you are interested in applying, please submit the following to San Diego Junior Theatre by August 1, 2011:
- Artists Credentials: resume providing information about your experience as a professional artist, educational background, training, residences, awards, grants, community volunteering, and other relevant experience.
- Artists Statement: include a brief artist’s statement discussing how this fellowship will further the artist’s career. Also discuss the artist’s history of applying innovative thought and risk taking in the creation of new work (approximately 500 words)
- Project Description: Please describe the work to be created during the grant. The following questions are intended as guidelines to enable a full description of what is being proposed:
- Describe the work you intend to create or develop (when, where & how?)
- What is the inspiration behind the idea?
- Will the work be in collaboration with other artists?
- Is the work in progress, and if so, what phase of the process will be completed under this grant?
- In what ways might this work be innovative and distinctive?
- In what ways will San Diego Junior Theatre support the artist in the development of this work?
- How will the community be engaged so that the largest audience is able to witness the creative process as well as the culminating project?
- Will the grant funds be sufficient to complete the work? If not, what additional cash or in-kind contributions will be required?
- What challenges, if any, do you think will be encountered in completing this project and how will those challenges be addressed?
- What will happen to the work after the fellowship ends? What will be the artist’s next steps as they relate to this particular work?
- Portfolio Samples: Submit samples of up to two 3-5 minute long, unedited works performed by the artist within the past two years. If you are requesting support to complete a work, submit a sample of the work in progress.
- Do not send promotional work samples (e.g. booking tapes)
- Do not send dark work samples or samples with poor visibility
- Clearly label each sample with the artist’s name
- If you are a playwright, please submit samples of your previous plays or the play you wish to workshop/stage.
- Work samples will not be returned
Creative Catalyst Fund website: www.sdfoundation.org
Submit Application and Samples to:
San Diego Junior Theatre
c/o Shalico Leaverton
1650 El Prado, suite 208
San Diego, CA 92101
Based on the Newbery and Caldecott awarded books by Arnold Lobel, with music by Robert Reale, and book and lyrics by Willie Reale, A Year With Frog and Toad takes a musical journey with two fun-seeking amphibians who could not be more different from each other, yet remain the best of friends. Follow Frog, Toad, and their buddy Snail on a croakingly good musical journey where wonderful times abound, where ‘expecting the unexpected’ is just another way of having fun, and where friendship is valued above all else.
Directed by Courtney Corey, with musical direction by Jason Chase, A Year with Frog and Toad features the talents of student performers from San Diego, East County, South Bay, Coronado, Del Mar, and San Marcos. A Year with Frog and Toad opens Friday, July 1, and runs through Sunday, July 17. Show times are 7 p.m. on Fridays, and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, with an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, July 16. Tickets are $8 – $14.
For information and to purchase tickets, call San Diego Junior Theatre’s box office at (619) 239-8355 or visit us online at juniortheatre.com. In its 63rd season, San Diego Junior Theatre is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing all youth, ages 3 – 18, an opportunity to experience theatre arts through innovative classes, camps, performances, and outreach programs. Contributions to San Diego Junior Theatre are tax-deductible.
 Q: How/why did you become a teaching artist?
Richard: I’ve always loved musical theater. Now I’m really grateful for the people who introduced me to it when I was younger – new shows, songs, performers, composers, etc. I love the opportunity I have now to introduce “new”
material to kids of all ages who have the interest.
Q: What moment sparked your interest/passion for theatre?
Richard: I say this with slight shame: hearing Phantom of the Opera for the first time, as a 6th grader.
Q: What do you do when you’re not at Junior Theatre?
Richard: I love to eat cheese and play Dutch Blitz.
Q: What do you love about Junior Theatre?
Richard: I love that SDJT a place where kids can feel safe and comfortable being themselves. The most important thing we do is give them that chance.
Q: My favorite … (fill in the blank)
Richard: Musical is Sweeney Todd.
Note from the editor: Richard is JT’s Music Specialist. He will Musical Directing Hairspray and teaching performance camps, AMT’s and traditional camps all Summer.
Please note the date change
To thank you all so much for all your hard work and commitment this past season . . .
Come join us for a Volunteer Appreciation Potluck!
Saturday, June 18, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the big tree across the street from the theatre (directly across Village Place from the theatre) – bring a dish to share (President Catherine Morrison will bring cake and drinks). Pass this on – everyone is welcome!!
RSVP to info@juniortheatre.com or reply to the fanpage posting
Let me know if you can make it! Hope to see you there!
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Box Office
San Diego
Junior Theatre
BOX OFFICE
Casa del Prado Theatre
1800 El Prado (at Village Place)
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-8355 (tel)
619-239-5048 (fax)
Map & Directions
2 Locations!
San Diego
Junior Theatre
BALBOA PARK
Casa del Prado Theatre
1800 El Prado (at Village Place)
Balboa Park
San Diego, CA 92101
619-239-8355 (tel)
Map & Directions
San Diego
Junior Theatre
LA JOLLA
La Jolla YMCA Firehouse
7877 Herschel Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
619-239-8355 (tel)
Map & Directions
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