What would we do without the support of our local Community Foundation?  All of us here at SLO REP are absolutely thrilled to have received two generous grants totaling $7,500 from The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County in support of projects and programs during the 2017-2018 Season. (Photo: Education Director Kerry DiMaggio and ACT’s Broadway Camp 2017 Students with the “big check!”)

ACT’s Into the Woods, Jr.

SCHOLARSHIP FUNDING
The Janssen Youth & Youth Sports Fund, held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, awarded SLO REP $2,500 in funding to underwrite need-based tuition scholarships for students participating in SLO REP’s Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) educational programs. ACT’s extensive education program serves more than 250 students annually. Programs include summer and spring break theatre camps, after-school theatre classes in winter, spring and fall, and two production classes which offer students the opportunity to participate in professionally-directed full length theatrical productions on the SLO REP stage.

“Participating in theatre encourages creativity and builds self-confidence” says Education Director Kerry DiMaggio.  “ACT provides a creative, artistic, educational and FUN outlet for children who might not otherwise be engaged with their peers or other important adult role models. This grant will allow us to welcome every child with a desire to participate, to any and all of our programs, without regard to their family’s ability to afford tuition.”

The All Night Strut!

SOUND SYSTEM UPGRADE
The Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Program awarded SLO REP $5,000 in support of the theatre’s sound system upgrade project. This upgrade to the theatre’s sound system, including new, state-of-the-art microphones and speakers, will provide a higher quality artistic experience for audiences and support our new mission and vision as SLO REP, a professional, nonprofit regional theatre.

“A theatre’s capacity to deliver artful and impactful theatrical experiences relies a great deal on how it serves the patrons’ ears” says Kevin Harris, Managing Artistic Director. “There is nothing more disappointing to an audience member, or frustrating to a performer, than bad sound on stage. This grant will enable us to vastly improve the quality of our performances, especially our musicals.”

ABOUT OUR FUNDERS
The Janssen Foundation Youth & Youth Sports Fund was established in 2006 through the generosity of the Robert H. Janssen Foundation. Now held at The Community Foundation, this fund seeks to support programs that enrich the lives of local youth and ideally reflect the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets. The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County provides leadership and encourages charitable giving for the issues that improve and enhance lives in the county.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF CREATIVE THEATRE
SLO REP’s Academy of Creative Theatre provides year-round theatrical training for youth ages 5-18 (kindergarten through 12th grade.) ACT’s after-school programs, summer camps and theatrical production classes inspire young performers and technicians to develop skills which will benefit them throughout their lives, both on and off the stage. Students involved in ACT learn from professional artists in programs designed to help students explore creative self-expression and individuality. Whether or not students choose to pursue theatre as a career, their experience at ACT will help them to develop a greater appreciation of the theatre arts and a stronger connection to their community.

ABOUT THE SAN LUIS OBISPO REPERTORY THEATRE
The mission of the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre is to present professional theatrical productions for the entertainment and enrichment of the public, and to provide theatre education opportunities for children and adults. We believe live theatre provides unique and powerful storytelling, blending multiple art forms and connecting communities through the shared emotional journey at each performance.

For more information, please contact Patty Thayer at (805) 781-3889, ext. 15 or email [email protected].