Prince Eric (Drew VanderWeele) and Grimsby (Blake Mickey) sail the seas in The Little Mermaid, JR. (Photo by RyLo Media Design)
It’s barely begun, but our 2019-2020 Season is already rolling along at full throttle! ACT’s THE LITTLE MERMAID, JR is just a memory (a wonderful memory!!) GREATER TUNA just closed after a very successful 3-week run and fall ACT After-School Theatre Classes begin this week! So before we get too much farther along in the season, we’d like to take a minute to thank a few folks. Did you know that ticket sales and ACT class tuition cover only a little more than half of our budget? It’s your donations — along with generous grants, sponsorships and in-kind support — that bring the lights up on every intimate SLO REP performance. Your gifts — in any amount — are the most important piece of this amazing puzzle called live theatre.
And now…drum roll, please! We are thrilled to announce that SLO REP has received two generous grants to fund tuition scholarships for students participating in our Academy of Creative Theatre (ACT) educational programs throughout the 2019-2020 Season. These grants were provided by the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust and by the Janssen Youth & Youth Sports Fund, held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. The two grants totaling $5,500 will underwrite need-based tuition scholarships for students participating in ACT’s extensive education program serving more than 300 students annually — including young actors who participated in our production of The Little Mermaid, JR and our fall theatre classes that began just yesterday!
The cast of Charlotte’s Web, ACT’s Staged Reading in March, 2019
Over the past five years, the Miossi Trust, the Janssen Fund and The Community Foundation have provided over $20,000 in scholarship funding for SLO REP’s ACT educational programs, including summer and spring break theatre camps, after-school theatre classes in the winter, spring and fall, and audition-only production classes which offer students the opportunity to participate in professionally-directed full length theatrical productions on the SLO REP stage.
Scuttle (Mary-Kate Fidopiastis) leads the cast in a lively song and dance number in The Little Mermaid, JR. (Photo by RyLo Media Design)
“Whether your child is an experienced ‘theatre-kid’ or a shy beginner, ACT is the place to train, create, play, and learn”, says Education Director Kerry DiMaggio. “Participating in theatre encourages creativity and builds self-confidence. 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. These two generous grants 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 cast of The Little Mermaid, JR in July, 2019. (Photo by RyLo Media Design)
ABOUT THE FUNDERS
The Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust provides assistance to organizations seeking to improve the quality of life for residents of the City and surrounding area of San Luis Obispo, California. This Trust was established under the will of Mr. Harold J. Miossi, who died on November 8, 2006. The Foundation focuses on six key areas: animal-related, education, environment, the Catholic Church, fine arts and youth development.
The Janssen Youth & Youth Sports Fund was established in 2006 through the generosity of the Robert H. Janssen 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 Janssen Fund is held at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County, a grantmaking and education foundation supporting charitable work across our county. Since 1998, the Foundation has supported our county with grants and scholarships totaling almost $35 million. The Community Foundation’s charitable assets under management have grown to nearly $60 million and provide support to all aspects of our community in perpetuity. For more information, visit www.cfsloco.org or call 805-543-2323.
Broadway Camp ends with a fabulous performance for family and friends!
ACT’s fall session of After-School Theatre Classes began on September 3rd with with five sold-out classes for children ages 5-18. In addition, AUDITIONS for young actors interested in participating in ACT’s winter production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth will be held on September 30th and October 1st. Generous scholarships for ALL children for ALL of these programs are available thanks to the Miossi Trust, the Janssen Fund and the Community Foundation.
Labor Day Weekend is history and our SLO summer is over, but our 2019-2020 Season is just beginning. Thanks to these generous foundations and YOU, it’s going to be a great year!
For more information about ACT camps and classes or to sign up for ACT MACBETH AUDITIONS on September 30, please email Assistant Education Director Kathryn Curran or call (805) 781-3889, ext. 14.
Please note: All of our fabulous photos from The Little Mermaid, JR — including our cover photo! — are courtesy of RyLo Media Design, Ryan C. Loyd. Thanks Ryan!
