education report - 2015/2016

Our Mission

Mayo Performing Arts Center, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit performing arts organization, presents a wide range of programs that

entertain, enrich and educate the diverse population of the region and enhance the economic vitality of Northern New Jersey.

MPAC’s education programs are critical to the realization of our mission to provide cultural enrichment for both young audiences and the general public. This has been an exciting and rapidly growing area for the Theatre. The Mayo Performing Arts Center is committed to the extension of arts education and arts appreciation through theatre classes, workshops and seminars, school and community outreach programs, adult enrichment programs and teacher training. Our education programs provide significant opportunities for young people, increasing their exposure to the arts and expanding our cultural contribution to the community. Many of the students who participate in MPAC education programs enjoy the experience of meeting children who share the same interests. “It’s so amazing to come here, “ says Christian Harvey, a PAS student and member of the Performing Arts Company. For many children like him, MPAC feels like home.

Allison Larena,

President & CEO

Mayo Performing Arts Center

Cathy Roy,

Education Director

Mayo Performing Arts Center

MPAC Education Report 3

Our Performing Arts School (PAS), founded in 2006, now serves over 600 students per year with over 20 classes a week within a supportive and creative atmosphere. Students ages five - adult come from all over Northern New Jersey to learn performance technique while building confidence and having a great time! This thriving program runs on a fall, spring and summer workshop schedule with high demand for class enrollment.

“Through the nurturing and professionalism of Mayo Performing Arts School, our daughter has received both improved on-stage skills as well as greater self-esteem.”- Jeff Jacobs, parent of PAS student

All performance classes lead to an end of semester performance in our state-of-the-art 1,300-seat theatre or in The Starlight Room. Some PAS final classes have even taken place in New York City performances spaces.

No student has ever been turned away due to an inability to pay the class fee. Several thousand dollars in scholarships are provided annually.

PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL

Did you know?Students from MPAC’s PAS program were among the 40 students nationwide to partake in “Broadway at the White House” in November 2015. They had the opportunity to take masterclasses from the likes of Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland), Gloria Estefan (On Your Feet), Stephen Schwartz (composer of Wicked) and other prominent Broadway luminaries. Several MPAC students performed in the TV special, Broadway at the White House, taped in the East Room, which aired nationally on the TLC network on Thanksgiving.


CLASSES OFFERED IN:

MUSICAL THEATRE

ACTING

SINGING TECHNIQUE

SONG PRESENTATION

IMPROVISATION

PRIVATE VOICE

ADULT CABARET

New classes for 2015include Audition Technique and a Special Needs class.

“Theatre is my life, and MPAC is my home...

There isn’t a place more inviting to discover who you are as a performer and

meet amazing people in the process.”

- Rachel Levy, cast as Eponine in Les Misérables

In 2013, MPAC began producing its own annual mainstage musicals. In 2013, A cast of over 75, with children ranging from ages five - 22 children staged Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 2014, MPAC chose Hairspray to further diversify our PAS community. Along with its poignant themes, Hairspray offered a high-energy, fun musical featuring 85 cast members. In addition, the cast of Hairspray had the unique opportunity to meet Marc Shaiman, co-creator of the musical and perform for him. In 2015, the bar was raised even higher, as a cast of over 60 staged the full production of Les Miserables.

Each production drew over 3,000 patrons to the theatre and upheld MPAC’s highest caliber of standards with professional staging, choreography, lighting, sets, costumes and a professional orchestra.

In all cases, cast members received priceless experience of working on a professionally staged production, with a seasoned and experienced professional production team of directors, musicians, choreographers and backstage personnel.

ANNUAL MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION

By the Numbers:Nearly 300 children and young adults auditioned to be in Les Misérables.


Over 40,000 children annually attend school time performances on our main stage. Buses arrive from all over New Jersey as excited students take their seats to watch a wide array of educational, entertaining performances. These unique programs provide schools with high quality field trips, and teachers with additional opportunities to reinforce classroom curriculum. Often, this is the first exposure to live professional theater for many young children.

MPAC has had the opportunity to present free events to schools. For example, since 2013, thanks to a generous grant from BASF, MPAC has presented a free Earth Day lecture from world renown wildlife photographers such as Joel Sartore and Paul Nicklen and scientists such as Dr. Sylvia Earle. Students had the opportunity to engage with and learn about the work of these esteemed professionals who are on the front lines of the study of nature. Each speaker also conducted a free evening lecture to the general public.

Whether it’s a popular children’s story such as Charlotte’s Web, a fun science program such as Toying with Science, or classic literature such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Explorations shows engage students with entertaining educational experiences that reinforce classroom lesson plans.

EXPLORATIONS THROUGH THE ARTS IN-THEATRE SHOWS

FREE STUDENT EVENTS

By the Numbers:Explorations programs have been attended by students from over 160 schools throughout Northern New Jersey over the past five years.

The performing arts are a very important educational tool and field trip option for our school and classes. Students need to be exposed to the

performing arts more and this is a great opportunity for them.”

- Grace Alves, Teacher, PS#7, Paterson


“ I really enjoyed doing the Master Class with Andrew Kober. It was super fun to sing in front of a professional Broadway actor! He provided excellent feedback about our songs, and responded well to our questions about the professional acting world!”

- Christian HarveyBroadway Master Class Series Student

We are dedicated to increasing the educational value of our programming and further enlightening our audiences by providing pre-concert lectures, master classes and post show question and answer opportunities.

Students have had the opportunity to sharpen their performance skills in classes taught industry professioanls including by company members of The National Tour of STOMP, The Artistic Director of The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, dancers from Pilobolus and actors from The National Players.

In 2014, MPAC launched the Broadway Master Class series. These programs brought working Broadway professionals to MPAC to work with participants on honing audition skills. Participating students have the opportunity to “audition” and get feedback from the Broadway guest artist, who offers critique to help craft audition pieces.

College and High School students gain practical hands on experience while participating and observing everything that goes into running a 1,300 seat non-profit performing arts center through our Intern program. Credit or non-credit internships are offered in Development, Marketing/Public Relations, Education/Performing Arts School, Production, Arts Administration, and House Management. Working closely with staff members, interns are given training and educational opportunities that will expand their knowledge of working in professional theatre and in non-profit arts administration.


EXPANDING THE STAGE

BROADWAY MASTER CLASS SERIES

INTERN PROGRAM

By the Numbers:Over 800 students participated in our programs during the 2014-2015 season in Morris and Bergen counties.


Our Artist-in-Residency Program offers students a unique opportunity to work with professional artists and to experience the arts in their own classroom. Each year residencies are available in Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Creative Drama and Improvisation, Playwriting and Dance.

With school system budget cuts and time restraints, it has been vital for our staff and Teaching Artists to collaborate closely with school administration and classroom teachers to develop specific programs honing in on targeted curriculum areas.

SCHOOL RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

POETRY OUT LOUD

Did you know?:Regional Poetry Oud Loud competitions draw students from 20-30 schools annually.

Beginning in 2010, The Mayo Performing Arts Center was selected to be one of four host sites in New Jersey for the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Out Loud competition and will continue to serve as Region 4, serving Union, Essex, Morris, Sussex, Warren and Hunterdon Counties. This national poetry recitation contest encourages the nation’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. After a regional competition, students go on to a state and then national competition.

The Music Student of the Month music student recognition program honors Middle or High School music students who are nominated monthly by their music teachers for their musicianship, dedication and contribution to their school community. Each year more than 75 students are honored in front of our audiences before mainstage performances and are encouraged to continue their musical studies. All participants are invited to participate in an end of season recital on our mainstage, which is free and open to the public. Students were inspired as they took to the stage that only minutes later was occupied by the likes of Itzhak Perlman, Dave Koz or Chris Botti.

The Program Cover Art Contest, which began in 2010, is a visual arts recognition program and a way for us to inspire student artists while collaborating with Morris County art teachers. All Morris County Middle and High School students are given a theme (Ex. “Inspire! Imagine! Create! Discover! Celebrate the Arts,”) and encouraged to participate by creating an 8.5” by 11” work of art to be selected as our program book cover seen by thousands of theatre patrons. Each year, we receive dozens of entries and the final decision is never easy! All participants have their works hung in our Art Upstairs art gallery for two weeks for public viewing.

MUSIC STUDENT OF THE MONTH

PROGRAM COVER CONTEST

By the Numbers:Over 1,000 students have been honored as Music Students of the Month since the Program’s inception.

Did you know? Cover Contest winners have their work seen by over 10,000 theatre patrons.

2014-2015issue 4

Cover ArtHannah Frustol; Randolph High School;

Senior, Randolph, New JerseySee p. 13 for details.

“This is such a wonderful program for the young students! To be able to receive an award & be recognized on stage at the beautiful Mayo

Performing Arts Center is such a great honor & great experience! “

- Jenny & Derek Lee, parents of MSOM honoree Danica Lee


At the heart of our Performing Arts School is our Performing Arts Company. This group of talented teens audition to represent MPAC and share their talents by performing for non-profit organizations, hospitals, fundraisers and community events. This mutually beneficial arrangement provides entertainment for area non-profits while giving the students an opportunity to use their talent to help those in need.

Each year we connect with new organizations in need and continue to perform for some of our regular partners. Whether performing for 25 senior citizens, 350 gala attendees or 2,500 at an outdoor festival, students pour their hearts out to make a difference!

Company members have also had the unique opportunity to perform with professional artists on our main stage, including such artists as Patti LuPone, Foreigner, Kenny Rogers, Kristin Chenoweth, Kelli O’Hara and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

SOME ORGANIZATIONS WE

PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT FOR

RECENTLY INCLUDED:

The Carol G. Simon Cancer Center

Habitat for Humanity

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

The March of Dimes

The American Heart Association

The American Cancer Society

The Arthritis Foundation

The Community Food Bank of New Jersey

Children on the Green

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PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY

By the Numbers:In 2014-2015, the PAC performed for over 18,000 people.

“The Performing Arts Company teaches you to use your talent to give back to the community,

and not just for the praise of performing.”

- Amanda Fletcher, Company Member

To meet a critical need for performing arts education in Paterson, MPAC launched a free After-School Arts Enrichment Program in 2014. In its first year, MPAC worked in partnership with Medical Missions for Children to provide students, ages 7-13, with a supportive and creative environment at Giggles Children Theatre. During the 12-week program, they learned basic musical theatre skills and discipline and showcased their talents in a culminating performance for family members and friends.

Due to the enthusiasm of Paterson students, parents, school teachers and administrators, MPAC has expanded the program’s impact in 2015 by moving the program directly into the Charles J. Riley School #9. At weekly after-school workshops, over 40 students explore creative expression and gain performing arts and teamwork skills, as well as build self-confidence.

MPAC understands that while offering financial aid and targeting outreach is one way to provide students from disadvantaged families with access to its arts education programs, it does not remove all of the hurdles such as transportation that can prevent their participation. To bring arts education directly to students with these challenges, MPAC offers outreach programs in Morristown and Paterson at community organizations and schools, free to students and the host venues, allowing over 100 children to gain arts skills and exposure.

“PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL ON THE ROAD” OUTREACH PROGRAMS

PATERSON AFTERSCHOOL ARTS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM


“The students of Paterson have minimal exposure to arts programs, so MPAC’s program is vital. It’s been

amazing to see how their confi-dence and interest has grown in

such a short time.” - Kelly Dailey (Visual Arts Educator,

Charles J. Riley School #9)

“Programs like this are what make kids want to come to school.”

- Josephine Noone (Principal of Alexander

Hamilton School)

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“You have given many of these children an opportunity their parents would not have been able to provide.”Andrew T. Cattano, Co-Director, Children on the Green

Children on the Green in Morristown is a non-profit child care center that serves the needs of among others, children of families from Homeless Solutions, the Jersey Battered Women’s Services, and the Interfaith Council for Homeless Families of Morris County as they transition to permanent housing. MPAC provides weekly Creative Drama and Movement classes for 3-5 year olds.

The Creative Drama and Movement Program focuses on introducing pre-school aged children to theatre and music. This interactive class incorporates music, movement, props, puppetry, mime and skits to encourage little ones to act out popular classic storybooks and fairy tales. The goal of the program is to give these young students confidence, sharpen their focus and concentration and help them to work together and was created to meet the arts education needs of pre-school children in the Morristown area. Program objectives focus on the child, but also enhance the community as a whole while speaking directly to our Education mission. Overall lack of funds for art programs stifles school-readiness programs for pre-school children up to the ages of five years old. Our program has become an important part of a foundation in the arts that is necessary for our youngest community members’ creative growth and artistic expression. It is a need that continues to grow within underserved communities.

The Neighborhood House After-School Enrichment Program is our longest running outreach program and provides students an introduction to the basic skills and discipline of musical theatre through singing, dancing and acting. Since 2006, professional theatre teaching artists have worked closely with the students ages 5-12 on a weekly basis to give them a comprehensive musical theatre experience. Curriculum is focused on vocal exercises and song performance, stage basics and acting skills, as well as basic dance technique, all taught within a supportive and creative atmosphere. The students apply their newfound skills to rehearsing a short performance piece to be presented for family and friends. This rehearsal component reinforces ensemble work, cooperation and a collaborative creative process.

CHILDREN ON THE GREEN

THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

The Mayo Performing Arts Center gratefully acknowledges major funding received from

JACOBS LEVY EQUITY MANAGEMENT

in support of onsite and outreach education programs.

MPAC is also grateful to the following for their generous support of our education programs:

BASF CorporationCharitable Foundation of the Burns FamilyGoldman Sachs Gives/ Todd and Nina HohmanInvestors FoundationKristin Elliott Charitable FoundationJ.P. Morgan Chase & Co.McGuinn Family FoundationMetLife Foundation

PNC FoundationThe Provident Bank FoundationRBC FoundationWilliam E. Simon FoundationStaples FoundationTD Charitable FoundationThe Thomas and Agnes Carvel FoundationWells Fargo Foundation

Major funding for Mayo Performing Arts Center events and education programs is generously provided by:

This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Geraldine R. Dodge FoundationF.M. Kirby Foundation

100 SOUTH STREET, MORRISTOWN, NJ 07960 • (973) 539-0345 • WWW.MAYOARTS.ORG

education report - 2015/2016

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