Youth Arts Ambassadors seeks students

Grace Whetstone (from left), Andy Weber, Greg Welch and Abby Krakora lead a cast of 64 performers ages 5-18 for the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors production of “Getting to Know … Once Upon a Mattress.” The show will be 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 23, in Veteran’s Park as part of the Summer Arts Festival. CONTRIBUTED

Grace Whetstone (from left), Andy Weber, Greg Welch and Abby Krakora lead a cast of 64 performers ages 5-18 for the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors production of “Getting to Know … Once Upon a Mattress.” The show will be 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 23, in Veteran’s Park as part of the Summer Arts Festival. CONTRIBUTED

Contact this contributing writer at bturner004@woh.rr.com.

A new school year means new opportunities. For middle and high school students interested in the performing arts, a hands-on experience awaits with the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors.

No matter if it’s acting, behind the scenes or other aspects of the theater, students will learn from people who have been there and use their knowledge to produce their own shows.

There is no cost to join.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” said Krissy Hartman, who leads the program along with Jordan Taylor.

Hartman is particularly excited about the Ambassadors’ second stage production, “Alice in Wonderland,” to be presented Nov. 17-18 as one of the first shows presented at the new John Legend Theater.

Auditions will be Sept. 17.

Ambassadors will learn in a variety of workshops, including a puppet workshop from a Dayton company, and a Shakespeare workshop.

Clark State’s theater arts program will help conduct some of the workshops, a partnering opportunity Hartman said that he is looking forward to.

A cabaret-style program is also set for spring, Hartman said.

Hartman said students from any middle school or high school are invited to join the program. A Youth Arts Ambassadors application is available online at www.springfieldartscouncil.org/series/youth-arts/, www.facebook.com/YouthArtsAmbassadors or call 937-324-2712.

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