Light Up CenterStage

Editor | December 8, 2011

A sold out crowd of more than 200 people attended the seventh annual Light Up CenterStage gala held Dec. 3 at the Jewish Community Center.

Each year, CenterStage chooses one area upgrade in its first-rate acting company. This year, money will go to help CenterStage launch its newest endeavor, CenterStage Acting Out, to bring theater into schools in the greater Louisville area.

Created by CenterStage Artistic Director John Leffert, Acting Out will offer schools throughout the region the opportunity to bring a professional touring children’s theater troupe in to perform high quality plays for their students.

Acting Out’s first play is “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” adapted from Judith Viorst’s book and will begin touring in March. The troupe will not only perform in classrooms and assemblies, but they will also provide suggested activities, lesson plans and study guides to teachers.

The company received a $10,000 start-up Excellence Grant from Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services. The proceeds from Light Up CenterStage will ensure the success of this program in its first year and enable the troupe to reach more schools across the region.

Proceeds from Light Up CenterStage will help pay for professional actors, costumes, props and scenery for the production.

courtesy photos