Capital Region Cares Capital Region Cares 2018-2019 | Page 121

C
“Community theater
is expensive, and
not always readily
accessible or
affordable for
every family, which
is partly what makes
our program so
unique.”

forming arts does so much for kids who
struggle with confidence, and we saw
that during this process.”
Looking ahead, NAEF hopes to
maintain the Youth Theatre For All pro-
gram in the short term, with plans for
expanding the program in years to come.
Securing funding will play a critical role
in how the program moves forward, but
it is NAEF’s intent to continue offering
this program tuition-free and to in-
crease the number of kids participating.
Founded in 2002, NAEF’s mission is
to support all art and educational pro-
grams because it believes a stronger arts
community makes for a stronger com-
munity as a whole.
“In recent years, we’ve seen the rise
of tuition-based youth theater in Sacra-
mento, and while these theater compa-
nies provide an invaluable service, those
who cannot afford the tuition have lim-
ited options,” Cullity says. “Without
nonprofit outreach programs like ours,
many lower-income families and chil-
dren wouldn’t have access to the arts.
Every person should have the opportu-
nity to live a life rich in the arts commu-
nity, and we are excited to be part of the
movement toward ensuring access for
all.” n
Christina Kiefer is a communications
consultant and freelance writer based
in Sacramento who specializes in public
relations, copywriting, content market-
ing and strategy. A seasoned storyteller
and wordsmith, she believes that great
content paired with the right communi-
cations strategy is powerful.
comstocksmag.com | 2018-19 CAPITAL REGION CARES
ommunity theater, often known for dence. NAEF employed professional
supporting and encouraging aspir- coaches with the experience and skills
ing young artists, has a new home
that helped the cast and crew work
in the greater Sacramento area. as a team. Auditions were held in May
Thanks to a new Youth Theatre For All 2018, and the cast and crew rehearsed
program, launched by the Natomas Arts
through June and July in advance of the
and Education Foundation, more than
performances.
50 children ages 10-18 were afforded the
“The growth in the kids was truly in-
opportunity to participate in a produc- credible, but especially in confidence,”
tion of “Bye Bye Birdie” for free for three
performances in July 2018.
Made possible by just over $18,000
in funding from a Creative Economy
Pilot Grant from the City of Sacramen-
to, an Arts Education Extension Grant
from the California Arts Council, and fi-
nancial support from the Joyce and Jim
Teel Family Foundation, NAEF was able
to cover more than $400 in expenses for
each program participant. The launch
of this program was significant, as it re-
moved the steep financial costs associ-
ated with youth theater for students at
Natomas Charter School, and from the
greater community.
“Our goal was to provide a fun and
educational experience, while at the
same time removing every barrier to
theater that we could control,” says Sier-
ra Hersek, director of the NAEF and “Bye
Bye Birdie” producer. “Community the-
— Sierra Hersek, director,
ater is expensive and not always readily
accessible or affordable for every family,
Natomas Arts and Education Foundation
which is partly what makes our program
so unique,” she says.
says Kelly Cullity, board president of
Performing live for an audience of NAEF and director for the production.
150 every night at the Benvenuti Per- “There were kids who were terrified to
forming Arts Center on the charter sing at their audition for the show who,
school’s campus, kids not only got a
by the end of the process, were com-
taste of community theater, they also
pletely comfortable standing front and
gained something invaluable: confi- center during the performance. The per-
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