Children’ s Performing Arts
Another strong year is ahead for Children’ s Performing Arts( CPA) as well. The 2024-2025 season began in October with a production of“ SpongeBob” by middle school-aged students. It was followed by“ Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in December. The 2025 productions are“ Alice in Wonderland” in February,“ Wizard of Oz” in June,“ Holes” in July and“ Mean Girls” in August.
CPA serves thousands of students every year.“ The majority attend a production, about 850 students register for productions, camps, workshop or work behind the scenes; and about half of those students do multiple camps and / or productions every year,” said Sharon Hanifl-Lee, a current board member for the organization.
There are so many reasons to have a strong, healthy arts community in your neighborhood. Communities that have strong arts are healthier economically as well as physically and spiritually.
-Sharon Hanifl-Lee, Board Member,
Children’ s Performing Arts
She has been involved with Children’ s Performing Arts since 2010, about five years after it started, and has seen the nonprofit theater company grow by leaps and bounds.“ My daughter wanted to be on the stage, so we connected with Children’ s Performing Arts when it was operating out of a church in Forest Lake. We kept growing and growing and were finally able to get a grant that allowed us to perform and practice at the high school in Forest Lake,” she said.
Fast forward to the present day, and the organization now operates out of the Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear Lake. It also offers camps and productions at Forest Lake High School and Lakes International Language Academy, as well as TOPS( Theater Outreach Program in Schools), which operates after-school programs at three different elementary schools in the area.
“ We offer full productions that are educational and leadership based. We make sure the kids are growing as human beings and understand who they are and as a result we put on really good productions,” said Hanifl-Lee, who added that while some of the productions are audition-based, the majority--90 percent--are registrationbased, meaning that everyone who signs up will get a part.“ We really work hard to make sure all the kids understand they are important no matter what role they get,” said Hanifl- Lee.
In addition to the productions, Children’ s Performing Arts also offers camps during which students have the opportunity to work on their skills, as well as Saturday morning drop in classes for the younger kids.
Like the other performing arts organizations, Children’ s Performing Arts is in the process of rebuilding after the pandemic.“ We were really growing up to when the pandemic hit, then we obviously dropped off quite a bit. Now we are starting to build again very slowly,” said Hanifl-Lee, who added that because of the rising cost of doing business, the organization is in need of monetary donations.
“ Right now, the arts really need help with operating costs to run the building, and to hire quality artists to work with the students,” she said. Donations can be made to the organization here: Childrensperformingartsmn. org / support / donate
Children’ s Performing Arts is also seeking volunteers to help with lighting, building sets and making costumes.“ We are also looking for people interested in serving on our board,” said Hanifl-Lee.
Children’ s Performing Arts Center and Lakeshore Payers share space at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center in White Bear Lake. Learn more about the organization online at Childrensperformingartsmn. org /
Children’ s Performing Arts Hanifl Performing Arts Center 4941 Long Ave. Suite 111 White Bear Lake, MN 55110 651-336-8613 vhedc. com 31