By Lizabeth Jenkins-Dale
Hundreds of students excitedly walk, dance, prance, and run in and out of The Soo Theatre Project entrance each year for lessons, theatre practice, and multiple other confidence-boosting experiences. Some of these students are toddlers, some are kids, some are teens, some are emerging adults, and some are independent adults.
With the herculean task of conducting daily lessons for all these students as well as producing several large-scale performances and multiple camps during the summer while maintaining a historical theatre, there has to be motivation, vision, inspiration, and incentive to do so! The Soo Theatre Project does all of this because of you, the audience, the students, the parents, and the community. THIS is why STP does its “thing” – because of you!
And, here’s proof. Two independent adult students have volunteered to explain in their own words what The Soo Theatre Project means to them:
Sandy Alexander
[quote]
The Soo Theatre is a place where I can take time just for me to do something I love. The whole atmosphere relaxes me, and many times, it has turned a bad day into a good day.
[/quote]
Lola Kennedy
[quote]The Soo Theatre is a family, my family. I accredit Soo Theatre with helping me build my skills as a performer readying me for a musical theatre program in New York City. I was prepared on all sides of the theatre; working backstage, front of house, and on stage. The theatre means family; we laughed, cried, momentarily disagreed, and learned from one another. I will forever hold them in the highest esteem. I encourage as many people as possible to a part of that family.[/quote]
Spend five minutes in The Soo Theatre Project lobby and you’ll understand that STP is more than just a building in which to take music, art, dance, or voice lessons. It’s much more. It’s a “relaxing” place that can turn “a bad day into a good day.” It’s a “family” that can prepare students “for a musical theatre program in New York City.”
Right now, The Soo Theatre Project is conducting its annual “Belong To Something Big” financial support campaign. The Soo Theatre Project is big and enormous and grand, and it’s all possible from support from you – the audience, the students, the parents, and the community.
Please consider financially supporting The Soo Theatre Project. (You may donate by mail, by phone, or online.) Any tax-deductible donation amount will be most appreciated so that you, the audience, the students, the parents, and the community, can continue to greatly benefit from STP doing its “thing.” Thank you.
A version of this article was originally published in the Soo Evening News on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013.
