Segerstrom Center to Welcome Students for Annual Summer at the Center Program, 7/20-8/1

For the 24th consecutive year, Segerstrom Center for the Arts will offer its Summer at the Center [SATC] program for Orange County at risk youths. It will be held July 20 - August 1. A nationally recognized community service program created by the Center, Summer at the Center provides high-risk and underserved youths with opportunities to develop trust and confidence, self-esteem and positive attitudes and approaches to life challenges through the performing arts. It is a rigorous two-week musical theater program of classes taught by professional teaching artists held in a safe and nurturing environment. The results of their efforts can be experienced when the students perform a Broadway revue-style show in the Center's Samueli Theater on Saturday, August 1 at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. These performances are free and open to the public; no reservations are required. Seating is on a first- come, first-served basis. More information is available at www.scfta.org/satc.

Summer at the Center participants are high school-aged and come from many backgrounds, most often from circumstances that include substance abuse, mental and physical abuse, abandonment, social problems, gang affiliation and learning disabilities. The program is first and foremost a disciplined experience intended to teach students critically important life skills through the collaborative and interactive qualities found by singing, dancing and acting in a group setting. Guest speakers, including professional musicians, actors, directors and program alumni, help reinforce what the students are learning in their daily sessions.

Throughout the years, the arts have demonstrated the capacity to play a strong and positive role in developing personalities, attitudes and coping abilities. Statistics indicate that, when arts programming vanishes from schools, dropout rates increase. Records show that the graduation rate for participants SATC exceed those of their peers. Additionally, the program helps the young people to acquire the tools and skills to overcome adversity in their lives, build self-esteem, develop social skills and become peer role models.

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Summer at the Center 2015 NEWS 2/3 June 16, 2015

Participants in Summer at the Center are selected through an interview process, which was developed deliberately as an opportunity for students to begin to move outside their comfort zones. Rather than holding auditions, the interviews help program coordinators to see how students work in a team environment comprised of individuals from different backgrounds. They assess the applicants' abilities to adapt and take the first steps towards positive change. This also ensures that the students are selected on the strength of their commitment to personal goals rather than artistic ability. This year, approximately 40 students will be selected from an applicant pool of more than 100 to participate in the program.

Summer at the Center is a precedent-setting collaboration with the Orange County Department of Education. It was the first performing arts program to be offered to ACCESS (Alternative, Community and Correctional Education Schools and Services) students in Orange County. Students completing the program receive five fine arts credits with ACCESS. Summer at the Center was the first Center education program specifically created for high-risk youths. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized Summer at the Center as a model program in its national registry.

Bill Brawley, who has directed SATC since its first year in 1991, will return this year. Brawley has been the artistic director for The Young Americans® for 38 years and works alongside his wife Robyn, who is the choreographer for SATC.

Following SATC, participants will return to Segerstrom Center for a special reunion and to attend a performance of DISNEY'S THE LION KING. For many of the students, that will be their first experience seeing a live Broadway show.

Support for Summer at the Center is generously provided by Lead Underwriters David and Diane Steffy, along with Bank of America, Tom and Pam Bender, Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bridges, Douglas T. Burch, Jr., Sally and Randy Crockett, Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, Frome Family Foundation, GSF Foundation, HO?M Sotheby's International Realty, Sharon D. Lund Foundation, Marconi Foundation for Kids, Tom and Naomi Moon, The James Previti Family Foundation, Marcia Kay Radelet, The Tappan Foundation, Twila and Alan True and Carol and Ken Wilken.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds Kia, Official Automotive Partner of the Center and United Airlines, Official Airline of the Center.