Segerstrom Center's Annual 'Summer at the Center' Set for 7/22 - 8/3

Segerstrom Center's 22nd annual Summer at the Center (SATC) program will be held from July 22 - August 3. This award-winning program utilizes the arts to inspire, motivate and provide high-risk and underserved youths with opportunities to interact in positive ways with their peers. A musical theater format employed by professional teaching artists creates a fun and creative environment that also encourages productive dialogue and introspection. The two-week program concludes with the students performing a Broadway revue-style show in Samueli Theater on Saturday, August 3 at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The performances are free and open to the public; no reservations are required. All shows will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. The performances are part of Segerstrom Center's Free for All Series, which allows guests to experience different aspects of Center's artistic and education programs at no cost. More information is available at www.scfta.org/satc.

Summer at the Center (SATC) has been praised for its effectiveness in changing and improving the lives of the young people who participate in this arts program. Participants come from many backgrounds, most often from circumstances that include substance abuse, mental or physical abuse, abandonment, social problems, gang affiliation or learning disabilities. SATC is a rigorous two-week experience that
helps high school-aged students to build critically important life skills. Daily sessions include singing,
dancing and acting lessons. Guest speakers such as musicians, actors, directors and program alumni
help reinforce what the students are learning. Throughout the years, it has demonstrated that the arts can play a strong and positive role in developing personalities, attitudes and coping abilities.

Participants are selected through an interview process, which was developed deliberately as an opportunity for students to begin to step outside their comfort zones. Rather than holding auditions, the interviews help program coordinators to see how students work within a team of people from different backgrounds and assess their ability to adapt and take the first steps in positive change. This also ensures that the students are selected on the strength of their commitment to personal goals rather than artistic ability. Last year, 40 students were selected from an applicant pool of more than 100 tp participate in the program, which was developed by the Center's Education and Community Programs Department and has become a U.S. Department of Education model program.

Summer at the Center was designed to help steer high-risk kids onto better paths. Statistics indicate that when arts programming vanishes from schools, the dropout rate increases. SATC records show the graduation rate for participants of the program exceed those of their peers. In addition, the program utilizes specially created music and theater workshops that provide young people with the tools to overcome adversity in their lives, build self-esteem, develop social skills and become peer role models for other youth.

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 been selected to direct Summer at the Center since its first year in 1991, will again direct the Center's program. Brawley has been the artistic director for The Young Americans for 36 years and works alongside his wife Robyn, who will also be teaching at Summer at the Center.

Following Summer at the Center, participants will return to Segerstrom Center and attend a performance of SISTER ACT as part of a special reunion. For many of the students, it will be their first experience seeing a live Broadway show.

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