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Hey kids! Here's your chance to be part of a full live production

Unique opportunity to learn how to manage, and perform in a professional stage production returns for fourth year.

Lots of young people in Guelph are eager to work in the arts. A chance to experience what it takes to work for an arts organization, manage a live production, and perform in one, awaits.

For the fourth year, the city’s performing arts mentorship program MusicWorks/StageWorks is giving youth 13 to 19 a hands-on opportunity to work behind, and in front of the scenes of a professional-style show.

River Run Centre technical, programming and marketing staff will all play a mentorship role to young people who are driven to work in the arts. The deadline for submissions for the program has been extended to Monday, March 21.

Online applications are available at riverrun.ca/MWSWapply. Explore the program further at http://riverrun.ca/outreach-programs/mwswapply/. The rehearsal process extends over two weeks in April, with a public performance in the first week of May.

“It’s a mentorship program focused on the art of putting on a professional style show,” said Jen Rafter, cultural program and event coordinator for the City of Guelph.

The program sponsored by TD Bank Group, is multi-faceted, covering all areas of a production. Students on the promotions and marketing team work with performers to explore the best approaches for writing an artist biographical sketch, putting together a program, using social media to promote events, and even how to present performers, speak to an audience, and write an emcee script.

The front-of-house staff will walk students through the hospitality side of the production, while the technical team, with headsets on and ready, will explain how to coordinate the show behind the scenes.

All of these areas of learning are integral parts of a successful stage production. Performers are invited to take part in the program - to provide the actual performing talent that will make up the production.

“It is a learning opportunity in terms of seeing what it takes, what goes into it,” Rafter said. “What are the building blocks to think about when putting on a show, from concept development to all the working parts of being on a production team.”

There is much more involved in a major stage production than the talent on stage. There are a multitude of practical and technical considerations. The program really get into that side of the arts.

Rafter said the response to the program has been huge.

“It’s grown every year,” she said. “We have expanded to two evenings, working with two streams of students, just because the uptake was so big.”

The call-for-applications period is on right now, and has been extended to ensure that those who are interested in performing, but perhaps procrastinating on the application process, get a chance to get involved.

The city collaborates with the Guelph Youth Council on the program. The local youth volunteer group works broadly to advocate on behalf of youth, and to enhance youth culture in Guelph. Members work with city council to plan and carry out various special events and activities.

Rafter said the youth council is an integral player in the MusicWorks/StageWorks, helping to coordinate all the moving parts.

“They rise to the occasion, and so do the performers,” she added. “It really is something to watch these teens get their chance in front of a live audience in a professional theatre. It’s awesome to see them rise to the occasion and really own it.”  


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Rob O'Flanagan

About the Author: Rob O'Flanagan

Rob O’Flanagan has been a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and columnist for over twenty years. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and a National Newspaper Award.
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