What Poway Artists and Art Enthusiasts Need to Know

There's plenty happening in Poway for both local artists, as well as those who appreciate art.

Poway youth interested in the theater arts can soon audition for a free week-long theater camp.

In March, the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation will host Missoula Children's Theater for its 12th season. The participatory children's theater company will cast local children, kindergarten through 12th grade, in a production of The Wizard of Oz. After the auditions, the more than 50 local students will participate in a theater camp to prepare them for two full-scale productions.

“The week-long Missoula Children’s Theatre residency gives children who might not otherwise be exposed to the performing arts the opportunity to act, sing and dance while participating in a collaborative, community effort,” said Yvonne Dows, the marketing and development manager for the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation. “The week includes fun, hard work, education and guaranteed success.”

The group audition will take place at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 7 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. No RSVP, resume, head shots, prepared songs or monologs are required.

“The audition process is quite unlike a traditional one, where an actor would have to perform a monologue and/or sing an audition song acapella,” Dows said. “It is very group oriented—no one is singled out. In fact, watching past auditions, the children had fun, worked together in groups and each had a chance for individual expression.”

Children will be cast for acting, singing and dancing. Performances of The Wizard of Oz will be held at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 12.

“It is just amazing what the transformation that occurs between auditions on Monday and the Saturday performances,” Dows said. “During the course of the week’s rehearsals, the casts begins pulling together. They help each other with lines, songs and choreography. They support one another and trust in themselves.”

For more information, visit www.powayarts.org.

In other happenings, local high school seniors looking to pursue music after graduation are in luck—RB Chorale is once again awarding scholarships. Since its formation in 1974, the nonprofit organization has awarded music scholarships to graduating seniors.

In 2010, the RB Chorale awarded a total of $10,000 to six local teens. There were two scholarship winners from Poway Unified School District among last year’s recipients, according to Debbie Honeycutt, 2nd vice president for RB Chorale.

“We try hard to reach as many teens as we can,” said Honeycutt.

This season, the nonprofit plans to award four to six scholarships totaling up to $10,000 during the chorale’s musical production of From Disney to Broadway at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts on June 10 and 11. All music fields are eligible, including voice, string, wind, percussion or any other solo instrument.

Qualified applicants will audition in front of the Chorale Board and a panel of judges on May 14 for the scholarship, as well as an opportunity to participate in the chorale’s upcoming June shows.

Completed application packages must be postmarked no later than April 16. Application packages must include a completed application form, a 300-word summary of the applicant’s musical and scholastic plans, a letter from a parent or guardian describing the family’s financial situation, copy of high school scholastic record and letters of recommendation from a music teacher, friend or school official.

An application form and more information can be found at www.rbchorale.org.

While Poway’s young artists are preparing for their audition and/or scholarship, local art enthusiasts have something to do, too.

The Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences On Tour will present its production of at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts this Saturday.

The cross-cultural musical comedy is centered on 9-year-old Ana Nogueira. Along with her sidekick, the child’s alter-ego "Barrio Grrrl" spends her time protecting her neighborhood. At the same time, Ana has to deal with reality. She lives with her grandfather while her mother is stationed in Iraq.

The coming-of-age show was written by Quiara Alegria Hudes with music by Bill Sherman. It was directed by Peter Flynn with choreography by Devanand Janki.

The Kennedy Center’s version will take place at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $5 for children.

On Sunday at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, attendees can celebrate the Chinese New Year. Local Chinese organizations will perform traditional songs and dances.

The show begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $100.

In other news, the City of Poway and the Poway Arts and Crafts Guild are sponsoring a new Artist in Residence Program.

Park visitors can now see contemporary artists work their old-world craft.

Fabric artist, Criss Stern, known also as “the Quilt Lady,” is this year’s Artist in Residence. Stern will demonstrate the art of quilting in the Porter House Rose Room. 

The program will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, with the exception of the second Sunday of the month.

For more information, visit www.poway.org/oldpowaypark.