Theatrical Arts Education for Lifelong Learners

As part of its ongoing interest in lifelong learning, ProtoStar Foundation is proud to make a $10,000 grant to the Diversionary Theatre to support its Theatrical Arts Education Program.  The Program uses many aspects of theater (e.g., acting, improvisation, storytelling, etc.) to help LGBTQ people of all ages — from second graders to seniors — engage in self-exploration, discovery, and expression.  Participants are encouraged to explore not only LGBTQ themes, but also life issues, such as peer acceptance, aging, and loneliness.

The Arts Education Program includes:  (A) Student Matinee Series; (B) after school programs for children and teens; and (B) theatrical arts education for lifelong learners and seniors.

A.   Student Matinee Series

The centerpiece of Diversionary Theatre’s Arts Education Program is its Student Matinee Series.  In 2017, this program served over 500 middle and high school students with diverse socio­ economic backgrounds from across San Diego County.  The Student Matinee Program focuses on reaching young people with little or no access to the arts, and cultivating a theatre-going audience for the future.  Its programming serves San Diego area schools such as:  (1) The Preuss School, which was founded for low-income students who strive to be the first in their families to attend college; (2) San Diego Office of Education’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools (“JCCS”), which provides a fully-accredited educational program for school-age youth who are either wards of the court or have been referred to the JCCS system by social services, probation, or one of the 42 school districts in San Diego County; and (3) the Alternative Learning for Behavior & Attitude (“ALBA”) Community Day School, which helps to stabilize students who have been either expelled or suspended from school and hopefully transition them back to their regular schools.  All programming, including the pre- and post-classroom workshops, is provided 100% free of charge to participating schools.  At least one Student Matinee is scheduled for every show produced on Diversionary Theatre’s Mainstage.

B.   After School Programs for Children and Teens

In addition to the Student Matinee Series, Diversionary Theatre offers other arts educational programs to children and young adults after school hours and on school premises.  These programs include:  (1) The Kid-Versionary Club; (2) Teen-Versionary; and (3) Campus Residencies and Community Workshops.

1.   Kid-Versionary Club

This after-school program, designed for second through fifth graders, is conducted at Alice Birney Elementary School in University Heights, a neighborhood in the San Diego area.  It is an eight-week program that runs in the Fall and Spring semesters and focuses on developing self-expression, collaboration, and creativity amongst the participants.  At the end of the eight weeks, the students perform a showcase for family and friends to demonstrate their newly acquired skills.

2.   Teen-Versionary

This program is a two-week Summer Camp for high school students that revolves around the production of an LGBTQ-themed show.  Students are recruited from across San Diego County.  The program focuses on reaching LGBTQ youth and their allies through alliances with The San Diego LGBT Community Center and the Hillcrest Youth Center.  Students rehearse on site at Diversionary Theatre for two weeks with a professional theatre director, and the performance is showcased on the Mainstage.

One of the goals of this program is to provide a life-changing and affirming experience for both LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ teens alike.  In hosting teenagers on site, Diversionary Theatre seeks to provide a safe and nurturing environment for them to discover their individuality and personal voice.  Students unfamiliar with the LGBTQ experience are given opportunities through this program to gain more insight into this diverse community and to become a positive ally.

3.   Campus Residencies and Community Workshops

An Education Associate at Diversionary Theatre also works with existing theatre and performance arts programs at Canyon Crest Academy and Del Mar Pines Elementary School in San Diego to serve as an “Artist in Residence.”  The Education Associate provides performance training not otherwise available in the school because of funding or logistical restraints.  The focus of these residencies is on voice, improvisation, and physical performance training.

C.   Theatrical Arts Education for Lifelong Learners

ProtoStar is pleased that the Arts Education Program also includes adult learners and seniors.  In particular, the Program connects with a growing part of the LGBTQ community that tends to be overlooked in terms of arts education programming.  As they age and retire, LGBTQ seniors find themselves fighting for dignified, fair, and equal treatment of themselves, their partners, and friends.  According to one comprehensive study, “not only do they face the age discrimination that their non-LGBT counterparts face, but they must also navigate the legacy of a senior care system that often returns them to invisibility and isolation and unfortunately rewards their lifetime of hard work with unequal treatment under its laws, programs and services.”[1]

In an effort to help seniors feel less isolated and more connected to the community, Diversionary Theatre offers a couple of arts education programs for seniors:  (1) The Silver Squad; and (2) The Stonewall Salon.

1.   Silver Squad

The Silver Squad program provides monthly drop-in classes on a variety of performance topics, including Acting, Improvisation, Movement, Writing, Storytelling, Music, Voice and Speech, and Circus.  Each class focuses on no more than two skills.  More important, the participants not only learn about the art of theatre, but are also encouraged to explore their creative voices and in so doing, gain confidence in their theatrical skills.  Classes are free and open to all.

2.   The Stonewall Salon

The Stonewall Salon is an ensemble-based training program for older adults aged 50 and above.  It is a seven-week program that culminates with a performance on Diversionary Theatre’s Mainstage.  Classes include Acting, Storytelling, Movement, Improvisation, and Writing.  The senior students work as an ensemble to explore their own personal stories and acquire writing and acting skills.  The stories are not limited to LGBTQ themes, but may also include issues related to aging, both positive and negative, and life itself.  The participants are given an opportunity to engage with others, build group dynamics, and grow and strengthen as a result of the creative time spent together.

[1] The San Diego LGBT Community Center, LGBT San Diego’s Trailblazing Generation:  Housing and Related Needs of LGBT Seniors (2011).