Friday October 20, 2006
Life Lessons on Stage for SCV Students
By Jim Walker
Staff Writer
Did you know what you wanted to do with your life when you were 15? Dumb question. Does your teenager? See answer one. But of course,
knowing what you know now, you do wish your teenager had just a little positive direction, a little more motivation than you had.
Finding a program to charge up your teen with enthusiasm, confidence and go-get-em might not be easy. However, one option for teens is the
Showdown Stage Company.
Showdown co-founder and director Cindy Marcus said Showdown is a theater program, but any teen with - or without - dramatic experience or
interests can benefit from the program.
"It's not just about theater arts, but also about life lessons," said Flip Kobler, Marcus' husband and professional partner.
Showdown's third co-founder, Dennis Poore, said the life lessons that Showdown instills include "teamwork and respect for fellow actors."
In addition, the trio adds that Showdown also brings to teens friendship, direction, confidence and a sense of belonging and self-worth.
The participating teens themselves will tell you how important Showdown has been to them. Brooke Bovee, 15, a student at William S. Hart High
School said the Showdown experience has turned her around.
"When I first came to Showdown, I was heading in the wrong direction. Now I'm headed in the right direction," she said. "I'll stay with Showdown
as long as I can, then I'll go onto plays, maybe Broadway and maybe the movies."
James Kozeluh, 15 and a Canyon High School student, admits that at first he was uncomfortable. Kozeluh, who is also Poore's godson, soon
overcame his fear and soaked up what Showdown had to offer. He is now focused on a career in writing.
"I was dead-scared in the beginning and sat in the corner for the first two hours," he said.
The Dream
Among Kobler's and Marcus' lengthy professional writing credits are Disney's "Simba's Pride," "Enchanted Christmas," "Pocahontas," "Journey
to a New World" and "Hunchback of Nortre Dame II."
Poore has composed music for "Earth Girls are Easy" and the Julie Brown cult favorites "'Cause I'm a Blond" and "Brand New Girl."
The three co-founders of Showdown said they brought the organization to life because there was a need for it.
"The Showdown Stage Company was formed in 2002 to present the play 'Wild Dust' at the former Plaza Theater on Lyons Avenue in Newhall,"
Poore said.
The Showdown Theater Academy was born after the company had put on a show in Florida in the summer of 2003 - when a teen in that show
lamented that there were no shows in which teenagers could play teenagers. The fuse was lit, and it wasn't long after that when Marcus suddenly
declared to Kobler, "guess what we're doing next summer!" She then recruited Poore and, according to Kobler, "dragged me in kicking and
screaming."
The academy, and the overall company, then began their focus on plays inspired by teenagers, about teenagers and performed by teenagers.
"The kids are instrumental in the creative process. We take it from page to stage," Poore said.
As soon as the academy began, the life changing began, for the academy students and for Marcus, Kobler and Poore.
Since 2003, the Showdown Theater Academy has expanded. It now has programs in NoHo, Clearwater, Fla., and, most recently, Jefferson City, Mo.
There are plans to expand to Long Island and the San Francisco Bay Area next year. Showdown Stage International will also take the program to
South Korea in January. Some of the expansion programs are run by former students and parents of students.
"I think it's telling that parents want the program to expand. They figure something like, 'Let me see if I can help expand this because my nephew
in Podunk would benefit from it,'" she said.
Showdown Lowdown
The Showdown Stage Company is the parent company of The Showdown Theater Academy and the Totally Teen Repertory Company. The lines
between the divisions are blurred because the organization is evolving constantly and because most of the teens who are involved in one aspect are
also involved in the others. The repertory company is open to anyone from 12 to 20 years old and is based at the Hub Theater in North Hollywood's
NoHo district. The company puts on three original Totally Teen shows each year, and membership in the company gets the teens first chance at
auditions for the performances, as well as the benefit of optional classes and showcases. The Showdown Theater Academy is also based at the Hub
and offers teens seminars and dynamic 12-week after-school programs, as well as intense, four-week theater arts summer camps across the
country. However, many of the academy's rehearsals take place in the SCV because so many of the students live here.
The academy also offers the most opportunity for life-changing experiences, Poore said.
"There are no prima donnas. Everyone has to try everything, including acting, singing, movement and writing, as well as the technical aspects of
theater dealing with costumes, sets, lighting and sound," Poore said.
Through this process Kobler said the students gain respect for themselves, respect for actors and even respect for the space.
For example, the students in the summer camps are in charge of keeping everything in the theaters professional looking. That includes the
dressing rooms, lobby and even cleaning toilets, sometimes.
"We really go after the individual spark in each student. We try to recognize the quality that sets each individual kid apart," Poore said.
Another hallmark of the program is that students must attempt everything, whether they are good at it or not, Poore said. The motto is "Dare to
Fail," where the word "fail" is actually replaced by that favorite teenage word for vacuuming.
"You have to make mistakes. It's the process of fixing them and working through," Poore said.
They're All Ushers
Showdown performs only original productions, Kobler said.
"It's fabulous to get our work out there before an audience, which you don't get to do when you perform plays like 'Annie' or 'The Wizard of Oz,'"
Kobler said.
These original productions are all teen-twists. Some carry benignly misleading titles such as "Nottingham" or "The Argonauts." Others let you in
on the secret right from the start, including "The Brothers Grimm - Out of Order" or "Bard High - Total Frenzy." Showdown's current production
is "Usher."
"Usher" is a comedy about teens stranded on a field trip at the haunted House of Usher. The hook line reads, "If Poe knew what they were doing in
his house, he'd turn over in his grave."
Success In Life Mirrors Success In Art
"When people hear we are a theater arts program, they figure we are busy creating the next generation of actors," Marcus said. "But the lessons
our students learn and the confidence they gain here will help them in all aspects of life, from playing football to asking a girl for a date, to
interviewing for a job and on and on. They learn discipline, leadership, responsibility and cooperation, and gain confidence and self-esteem."
In this way the program even benefits teens who don't want to be actors, she said.
"We had a girl come in that was terribly afraid to begin high school. After the program she no longer had that fear," Marcus said.
Marcus said she has seen such stories of growth and self-discovery over and over in the program.
"Through the program, another teen realized how angry she had been at her parents, how she had kept them at a distance. She also realized that
she now wanted to include them in her life," she said.
Rachael O'Roarke, a 15-year-old student at Valencia High School, has been in the program for about a year. For her, Showdown is a "great place to
meet people and get in touch with your own insecurities, and find a way to fix them."
Already involved with theater before Showdown, for her this meant "finding a way to express emotions to an audience so they feel the same way."
O'Roarke said Marcus' direction and lots of rehearsing helped get there. Her future?
"Whatever comes up, as long as I'm acting," she said.
Michelle Muldoon, a 15-year-old William S. Hart High School student, is also in the Hart show choir. She entered the Showdown program about 18
months ago after her aunt found out about Showdown on the Internet. When her cousins joined, so did she.
Muldoon said she wasn't very enthusiastic about getting up at 8 a.m. on Saturdays at first.
"But I've met some good friends in the program and have had some great experiences," she said.
She is inspired by the fact that "real producers come to the shows, and I've gotten good comments from them."
Muldoon introduced Bovee to the program. Bovee said she "fell in love with it."
James Kozeluh said he enjoys all aspects of the Showdown program, but, likes writing the best. He writes short stories, movies, poems and "songs
for my band."
Kozeluh looks forward to the Showdown program because "a lot of my friends are there."
Cameron Shim, 15, is in the show choir at Canyon High School. About a year ago he was helping at the Canyon Theater Guild when he saw
Showdown's production of "Nottingham."
Shim said he always wanted to act.
"It looked like fun, so I joined," he said. "I like doing original plays and getting really close to the people we act with."
Pass the Relish
The Showdown founders, of course, are thrilled to watch the growth in their students.
"It's exciting to see kids evolve from tentative, unsure and awkward, in one year, into confident individuals. They discover who they are and like
what they discover," Marcus said.
Poore said that both literally and metaphorically speaking children who "started out sitting in the back of the room end up sitting in the front of
the room."
"I personally like the sense of making a difference to somebody in the world, of actually touching somebody, paying it forward," Kobler said. He
advises the students to enjoy their successes, too.
For all students, but especially for those who struggled with their self doubts, on their first opening night Kobler reminds them of the journey
they've taken to that point.
"I tell them, take a moment, close your eyes and relish it. You have done what you thought you couldn't do. Feel it, lock it away in your soul.
Then, whenever you feel like you can't do something in life, stop and remember this moment - and know you can do it," he said.
"Usher," plays 2 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 11 at The Hub Theater, 5245 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Admission: $7. Box office:
Glenda, (661) 645-8692. For information on the Showdown Theater Academy, call (661) 799-0758 or visit www.showdownstageco.com.
Copyright:The Signal
Life Lessons on Stage for SCV Students
By Jim Walker
Staff Writer
Did you know what you wanted to do with your life when you were 15? Dumb question. Does your teenager? See answer one. But of course,
knowing what you know now, you do wish your teenager had just a little positive direction, a little more motivation than you had.
Finding a program to charge up your teen with enthusiasm, confidence and go-get-em might not be easy. However, one option for teens is the
Showdown Stage Company.
Showdown co-founder and director Cindy Marcus said Showdown is a theater program, but any teen with - or without - dramatic experience or
interests can benefit from the program.
"It's not just about theater arts, but also about life lessons," said Flip Kobler, Marcus' husband and professional partner.
Showdown's third co-founder, Dennis Poore, said the life lessons that Showdown instills include "teamwork and respect for fellow actors."
In addition, the trio adds that Showdown also brings to teens friendship, direction, confidence and a sense of belonging and self-worth.
The participating teens themselves will tell you how important Showdown has been to them. Brooke Bovee, 15, a student at William S. Hart High
School said the Showdown experience has turned her around.
"When I first came to Showdown, I was heading in the wrong direction. Now I'm headed in the right direction," she said. "I'll stay with Showdown
as long as I can, then I'll go onto plays, maybe Broadway and maybe the movies."
James Kozeluh, 15 and a Canyon High School student, admits that at first he was uncomfortable. Kozeluh, who is also Poore's godson, soon
overcame his fear and soaked up what Showdown had to offer. He is now focused on a career in writing.
"I was dead-scared in the beginning and sat in the corner for the first two hours," he said.
The Dream
Among Kobler's and Marcus' lengthy professional writing credits are Disney's "Simba's Pride," "Enchanted Christmas," "Pocahontas," "Journey
to a New World" and "Hunchback of Nortre Dame II."
Poore has composed music for "Earth Girls are Easy" and the Julie Brown cult favorites "'Cause I'm a Blond" and "Brand New Girl."
The three co-founders of Showdown said they brought the organization to life because there was a need for it.
"The Showdown Stage Company was formed in 2002 to present the play 'Wild Dust' at the former Plaza Theater on Lyons Avenue in Newhall,"
Poore said.
The Showdown Theater Academy was born after the company had put on a show in Florida in the summer of 2003 - when a teen in that show
lamented that there were no shows in which teenagers could play teenagers. The fuse was lit, and it wasn't long after that when Marcus suddenly
declared to Kobler, "guess what we're doing next summer!" She then recruited Poore and, according to Kobler, "dragged me in kicking and
screaming."
The academy, and the overall company, then began their focus on plays inspired by teenagers, about teenagers and performed by teenagers.
"The kids are instrumental in the creative process. We take it from page to stage," Poore said.
As soon as the academy began, the life changing began, for the academy students and for Marcus, Kobler and Poore.
Since 2003, the Showdown Theater Academy has expanded. It now has programs in NoHo, Clearwater, Fla., and, most recently, Jefferson City, Mo.
There are plans to expand to Long Island and the San Francisco Bay Area next year. Showdown Stage International will also take the program to
South Korea in January. Some of the expansion programs are run by former students and parents of students.
"I think it's telling that parents want the program to expand. They figure something like, 'Let me see if I can help expand this because my nephew
in Podunk would benefit from it,'" she said.
Showdown Lowdown
The Showdown Stage Company is the parent company of The Showdown Theater Academy and the Totally Teen Repertory Company. The lines
between the divisions are blurred because the organization is evolving constantly and because most of the teens who are involved in one aspect are
also involved in the others. The repertory company is open to anyone from 12 to 20 years old and is based at the Hub Theater in North Hollywood's
NoHo district. The company puts on three original Totally Teen shows each year, and membership in the company gets the teens first chance at
auditions for the performances, as well as the benefit of optional classes and showcases. The Showdown Theater Academy is also based at the Hub
and offers teens seminars and dynamic 12-week after-school programs, as well as intense, four-week theater arts summer camps across the
country. However, many of the academy's rehearsals take place in the SCV because so many of the students live here.
The academy also offers the most opportunity for life-changing experiences, Poore said.
"There are no prima donnas. Everyone has to try everything, including acting, singing, movement and writing, as well as the technical aspects of
theater dealing with costumes, sets, lighting and sound," Poore said.
Through this process Kobler said the students gain respect for themselves, respect for actors and even respect for the space.
For example, the students in the summer camps are in charge of keeping everything in the theaters professional looking. That includes the
dressing rooms, lobby and even cleaning toilets, sometimes.
"We really go after the individual spark in each student. We try to recognize the quality that sets each individual kid apart," Poore said.
Another hallmark of the program is that students must attempt everything, whether they are good at it or not, Poore said. The motto is "Dare to
Fail," where the word "fail" is actually replaced by that favorite teenage word for vacuuming.
"You have to make mistakes. It's the process of fixing them and working through," Poore said.
They're All Ushers
Showdown performs only original productions, Kobler said.
"It's fabulous to get our work out there before an audience, which you don't get to do when you perform plays like 'Annie' or 'The Wizard of Oz,'"
Kobler said.
These original productions are all teen-twists. Some carry benignly misleading titles such as "Nottingham" or "The Argonauts." Others let you in
on the secret right from the start, including "The Brothers Grimm - Out of Order" or "Bard High - Total Frenzy." Showdown's current production
is "Usher."
"Usher" is a comedy about teens stranded on a field trip at the haunted House of Usher. The hook line reads, "If Poe knew what they were doing in
his house, he'd turn over in his grave."
Success In Life Mirrors Success In Art
"When people hear we are a theater arts program, they figure we are busy creating the next generation of actors," Marcus said. "But the lessons
our students learn and the confidence they gain here will help them in all aspects of life, from playing football to asking a girl for a date, to
interviewing for a job and on and on. They learn discipline, leadership, responsibility and cooperation, and gain confidence and self-esteem."
In this way the program even benefits teens who don't want to be actors, she said.
"We had a girl come in that was terribly afraid to begin high school. After the program she no longer had that fear," Marcus said.
Marcus said she has seen such stories of growth and self-discovery over and over in the program.
"Through the program, another teen realized how angry she had been at her parents, how she had kept them at a distance. She also realized that
she now wanted to include them in her life," she said.
Rachael O'Roarke, a 15-year-old student at Valencia High School, has been in the program for about a year. For her, Showdown is a "great place to
meet people and get in touch with your own insecurities, and find a way to fix them."
Already involved with theater before Showdown, for her this meant "finding a way to express emotions to an audience so they feel the same way."
O'Roarke said Marcus' direction and lots of rehearsing helped get there. Her future?
"Whatever comes up, as long as I'm acting," she said.
Michelle Muldoon, a 15-year-old William S. Hart High School student, is also in the Hart show choir. She entered the Showdown program about 18
months ago after her aunt found out about Showdown on the Internet. When her cousins joined, so did she.
Muldoon said she wasn't very enthusiastic about getting up at 8 a.m. on Saturdays at first.
"But I've met some good friends in the program and have had some great experiences," she said.
She is inspired by the fact that "real producers come to the shows, and I've gotten good comments from them."
Muldoon introduced Bovee to the program. Bovee said she "fell in love with it."
James Kozeluh said he enjoys all aspects of the Showdown program, but, likes writing the best. He writes short stories, movies, poems and "songs
for my band."
Kozeluh looks forward to the Showdown program because "a lot of my friends are there."
Cameron Shim, 15, is in the show choir at Canyon High School. About a year ago he was helping at the Canyon Theater Guild when he saw
Showdown's production of "Nottingham."
Shim said he always wanted to act.
"It looked like fun, so I joined," he said. "I like doing original plays and getting really close to the people we act with."
Pass the Relish
The Showdown founders, of course, are thrilled to watch the growth in their students.
"It's exciting to see kids evolve from tentative, unsure and awkward, in one year, into confident individuals. They discover who they are and like
what they discover," Marcus said.
Poore said that both literally and metaphorically speaking children who "started out sitting in the back of the room end up sitting in the front of
the room."
"I personally like the sense of making a difference to somebody in the world, of actually touching somebody, paying it forward," Kobler said. He
advises the students to enjoy their successes, too.
For all students, but especially for those who struggled with their self doubts, on their first opening night Kobler reminds them of the journey
they've taken to that point.
"I tell them, take a moment, close your eyes and relish it. You have done what you thought you couldn't do. Feel it, lock it away in your soul.
Then, whenever you feel like you can't do something in life, stop and remember this moment - and know you can do it," he said.
"Usher," plays 2 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 11 at The Hub Theater, 5245 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood. Admission: $7. Box office:
Glenda, (661) 645-8692. For information on the Showdown Theater Academy, call (661) 799-0758 or visit www.showdownstageco.com.
Copyright:The Signal