Pauline Adamek
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Fresh off a successful 2010 season, Theatre Americana, the golden era”™s community theater troupe, hosts its first ever Festival of the Arts – a free event for the entire family. The event is to be staged Saturday, June 25, 2011 from noon – 9:30 p.m. at Farnsworth Park Amphitheatre.
Report by Pauline Adamek
The Festival of the Arts promises to be a fun-filled family event featuring visual arts displays, classic theatre productions, pop songs and international dance. The event is free to the public and food will be available for purchase.
Designed to present a cultural experience for the mind, body and soul, Festival of the Arts includes an impressive roster of artists, musicians and performers such as the prestigious Southern California Lyric Theatre (SCLT); the acclaimed Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Company, songwriter and performer Raspin Stuwart; Sue B. Dance Company; and Theatre Americana, among others.
Festival of the Arts kicks off with a visual arts display of work from local artists in historic Davies Hall from noon -5:00 p.m. To inspire budding artists, a large blank canvas will be hung outside the Amphitheatre for anyone who would like to express themselves with images in paint that focus on this year”™s theme, “Healing The World.”
Featuring performances by Southern California Lyric Theatre, Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Company, local artists and musicians and an evening concert by Theatre Americana.
Dance performances and live music will be held in the Amphitheatre from 2:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
The complete schedule includes:
2- 2:30 p.m.    Sue B. Dance Company performs various dance routines
4 – 5:00 p.m.   Live music
5:00 p.m.         Southern California Lyric Theatre performs several pieces from their Shakespeare In The Park repertoire such as Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest, among others.
6:00 p.m.         Theatre Americana performs excerpts from Much Ado About Nothing, Taming of the Shrew and Midsummer”™s Night Dream with a Shakespearean dance number.
7:00 pm           Raspin Stuwart, local musician, songwriter and performer
7:30 pm           Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Company, a youth group of 12-to 25-year-old dancers perform traditional Korean dance.
8:00 pm           Theatre Americana performs an evening concert under the stars featuring classic songs from the “™50s to “˜80s.
The festival will close with a special slide show depicting photos of love and healing on an outdoor screen in the Amphitheatre during the shows finale.
2010 proved to be a successful year for Theatre Americana when it revived its playbill after a 10-year absence with an original comedy, Polterheist: A Valentine”™s Day Play at historic Davies Hall on February 13, 2010. Additional productions included An Oscar From Mom a pre-Mother”™s Day musical program and lunch; The 60″™s Revisited, The Taste of Glendale, and USO shows performed for the City of Pasadena Library – One City, One Story program.
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Theatre Americana”™s Festival of the Arts
Farnsworth Park Amphitheatre
568 E. Mount Curve Avenue
Altadena CAÂ 91001
Saturday, June 25, 2011 from noon – 9:30 p.m.
Free!
For more information on Festival of the Arts, contact Donna Scarantino at (626)840-3551 or donna8461@sbcglobal.net
About Theatre Americana
Throughout Theatre Americana”™s golden years, activities included the production of hundreds of plays and oversight of playwriting contests. Theatre Americana played host to numerous indoor and outdoor performances dating back to the 1930s at the historical Farnsworth Park amphitheater and Davies Hall. Peter the Great was the first play to premiere at this venue on April 22, 1934. Zane Gray provided the money for the lighting of this very first production. Theatre Americana”™s last play, So Long Sir Walt, ran May 5 – 20, 2000 at the Altadena Community Church.
