HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-10-01; Arts Commission; ; Community Arts Grant Update: Carlsbad High School Arts Department Meeting Date: October 1, 2020
To: Carlsbad Arts Commission
From: Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager Megan Gilby, Community Arts Coordinator
Staff Contact: Richard Schultz, Cultural Arts Manager
richard.schultz@carlsbadca.gov
Megan Gilby, Community Arts Coordinator Megan.gilby@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Community Arts Grant Update: Carlsbad High School Theatre Arts Department
Recommended Action Staff recommends approval of a change in the project for the Community Arts Grant to Carlsbad High School Theatre Arts Department in the 2020-2021 cycle.
Executive Summary/Discussion
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Arts Grants awardees have been affected in a variety of
ways. With situations changing often or even daily, many awardees have been adjusting their planning
based on current health and safety protocols to make the best decisions for their organizations and
projects. Currently, the Carlsbad High School Theatre Arts Department project, a Round 1 awardee,
requires an adjustment as detailed below:
• Original Award Amount: $2,300
• Awarded Project: Support to hire a dance choreographer for a Broadway-style existing musical with a student cast, crew, and orchestra at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center.
• Adjusted Project: Support to hire a composer to help students write original musical, which allows
streaming options if a live event is not possible in the spring.
• Timeline: Unchanged
Next Steps
Upon approval, staff will notify the awardee to update the focus of the grant project, as well as related
documentation.
Fiscal Analysis No additional city funding is being requested at this time. Public Notification
This document was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code
Section 54950 et. Seq.), published and distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time.
Exhibits
(Presented as one PDF file) 1. CAG 20.21 Round1.CHS Theatre Application 2. CAG 20.21 Round1.CAG Theatre Award Notification 3. CAG 20.21 Round1.CHS Theatre Update Form
4. James Kennedy Music Director Resume
5. James Kennedy Playwright and Composer Resume
Community Arts Grants 2020/2021 Application
Reference #10739223
Status Complete
Login Username Mfauls0
Login Email matthew.fauls-rivas@carlsbadusd.net
First Name Matthew
Last Name Fauls-Rivas
Title Theatre Arts Teacher
Street Address 210 Rancho Del Oro
Address Line 2 (OPTIONAL)Apartment 210
City Oceanside
State California
Zip Code 92057
Phone Number 9495107153
Email Address matthew.fauls-rivas@carlsbadusd.net
Are you applying as an:Educational Institution or Affiliated Group
Organization Name Carlsbad High School Theatre Arts
Department
Organization doing business as (if by another
name) (OPTIONAL):
Carlsbad High School Theatre ASB
Street Address 3557 Monroe Street
City Carlsbad
State California
Zip Code 92008
Phone Number 9495107153
Organization website URL:www.chslancerplayers.net
EXHIBIT "A"
What is your organization's mission
statement?
The Carlsbad High School Theatre
Department strives to produce relevant and
important works that support, inform, and
educate our community. We aim to grow,
learn, and flourish from our experiences and
desire to share those experiences with the
world. Specifically, the spring musical is an
important educational and entertainment
based event that takes place annually. Every
year we plan our season around a theme, and
this year's theme is "dare to think outside of
the box." Additionally, the department is still
going through changes and will be pursuing
new and exciting ventures.
Is this your organization's first time applying
with the City of Carlsbad?
No
Has your organization received funding from
the City of Carlsbad's Community Arts Grants
program in the past?
Yes
Project Name Carlsbad High School Musical Production
Project Summary The Carlsbad High School Musical Production
is still being determined. This
production will present a Broadway-style
musical with a student cast, crew, and
orchestra at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center
on April 29, 30, May 1, at 7:00 P.M. and a
matinee show on May 1st. Additionally, we will
be inviting middle schools to a performance on
April 29th at 10am. At the auditions, the guest
choreographer, Suzanne Fernandez, will
collaborate with the director, Matthew Fauls-
Rivas, to select the cast. Suzanne will provide
a unique experience for the participants by
providing professional training in different
forms of dance.
Project Start Date 02/08/2021
Project End Date 05/08/2021
Please provide us with the name, date, time,
and location of all project events in order to
give our staff ample time to make
arrangements to send out communications
and coordinate site visits.
The name of the project that we will be doing
is still being determined because we need to
decide which musical we want to do in our
next season that aligns with our chosen yearly
theme. While a few options have surfaced, we
are still marinating on the choices. The
performances of the project will be on April 29,
30, at 7pm and May 1 at 2pm and 7pm in the
Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center. Rehearsals will
begin on February 8th, 2021 and the
rehearsals will take place at Carlsbad High
School in either the CAC or in room 5002.
Total Number of Expected Participants for
Project
20 crew/35 cast/15 musicians
Total Number of Expected Audience
Attendance for Project
750
Provide a brief example of a similar recent
project by you or your organization and why it
was successful.
For over 40 years, the Carlsbad High School
Musical Production has contributed to the
cultural landscape of Carlsbad. As a
community-based educational program, it has
become a treasured tradition, as evidenced by
the inclusion of Carlsbad High School musical
memorabilia in the Carlsbad Historical Society
displays. Evidence of the quality of the
productions can be found in reviews and
awards from the National Youth Arts
organization and Broadway San Diego
Awards, where Carlsbad High School
consistently receives accolades. Three out of
the five Theatre teachers in Carlsbad (Andrea
Emert at Aviara Oaks Middle School, Jillian
Porter-Eshelman at Sage Creek High School,
Olivia Hardy at Valley Middle School,) are
alumni of this program. A number of cast
members from last year’s production are
children of former Carlsbad musical cast
members. Grace Kellett, whose parents both
participated in CHS musicals, played
“Marmee” in the 2019 production of LITTLE
WOMEN, and was one of three finalists of the
Broadway San Diego Awards. All of these
members of the Carlsbad High School Musical
Production family have been introduced to
musical theatre dance by the same guest
choreographer that we propose to use this
year. It is an important and unique legacy that
the community has embraced. Unfortunately,
due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, the
full process of the musical was not
experienced.
What makes the project distinctive?The theme for this school year at the Carlsbad
High School Theatre Department is "dare to
think outside of the box." This year’s musical
production will provide the Carlsbad High
School Theatre department the opportunity to
bring the year's theme to life, through a
performance on a stage. Every year, the
theme of the musical changes and as such,
provides a new experience for the students,
and makes every year and every project
distinctive and valuable. Furthermore, with the
annual change of the spring musical, Suzanne
provides the student performers the
opportunity to learn new styles of dance.
Additionally, the proposed project meets the
needs of high school age students to
experience musical theatre without paying a
fee to be in a production. Simply put, there is
no economic barrier to be a part of the musical
theatre experience. Another bonus is that a
student are given an opportunity to learn
dance outside of the dance team structure.
While there is an excellent dance program at
Carlsbad High School that produces the
award-winning Lancer Dancers and Xcalibur
dance teams, those dancers are defending
their national titles during the spring semester,
and the dance teacher and her coaches are
very busy with that worthy endeavor. As a
result, actors and singers make up the bulk of
the cast of the Carlsbad High School Musical
Production, and they receive special
instruction from the guest choreographer.
What are the goals (outputs and/or outcomes)
of the project? How will you measure your
goals?
The goal of the Carlsbad High School Musical
Production is to provide a life-long arts
experience for students while creating a
performance that is easily accessible to the
entire Carlsbad community. Student
engagement is the hallmark of the Carlsbad
High School Musical Productions. Every day
during the rehearsal process, the students
make new artistic choices, learning new styles
of dance, discovering that they are truly multi-
talented. Each year a different genre of
musical is chosen by the director; during the
course of a student’s time at Carlsbad High
School, they will have experienced many
different types of musical theatre. Moreover,
with the different types of musical theatre
explored, different types of dance are also
experienced. Every musical requires a
different approach and this definitely applies to
dance. Suzanne is a professional
choreographer and this will be some of the
students’ first experience with a professional of
this caliber. Every year there are new students
coming in and seasoned students graduating.
This project will help educate every students’
mind through the experience of the spring
musical. We will be measuring our goals
through attendance of the productions, exit
surveys from the audience after the show,
increase of students in the theatre department,
and conversations with the community.
Additionally, in order to measure the
effectiveness, the students in the Carlsbad
High School Musical Production will be judged
by evaluators from National Youth Arts and the
Broadway San Diego Awards.
Who is your target population and why? How
will you reach them?
The target population for our theatre
department is all of the students and teachers
at Carlsbad High School, the parents of the
students, and the community of Carlsbad.
While we would like to branch out farther than
the city limits of Carlsbad, we want to start
small and grow from there. The Carlsbad High
School Theatre Department wants to reach
this particular population because it is the
community that we serve. We want to gain a
close relationship with this community in the
hopes that they will support the theatre
department while we grow, rebuild, and
change. We will be reaching out to this
populace by utilizing many techniques of
publicity. Some of these techniques include,
postcards that will be handed out, put onto
cars, given to administration, put on the sides
of mailboxes, and anywhere they can be seen.
Another technique we will be executing is the
use of posters around the high school campus,
at local coffee shops, stores, and merchants.
Yet another technique we will be using are
different forms of social media to garner
interest including Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram. Additionally, we use CHSTV to get
the word out to the populace. CHSTV is a
program that is streamed every morning to all
of the classrooms on the Carlsbad High
School Campus and is available to be
streamed live online across the nation.
Are you partnering with any organizations or
individuals that are involved in your project but
are not employed or affiliated with the applying
organization?
Yes
Provide names and brief description of roles
for any partners in this project. This would
include any organizations, artists or individuals
involved in your project that are not employed
or affiliated with the applying organization.
Carlsbad High School will be hiring the
following artists for the musical production:
Suzanne Fernandez - Choreographer - She
will be coming in two to three times a week to
work with the students on choreography for
many of the songs. The show we are
considering has more dance than our show
last year, Amélie, the musical, and as such,
will require Suzanne's expertise. The
choreographer will cost $2,500, which is what
the grant will be specifically going to. Suzanne
provides a clear and fresh perspective
whenever she is choreographing. We
continuously hire her because of these facts,
her professionalism, and her ability to shift
when changes need to be made. Leigh Anne
Sutherlin - Music Director - Leigh Anne will be
teaching the students the music before
Suzanne comes in to teach the choreography.
Leigh Anne will be in for the first two weeks,
then the Choreographer will be coming in. The
music director will cost $4000, which is why
we are applying for another grant from Datron.
This will not be the first time the director and
the music director will work together. Leigh
Anne has a vast amount of knowledge and
provides the students will specific instruction,
singing techniques, and valuable feedback
that many do not receive in their daily lives.
Outside of this department, Leigh Anne is a
professional singing coach and has years of
experience that she will use to help guide the
students to success.
Please upload all resumes of teaching artists,
artists or any other individual partners in your
project. Only one PDF document will be
accepted - please consolidate all information.
Suzanne_Fernandezs_Resume.pdf (99k)
Please upload resumes and/or information of
involved teaching artists, artists or any other
individuals participating in your project. Only
one PDF document will be accepted - please
consolidate all information.
Leigh_Anne_Sutherlins_Resume.pdf (79k)
This space is available to you to provide any
links to any marketing materials, videos,
images, websites, file sharing etc. that would
provide more information on your project.
(OPTIONAL, but recommended.)
www.chslancerplayers.net
Please upload your completed Project Budget
form.
CAG_2020-2021_Project_Budget_Form_1.xlsx
(15k)
Upload a total current school year budget for
either for your program area that includes this
project (if you are a teacher), or a current
school year budget for your organization (if
you are an affiliated group, i.e. parent/booster
organization)
Porjected_Costs_for_2020_2021.docx (12k)
Signature of authorized representative from
applying entity:
First Name Matthew
Last Name Fauls-Rivas
Title CHS Theatre Arts Teacher
Phone Number 949-510-7153
Email Address matthew.fauls-rivas@carlsbadusd.net
Last Update 2020-04-13 23:23:08
Start Time 2020-04-13 23:22:46
Finish Time 2020-04-13 23:23:08
IP 174.195.197.83
Browser Safari
OS Mac
Referrer https://fs9.formsite.com/res/formLoginReturn
August 6, 2020
Dear Matthew,
Congratulations! The City of Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office and the Carlsbad Arts Commission is pleased to
inform you that Carlsbad High School Theatre Arts Department has been awarded a 2020/2021
Community Arts Grant in the amount of $2300 for the following project:
Carlsbad High School Musical Production: Educational Institution or Affiliated Group
During the 2020/2021 Community Arts Grants application review process, the Cultural Arts office
assembled panelists to virtually review and score applications. The panelists comprised of
representatives from local arts organizations and the community. Cultural Arts Office staff and panelists
worked diligently to assure the process was consistent, competitive and fair for all applicants.
We encourage you to review the 2020/2021 Community Arts Grants Guidelines for the requirements of
grantees during the funding period which runs from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021.
After we receive and process the signed agreement, your first payment will be 80% ($1840) of your total
grant received. The remainder of 20% ($460) will be awarded upon completion of your final report.
If you have any questions, please contact Megan Gilby at megan.gilby@carlsbadca.gov. We appreciate
all the organizations, schools and individuals who participated in this program and your continual
dedication to the arts in Carlsbad during these unprecedented times.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Schultz, MFA Megan Gilby
Cultural Arts Manager Community Arts Coordinator
City of
Carlsbad
CAG 2020/2021 COVID-19 UPDATES FORM
Organization Carlsbad High School
On your original application, in which category
did you apply?
Schools and Affiliated Groups
First Name Matthew
Last Name Fauls-Rivas
Title Theatre Arts Teacher
Community Arts Grants 2020 Funded Project
Title
CHS Spring Musical
Please share what updates you are
incorporating to your Community Arts Grant
2020 project in response to the COVID-19
crisis.
Due to the unforeseen circumstances of the
current school year, we will be creating our
own musical created by the Theatre
Department students. However, we would like
to put this grant toward hiring a New York
composer to help the students create this
musical after the first draft is completed. This
composer will also record the music tracks and
give valuable feedback to the students.
Please share how your program updates will
incorporate current government requirements
for health and safety, including social
distancing.
We will likely be filming this via Zoom,
however, we are also tossing around the idea
of a performance on the CAC stage but social
distant. It really all depends on the school
district and the health orders. We are prepared
for all eventualities so we do not have to
cancel the show. We decided to do an original
musical for this reason.
Please share how your grant were originally
going to be spent, and how the money will be
utilized with your changes. Be specific about
use of grant funds - this information will
supplement the previous narrative questions
about your program.
Originally, the grant was going to be used for a
choreographer. Due to health orders, the
choreographer does not feel comfortable with
any kind of interaction, regardless if it is virtual
or physically distant. As such, we have
decided that it is more valuable to get a
composer to help us rather than a
choreographer. Mr. Fauls-Rivas will
choreograph the show with student help.
James Holod Kennedy
Music Director & Accompanist
Contact
jamesholodkennedy@gmail.com
704-942-7856
Recent Music Directing Experience
Summer’s Soldier*^ dir. Jenna Worsham Williamstown Theatre Festival
From Where I Stand*^ dir. Jen Band Playing for Others
The Great Big Work*^ dir. Jen Band Playing for Others
Ready. Set. Go.*^ dir. Jen Band Playing for Others
A Christmas Carol+^ dir. Drew Fracher Actors Theatre of Louisville
And Then He Painted the Sky* dir. James Kennedy Emerson College
The Grapes of Wrath dir. Maureen Shea Emerson College
The Baker’s Wife* in concert dir. James Kennedy Emerson College
I Love You Because* dir. Lindsey Hamby-Real Emerson College
Sweeney Todd*^ dir. Jamey Varnadore Theatre Charlotte
Into the Woods^ dir. Jen Band Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
…Charlie Brown^ dir. Jen Band Playing for Others
* also played 1st Keyboard and/or conducted pit musicians
^ worked with children/teens
+ chorus master; warmed up singers, maintained sound throughout run
Teaching Experience
The Orchard Project
Artistic Associate for Education and Outreach, 2015-Present
Plans, coordinates, and executes apprenticeship program for undergraduate students teaching
multidisciplinary theatermaking; leads classes in playwrighting, dramaturgy, and music
composition
Playing for Others
Composer in Residence, 2016-Present
Writes and composes an annual full-length original musical performed by teenagers; teaches
the music and music directs/plays and conducts productions
Story Pirates
Accompanist, 2018-Present
Provides live piano accompaniment for Story Pirates performances, composes original songs
based on kids’ ideas, creates live improvised musical accompaniment
Kidding Around
President/Executive Board Member, 2011-2014
Developed and facilitated theatre-based workshops taught to elementary and middle school
students in conjunction with performances of touring productions.
(continued)
Related Experience
Audition Accompaniment (The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, others); Cabaret accompaniment (Green
Room 42, The Duplex, others); Middle and High School Choir Concert accompaniment experience; 20+
years of piano training/experience, 10 years of accompaniment training/experience, key transposition
on sight, conducting experience, many years working in Theatre for Young Audiences
Education
BA Theatre Studies, Emerson College
Summa Cum Laude, Purple Key Honor Society
References Available Upon Request
James Kennedy
Playwright & Composer
Representation
Lucy Powis, A3 Artists Agency
lucy.powis@a3artistsagency.com
646-496-4601 x2284
Personal Contact
jamesholodkennedy@gmail.com
704-942-7856
www.jameshkennedy.com
Recent Productions
Ready. Set. Go.
(New Musical—Libretto/Music/Lyrics)
—Commissioned by Playing for Others in Charlotte, NC; premiered in March 2020 dir. by Jennifer Band
Relapse
(Opera—Libretto)
—Commissioned by The Kennedy Center and the Washington National Opera’s American Opera Initiative;
premiered in January 2019; Molly Joyce, composer
Plays & Musicals
Jo & Laurie
(Full Length Play)
—workshop, Astoria Greenspace, December 2019
From Where I Stand
(Full Length Musical—Book/Music/Lyrics)
—World premiere, Playing for Others (Charlotte, NC), March 2019 dir. Jennifer Band
And One
(Full Length Play)
—Semifinalist, 2018 Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center New Play Conference
First and Foremost: Beliefs for a Creative Life
(Musical Essay—Music/Lyrics)
—Commissioned by CreativeMornings Inc.; premiered February 2018
The Tire
(Solo performance)
—Commissioned by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA performed by a Deaf actor in American Sign
Language as a part of the museum’s annual “ASL Night” in 2017 and 2018, dir. Betsy Goldman
Trudy, Carolyn, Martha, and Regina Travel to Outer Space and Have a Pretty Terrible Time There
(Ten Minute Play)
—2016 Humana Festival of New American Plays, dir. Jessica Fisch
—2016 The Tens, Actors Theatre of Louisville, dir. Cara Phipps
—Published in the 2016 Humana Festival Anthology and The Best Short Plays of 2016
James Holod Kennedy
www.jameshkennedy.com
Residencies
Everwood Farmstead
—Playwrighting residency, September 2020
The Midnight Factory
—Incubator Lab Member, Summer 2020
Virginia Center for the Creative Arts
—Playwrghting residency, March 2020 (postponed to 2021)
The Orchard Project
—Greenhouse Artist Residency, Summer 2019
Access Theater
—Musical Theater residency, 2019
Awards & Fellowships
Queens Arts Council Grant
—Grant to fund writing and development of Jo & Laurie,
Superhero Clubhouse
—Science and Stage Fellowship Recipient, 2016
Rod Parker Playwrighting Fellowship, 2014
Betsey Carpenter Playwrighting Award, 2013
Education
Emerson College, Boston MA BA Theatre Studies: Directing and Playwrighting
Summa Cum Laude, Purple Key Honor Society
Related Work Experience
Williamstown Theatre Festival
—Music director/conductor, orchestrator, and arranger for Community Works production
(Summer’s Soldier by Boo Killebrew, Lucy Thurber, and Heather Christian)
Tectonic Theatre Project
—Certified instructor in Moment Work technique
Actors Theatre of Louisville, Louisville KY
—Directing Apprentice 2015-2016 season
The Lark Play Development Center, New York NY
—Artistic Programming Apprentice, 2014-2015 season
ArtsEmerson/HowlRound: A Center for Theatre Commons, Boston MA
—Creative Producer/Production Assistant, 2013-2014 season