Vista Grande's first play, "Alice in Wonderland" was a smashing success, so successful in fact, it's been on tour! The day of opening night, members of the cast took a few select scenes to CAC's Academic Honor's Symposium. The symposium opened with the Alice performance followed by members of Vista Grande Dance. It was the first time Fine Arts has been included in the Academic Honor's Symposium.
On Saturday, April 17th the cast of Alice in Wonderland returned to CAC on the invitation of CAC's theater department to perform the third act of the show. Students participated in several workshops that included visual and sound effects for stage, stage makeup and improvisation techniques taught by members of the local Improv troupe, "Exit 185". The visual and sound effects workshop taught students techniques on how to create effects such as snow, rain, thunder, and lightning. At the end of the workshop students enjoyed a treat of edible sugar glass and stage blood made of corn syrup. The showcase gave staff and students the opportunity to network and meet other theater students and staff in the local area as well as learn a bit about education at the college level.
The last stop on the tour is April 26th when the group will perform the complete show at Mesquite Elementary by invitation. Performing at the elementary schools isn't the only outreach that Vista Grande Theater students are doing. Members of the Vista Grande Thespian Society have been volunteering their time to mentor young actors in at Casa Grande Middle School. Volunteers have been serving as junior acting coaches, assisting in costumes and working as technicians and assisting the director in anyway possible.
The Thespian Honor Society is also in the process of planning their first annual induction banquet scheduled for May 12 at 7pm in the auditorium. This first banquet will honor Thespians that were inducted at the beginning of the school year and inducting new members into the honor society. Members are inducted based on points earned from areas such as backstage work, performances and volunteer work in the community.
I Love New York!
Vista Grande Dance has been honored to select dancers to attend the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Students need to raise nearly $3000 per participant. While in New York they will have the opportunity to take master classes from professional choreographers, see a Broadway show, see the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall as well as participate in the Nationally televised parade as part of a national group of dancers. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity! Currently Dance is sponsoring a fundraiser through the local Casa Grande Candle Company followed by a Zumbathon on Friday, May 7th at 6:30 pm.
Zumba is a fun, high energy workout based on latin dance. The Zumbathon will be instructed by two certified instructors from Phoenix. Admission is $10 for the two hour class. All proceeds will go toward sending VG Dancers to New York. The Zumbathon will also host vendors such as candle distributors, clothing sales, a bake sale, and a variety of other vendors. We are currently looking for other vendors interested in setting up a booth during the Zumbathon. If interested, contact Cori Lee at 876-9400 ext. 4235 or email clee@cguhsd.org. In addition to the candle and zumbathon fundraisers, staff and students will be offering sponsorship packages that will be sent out to friends family and local businesses. Any and all sponsorships at welcome and can be used as educational tax credit!
Vista Grande Spring Dance Concert will be on Saturday, May 1st at 7 pm. Admission will be $5 at the door and proceeds will benefit the dance department. Concessions and flowers will also be available to purchase at the concert, proceeds from those sales will benefit the dancers attending Macy's. The spring concert will feature student choreography and host as our special guests, Desert Stage Dance Company from Arizona City. This is a great opportunity for dance to work with the community by hosting Desert Stage Dance. High School dancers will mentor young dancers while giving them the opportunity to perform on a stage with full theatrical effects. This is an opportunity the small dance group would not have otherwise. It is anticipated that this will be a positive experience and will open the door for more participation from the community to work with Vista Grande Students.
