Xanadu: Reclaiming the Creative Muse Within
IVINS, UT – This month, Kayenta Arts Academy (KAA) provides performing arts training for youth ages 9-17 throughout the Southern Utah region. The Center For the Arts at Kayenta (CFAK) provided a very successful youth summer program in June and July of 2020. In June 2021 KAA again will launch a comprehensive arts program of classes, workshops, and performance opportunities in music, acting, script analysis, mask-based characterization, musical theater, with a touch of visual art and improv to keep students busy from 9am-3pm daily, working together in rehearsals and classes to prepare for the selected musical this summer, Xanadu.
Xanadu is a musical comedy with a book by Douglas Carter Beane and music and lyrics by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar, based on the 1980 film of the same name. Ancient Greece had a rich mythology with many supernatural figures associated with the arts. The play opens by introducing a human mortal, Sonny, who has lost the inspiration to complete his sidewalk mural masterpiece, but it visited by Olympian immortals known as Muses, each of a different artistic domain. Clio, one of the Muses, guides Sonny on a journey to open the world’s first roller skating rink. Basically, internal realities of creative people are shown throughout the musical as external characters and events: writer’s block, becoming rich and falling out of the arts, falling in love with the creative people, disillusionment, speaking truth to power, forgiveness, redemption—it’s all here. It’s a musical for anyone who has gone through a journey with their own Muse. It is directed by Dean Jones, who picked it for Kayenta Arts Academy when he realized that it has the ability to show young artists what being an artist is really like. “For the first time in three years,” said KAA Headmaster Chris Whiteside, “We have a musical that is another teacher in and of itself for these students. Every lesson learned in class will be reinforced and echoed in Xanadu.”
Though participation in the musical is not required for KAA students, it is a key confidence-building component to “showcase and shine” in front of an audience, which solidifies the life skills and theater expertise learned at KAA. Although young people learn some polished proficiency in classes and through performance, the primary goal is the development of every young artist’s muse by giving them professional-level tools.
Two Hollywood celebrities will be joining the KAA teacher roster this year: Clarence Gilyard (Top Gun, Matlock, Walker, Texas Ranger) and Colin Cunningham (The Sixth Day, Elektra, Falling Skies). Cunningham will teach acting, and Gilyard will teach script analysis. GWA music teacher Kathleen Whiteside returns to teach music, Angie Naylor teaches musical theatre, and Chris Whiteside, KAA Headmaster, will teach mask characterization.
More details, registration, scholarship forms, and upcoming shows can all be found at KayentaArts.com.
KAA Details:
June 7–July 2: M–F, Four Week Class, 9 AM – 3 PM
July 6–10: Final Rehearsals, Costuming
July 13-20: Performances of Xanadu
“We recognize the financial strain families in our community face, while still wanting to have top-quality experiences for their children. Customizable tuition payment schedules are available, regardless of income level or number of children enrolled. No child is turned away because of financial need. All young people of our community deserve to receive the full benefits of membership in the Academy and fulfill their potential as human beings.” For information contact the CFAK box office at 435-674-2787, or email cfakstaff@gmail.com
Come, be a part of the Art!
Visit kayentaartrs.com today!
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