Lenaea High School Theatre Festival

The sponsor spotlight now shines on Sacramento State! Sac State has a long history with Lenaea, having started the festival in 1956! We are grateful for their continued support! The California State University, Sacramento Department of Theatre and Dance provides a broad and thorough foundation of the history, theory, literature and the practice of theatre and dance to students who wish to pursue post graduate studies or join the profession. The Department of Theatre and D...ance offers an imaginative and ambitious program of historical and contextual studies supported by studio and production work. Our mission challenges our students to be independent thinkers. Our department provides a collaborative, artistic environment that reflects a richly complex and diverse global perspective complimented by national and international faculty and staff experience. Learn more at https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/theatre-dance/

Next up in our sponsor spotlight is Sacramento Theatre Company! Sacramento Theatre Company (STC) strives to be the leader in integrating professional theatre with theatre arts education. STC produces engaging professional theatre, provides exceptional theatre training, and uses theatre as a tool for educational engagement. STC understands that young people dream of careers in performing arts, but they need an outlet and proper training. STC meets those needs by offering K-1...2 students after school and weekend training programs. Learn more at https://www.sactheatre.org/

Next up in our sponsor spotlight: Folsom Chamber of Commerce! Since 1946, the Chamber has been a voluntary partnership of business and professional people working together to build and maintain a healthy economy and superior quality of life in Folsom. We're excited to return as soon as possible to our home in Folsom at the Harris Center for the Arts!... Visit https://www.folsomchamber.com/ for additional information.

Our next sponsor spotlight is Norcal School of the Arts! Northern California School of the Arts provides holistic, individualized and professional theater arts training programs, supporting young artists from diverse communities to create, express, and participate in theater arts educational opportunities. Through arts engagement, students are empowered to embrace social, emotional learning strategies and advocacy while creating a positive mindset towards themselves and their community. Learn more about Norcal School of the Arts - visit www.norcalsota.org.

Today we celebrate our incredible festival sponsors! First up - Young Actor's Theatre Camp! The Young Actors’ Theatre Camp is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary Season in the Santa Cruz Mountains this summer and we want you to be there! Obeying all CDC COVID Compliances, CampYATC will be back in person, overnight and exactly what we all need after the year we had in 2020! For more information of to schedule an interview for placement into their Award Winning Program call (925...)858-3548 or Visit us Online at CampYATC.com This Summer’s Faculty includes: Megan Hilty (Smash), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), Laurie Metcalf (2 Time Tony Award Winner, The Conners), Kate Rockwell (Mean Girls), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Laura Bell Bundy (Tony Nominee Legally Blonde) Julia Lester (High School Musical, The Musical: The Series), Alex Brightman (2 Time Tony Nominee Beetlejuice, School of Rock), Jim O’Heir (Parks and Rec), Christopher Henry Young (Hamilton), Brandon Hudson (Hamilton, The Prom), James Alsop (Choreographer for Beyonce and J Lo) and SO many more amazing teachers! With an All Star Faculty, a COVID Safe Camp, and the most amazing campers & staff, we are going to have the BEST SUMMER of OUR LIVES! Register Today at CampYATC.com Click Here to See A Video about the Young Actors’ Theatre Camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTHU5jOdm38

Lenaea 2021 begins in four days, and we are PUMPED! Our festival home page is live, login accounts have been generated, and it's time to RSVP! to your events and workshops!! What are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments below!!

The Lenaea High School Theatre Festival believes unequivocally that Black Lives Matter. Systemic racism has oppressed Black people for generations in every sector, and the theatre is no exception. We can never again ignore the violence and injustice that threaten Black lives and wellbeing. As theatre practitioners, we know that theatre is a change agent. It brings people together, it demands truth, and it highlights injustice. At Lenaea, year after year, we see our participan...ts shine as the best of what theatre can do to create a more equitable world through their performances, their original work, and their camaraderie with each other. We know that representation matters, and yet, like so many well-meaning organizations, we have not done enough to ensure that the experiences of our participants are reflected in the staffing and systems that make up our festival. We are committed to elevating more BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) artists in every aspect of Lenaea, from our team of respondents, to our guest artists, to our board of directors. We say this with the utmost humility and commitmentwe have work to do. We have always considered the theatre to be a safe space. We now acknowledge that it has not always been safe for everyone. We are grateful to the many anti-racist artists and activists who have been working toward justice for generations. We stand with you. We are listening, and ready to act. Here are some of the resources that we will be using as we work to create a more inclusive and diverse Lenaea Festival: BIPOC demands for White American Theatre Building Trust After Inclusivity Failed: Lessons for the Theater Black Lives Matter Sacramento Artists Against Racism Resources for Anti-racism Action Anti-racism Resources for White People Color of Change Resources for Raising Anti-racist Kids Confronting Racism: Conversations on Systemic Racism and Protest

Join us today for the BIG DAY OF GIVING! The performing arts have never been more vital, and more at risk, than they are right now. In these difficult times we, like many of you, have found solace in the creativity and innovation of the theatre community, from sharing recorded performances online, to creating new content right in our living rooms as we shelter-in-place. It's more clear than it has ever beenthe arts matter. Like all of us, our Lenaea participants remain unce...rtain about what next year holds for them. One thing is certain, the Lenaea Festival will continue, with your help. Your support will strengthen high school theatre arts education, and promote enriching and interactive exchanges for thousands of students. Every dollar counts! As the festival enters its 65th year, your donation is essential so that we can continue to bring this unique experience to the students and teachers of Northern California and beyond. We are hard at work imagining what next year's festival will look like, planning for all scenarios including expanded virtual experiences for our students. Your donation today will help us ensure that, no matter what form it takes, the Lenaea Festival will remain a vibrant haven for thousands of passionate young theatre artists. Our young people have sacrificed so much in these uncertain times. We hope that we can count on your support to ensure the Lenaea Festival remains something that they can look forward to next year, and for years to come.

It is officially Big Day of Giving! https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/lenaea.

We hope everyone is safe and sound during the shelter-in-place orders! The post-festival survey is now available for completion - please take a moment and give us your feedback and ideas as we begin 2021 festival planning!

HERE IT IS!!! The 2020 Lenaea Award show! Tag yourself, friends and share! https://www.facebook.com/pg/CMYKPhotographysac/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1584262345063700

Lenaea Day Two! PC: CMYK Photography

This group of students is with our amazing workshop Instructor Camille! They are not all dancers, in fact some of them are Technical Production students and some are performers wanting to learn! They all came together and choreographed some AMAZING dance numbers! It’s not about your position in the theatre, it’s about sharing the love of theatre and supporting each other! #Wearelenaea. #Thisislenaea

One of our favorite moments at the opening ceremony is Luther Burbank performing! Photo: CMYK Photography

Special shout out to Montgomery High School - sorry we missed you in the video!

We are going live on Facebook shortly! Tune in to see the opening ceremonies!!! We have some awesome camera crew this year filming the live stream!! #wearelenaea #lenaeafestival

Casting is always a huge topic at Lenaea and this year we're bringing you a workshop from Tiffany Little Canfield, CSA, casting director with premiere agency Telsey+ Company. Go behind the scenes with Tiffany, the Casting Director behind The Greatest Showman, Rent, and Into the Woods, Fosse/Verdon, This is Us and more! Learn the inner workings of the casting business, audition tips, and have a Q & A session with Tiffany! Check Guidebook and www.lenaea.org for scheduling details!