Kids Acting Up! for Kids at Sierra Madre Playhouse

Acting Up!, the children’s acting workshop that has been in full swing at the Sierra Madre Playhouse since 2009,  is at it again this summer providing children from ages 7 through 15 with the opportunity to perform in a fully staged musical, “Annie”. Founder, Christina Harris, a professional actor and director also divides her time as head of the drama department of  Frostig School in Pasadena where she works with kids K through 12 with learning disabilities. This year’s production of the musical, “Annie” tailored for young actors will be the culmination of the summer camp session with 4 performances on July 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and July 27 at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

A special fundraiser is being held in conjunction with Acting Up! summer camp for Rainbow Pack, a non-profit initiative founded by 12 year old Riley Gantt two years ago. During a field trip to an elementary school in Pacoima, Riley saw first hand the real need of less fortunate students who were operating without the supplies they needed which she and her classmates just assumed were available to all school kids.  Being greatly affected by this reality, she gathered school supplies – pencils, erasers, crayons, glue sticks and backpacks, for students at Haddon School in Pacoima. 

Now Rainbow Pack is a yearlong activity with donations and support from family, friends and those responding to the non-profit’s mission. Riley has recently been recognized as one of the ten 2013 Build-a-Bear Workshop Huggables for her work with Rainbow Pack. Riley is also a Finalist for a 2013 Kohl’s Cares Scholarship.

Miss Gantt who will briefly tell her story before each of the 4 performances of “Annie” and ask that you join her with a donation to meet Rainbow Pack’s goal of filling 450 backpacks before the 2013 Fall school year begins.

After Acting Up! completes another summer of fun at the Playhouse. A new “Triple Threat” training workshop will begin August 21st.  You may go to the website www.ActingUpSMP.com for more details.