Auditions to 2018 program to be held May 5,6
Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is proud to continue its unwavering support of the annual Teen Summer Musical (TSM), and looks forward to strengthening this invaluable program in 2018 and for years to come.
Early in 2018, SPR decided that the 2018 musical would include only youth aged 13-18. However, the department is pleased to announce that this year’s production will now include 10 younger children, aged 8-12. To accommodate this change, SPR will add a staff member to the TSM program, which will allow the department to meet its standard supervisory ratio for young children of 1 adult to 10 kids. This will provide enough adult supervision to keep the younger children safe, engaged, interested, and having a good time.
“We remain committed to the Teen Summer Musical, which has become a Seattle summer tradition,” says Christopher Williams, Interim Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation. “We understand there has been some misinformation that the program would be cancelled or that it lacked the support of the department. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Teen Summer Musical is here to stay – and it will be stronger than ever.”
The Teen Summer Musical (TSM) provides opportunities for local youth to build self-confidence, new friendships, and new talents through theater arts. This 9-week long summer program involves dozens of teens of color, and each year, the program features a musical production that celebrates African American culture. After a whole summer of rehearsal and mentorship, TSM performers share their talents and hard work with the community in several spectacular performances.
This year, TSM auditions will occur at Rainier Beach Community Center on May 5 from 12 to 3 p.m. and on May 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. 2018 TSM performances will take place on August 24, 25, and 26. The venue for performances is yet to be determined as SPR continues to search for a high-quality location that suits the needs of the production. We are also exploring sponsorship and partnership opportunities to defer venue cost. For more information on how to participate in the 2018 TSM, contact Keisha Cannon at (206) 233-1508 or Kiesha.Cannon@seattle.gov.
Moving forward, SPR wants to have a conversation with the community about the future of the Teen Summer Musical and looks forward to providing opportunities for public input.
Point of contact for this release:
Kelly Buethe, 206-684-8020, kelly.buethe@seattle.gov