Springer Opera House offers free show to support summer Theatre Academy

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)— Right now, more than 500 students are in the midst of their summer Theatre Academy at the Springer Opera House. This week, teachers are putting in overtime throwing their own performance to raise funds for the academy’s summer program.

Springer Theatre Academy

This summer marks the Springer Opera House’s 28 ^th annual summer Theatre Academy, a program built for all students from pre-k to high school.

“Our motto is life skills through stage skills. The skills necessary to perform on stage are the skills necessary to perform well in life,” Director of Education at the Springer Opera House, D.B. Woolbright said. “We really do lean into that. We’re constantly asking our students, ‘How are you going to use these skills when you get back to school, when you get back to church and your extracurricular activities?’ The skills of active listening, being an ensemble member, making sure that your scene partner is the most important person on stage as well as in life.”

Upcoming ninth grader and seven-year veteran of the academy, Sabine Ly, shares her most important learned skill.

“I think a big part is confidence because, I mean, you’re going up in front of people and talking,” Ly said. “I think another part that really sticks with me is that your scene partner is the most important person. And by making them look better, I guess, in turn, you look better.”

This summer, nearly 550 students have taken center stage in the Theatre Academy, about 80 of them with full or partial tuition assistance from the Springer’s Wise Investment Scholarship Fund. Over the last nine years, nearly $60,000 in scholarships have been awarded to approximately 400 students.

“We’ve actually extinguished that account, and I’ve turned to reducing the cost of our program on a case-by-case basis,” Woolbright said. “We’re actually taking a financial loss because we do believe that students learn, and they grow and there is deep impact that happens through our programing. And we don’t want money to be a hurdle or a barrier.”

More information on the Springer’s Theatre Academy can be found, here .

How to Support the Theatre Academy? TEACHaret!

To offset those costs and raise additional funds for the Wise Investment Scholarship, teachers of the academy from all over the country will be hosting their own TEACHaret.

Thursday, July 25 folks can expect a free variety show including musical theatre selections, dance routines, comedy skits, spoken word, and improv! Doors will open at 6 p.m., with the show kicking off at 7 p.m.

“Without our student scholarships, a large percentage of our academy body wouldn’t be able to attend camp. I believe it’s about 15% of our student body receives some kind of partial or full scholarship,” Woolbright said. “So, we’re having a suggested donation of $15 at the door. But the evening is full of fun games and opportunities to donate and give over the course of the production.”

The Springer has a goal of raising $10,000. More information on TEACHaret can be found, here .

Where to Catch the Students in Action: Disney’s Finding Nemo Jr.

Folks can also support the summer Theatre Academy can also catch a production to Finding Nemo Jr. , happening now through July 28.

“It’s always really exciting to watch our students grow up over the years. In fact, we’re standing on the stage of Finding Nemo Jr. , and the cast is made up of our graduating seniors, some of whom have been here since they were four and five years old,” Woolbright shared. “Our company class share of Finding Nemo Jr. is an opportunity for those students to really showcase all of the skills that they’ve learned cumulatively over their 14 years of being a student here at the Academy.”

There are three show times remaining this summer:

• Friday, July 26 @ 7 p.m.
• Saturday, July 27 @ 11 a.m.
• Sunday, July 28 @ 2:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased, here .

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