Education the Excites

 
 
Guest:
Dick Moe – Norris Theater
John Jacks – Restaurants
Welcome song: Chris Stillians
Announcements:
Suzie Zimmerman:

Harmony concert will be in the late afternoon April 27, 2014. See Jim Morgan if you would like a business card ad in the directory.
 
Thank you to Liz and Dan Fitzgerald for hosting the first co-ed poker event last month.
 
Thank you to Carolyn Lehr for hosting the Avenue Italy Wednesday Night Live and for sponsoring the beverages.
 
Wednesday Night Live for March will be held at Martin Chevrolet.
 
2/8 will be Palos Verdes Directory delivery. Volunteers are still needed.
 
2/22 Sunset Club’s 16th Annual Chinese New Year Gala. The gala will be held at Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Chinatown. There will be a 10 course dinner and entertainment. A chartered bus leaves at 4 pm from Norris Theater/Cox parking lot and returns around 9 pm. For information contact Angi Ma Wong at (310) 541-8818 or amawong@att.net or co-chair Astrid Naviaux at (310) 292-0457 or astrid@aol.com (Information taken from internet).
4/12: Rotary Day of Service: We will join the Sunset Club and San Pedro Rotary to make improvements to the 15th Street Elementary School in San Pedro.
 
5/15 – 5/18: District conference.
 
5/10: District Assembly.
 
Raffle: Christine Barnicki donated 2 tickets to The 39th Step being performed at the Norris Theater.
 
Winners: Les Fishman, Dick Moe, Jim Morgan.
 
Jim Hartman introduced the speaker.
 
Greg O’brien announced that Myanmar and Vietnam could soon have Rotary charters.
 
Speaker 1:
Marymount California University
Brenda Solomon
Marymount is now a 4 year university
Scholarship winner: Ebony Perry
Ebony came up through Los Angeles Boys and Girls Club’s College Bound program and went to Mary Star High School.
Community service is required at Marymount University
This year they have 450 freshmen.
Ebony thanked Rotary. She said she is very grateful for the support.
Speaker 2:
Megan Lyne
Masters from CSULB – Opera
Director of Education – Norris Theater
  • Musical Director
  • Youth and adult
  • Produced Godspell
  • Produced Annie
  • Produced 42nd Street
Teaches artists for Los Angeles Opera
From the Midwest
Parents music teachers
Mom- Country Day School teacher. In Wisconsin she taught inner city schools. Music teacher.
Dad – Coral director. Masters classes and St. Petersburg Conservatory
Megan taught voice but had passion for musical theater.
Norris Theater:
  • Founded Sept. 1983
  • 1997 – Norris Education Department formed so children could learn performing arts.
  • Negri Learning Center
  • Served kids 5 -18
  • Became leader in the area.
  • Students range in age from 5 – 83
  • At 3, children can start taking beginning dance and performance classes.
  • 120 classes each year; 3 terms.
  • Dance, acting and voice
  • Acrobat and tumbling classes will be added soon.
  • 3 summer camps – Camp Curtain Call
  • Professional Master class.
  • 4 Performing groups:
    • 1st Class Act;
    • Headliners;
    • Time Square Kids;
    • Stage One Stars.
  • New full-time center for education – 27525 Norris Center Drive.
  • Shrek – February 21 – March 2, 2014
  • Average age of performers 12.5
  • Make up done by Disney
  • 2nd most expensive show. 1st was Spiderman.
  • Singing in the Rain: July 18 – 20 and July 25-27
  • Charlotte’s Web: August 15 -17
  • Talk back 3/1 at 3:45pm
    • Come ask questions of cast members.
  • Performing Groups:
    • Stage 1 Stars: Age 6+ non-audition group;
    • Time Square Kids: Elementary age kids;
    • Headliners: Middle school and high school;
    • First Class Act: High shool.
  • Community performances:
    • Adia: Homes for the elderly. Group sang at 6 different homes.
  • Financial assistance for children programs plus grants and other funding.
  • Ready, Willing and Able (RWA):
    • Dance training for students with special needs;
    • Performance training for students with special needs;
    • Helps students prepare to participate in social dances;
    • 4 – 5 pm  Monday;
    • Peer mentors from local high schools;
    • Family fitness program;
    • Jazzy tappers.
  • Sponsor Rancho Vista Roadrunners
    • School board cut funding for the arts;
    • 500 students
    • Teach music and performing arts.
  • Norris relies on sponsorship and gifts.
Handed out posters for Shrek to be placed in community.