Kellis Group at School to Work

Last Thursday high school students from four schools across the Valley participated in the ASU Gammage School to Work Workshop. Students from Raymond S. Kellis High School in Peoria, Camelback High School and Bostrom High School in Phoenix, and Learning Foundation for the Performing Arts in Gilbert got an inside look at what it takes to put on a show at ASU Gammage.

The School to Work workshop teams students with ASU Gammage staff to learn about the responsibilities of the different departments at ASU Gammage and the process of bringing a show to the ASU Gammage stage using real life scenarios. The students got a crash course in arts presenting from the ASU Gammage staff, and in just a few short hours were making decisions about choosing a show, developing fundraising strategies, creating marketing plans, reading technical riders, setting up a show at the box office and learning how to navigate budgets. After learning all about their assigned departments the students report to the rest of the group what their department needs to do to present a show. After working all morning students were taken on an exciting backstage tour of the set of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST by Company Manager Deb Barrigan. Students loved the chance to get an up close look at the set and costumes, and to learn more about what it like to work with a national touring company.

It truly is a joy to share what we do here at Gammage with students, and to the School to Work workshop gives us an exciting opportunity to introduce them to potential careers in the arts that they might not have ever thought about.

Thanks so much to all of the students who participated in last week’s workshop, great job.

Here is some feedback from one of the students:

My experience at the recent School to Work program was interesting. I had no idea what to expect. Coach Moore, my volleyball coach, said I would like it….but I was not sure. Coach Moore really does not take “no” for an answer so I knew we were going. Anyway, she got the head coach, Vicky Bauler, to take us. Coach Bauler is the BIGGEST Beauty and the Beast fan so she said “YES”. So off we went to find out what this was all about.

Turns out it is really cool!! We got to learn about all the work it takes to bring a Broadway show to a city. We broke into small groups and learned about how departments work together to make the show happen. It was super interesting. Then we got to tour the set. I learned a lot and I had fun. I hope we get to do this again.

Nicole ,Raymond S. Kellis High School