This past weekend the Roxy Performing Arts Center venue was closed by the county when a water/sewage main broke in the plaza they are located in.
Over the weekend they searched for a venue at which to hold their after-school programs for their K-8 ‘Kidz On Stage After School Care’ program, and FIU Theatre hosted them on Tuesday and Wednesday, November 19 & 20.
Roxy’s Theatre Arts Director, Charles Sothers – one of many FIU Theatre alumni involved with the Roxy – had this message to share:
“… it has been an amazing boon that not only is FIU located right across the street from our facility, but more importantly that the staff of these nearby venues has been so generous! It was a welcomed embrace in light of our shuttered facility that space was made available for our after school program. We were able to quickly coordinate and mobilize the children into spaces on campus that so appropriately suited the work The Roxy Theatre Group has made its mission. At the Frost, kids had the opportunity to learn in a facility with great big windows, and research shows that natural lighting is very conducive to learning. We hope to give them a tour of the exhibits, in advance of the Discovery Gallery reopening, later this week when the museum is officially open. The kids seemed excited for the change of view.
At the Wertheim Performing Arts Center (home to FIU Theatre), the kids got to work in the spaces where many of our staff and students took classes, like the Stage Makeup classes I attended with Department Chair, Prof. Skow. The kids certainly had a great time when we were allowed to give them a quick tour of the department, especially since students and faculty were in the midst of various projects. It was a great primer for these young minds into college life. It was also an opportunity for us, once FIU students, to pay it forward to our kids in the manner that our FIU teachers showed us patience and taught us more than we were aware of.
A lot of questions were asked by our kids and many of the FIU students were nice enough to answer them. FIU has been the answer to the Roxy question these past couple of days. We are very appreciative. This is the love that the Miami art scene should always share with its constituent contributors. We were glad to share it with our kids.”
This announcement was on The Roxy Theatre Group Facebook page:
“We’re still locked out (for now), but our After School is still going strong, thanks to the generosity of FIU Theatre and the staff of The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum FIU! Luckily, these arts venues are the perfect alternate learning spaces! #RoxyTheatreArts”
Learn more about the Roxy Theatre Group and their programs on their site: roxyperformingartscenter.com
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