The Culver City High School Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) will presents its sixth annual benefit celebration “Java Gala” at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on Saturday, June 7.
Sponsored by the Center Theatre Group (CTG), the program is a showcase of the entire AVPA, celebrating the accomplishments of students in the departments of Film, Art, Dance, Theatre, and Music. CTG’s ongoing partnership with AVPA uses the artistic resources of CTG to support the AVPA curriculum in mentoring students and creating unique learning opportunities at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. What began as “Java Drama,” a showcase of the AVPA program in 1996, this production marks the 20th “Java” by AVPA.
The theme of this year’s showcase, “Our Time,” highlights the many personal experiences that more than 250 students have participated in throughout their years in AVPA. The Theatre Company will feature comedy Improv, as well as a Shakespeare scene. Dance will present pieces from their spring concert, including “El Tango La Boheme,” featuring the soundtrack song “El Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge.”
Art will feature short films made in conjunction with CTG, called Animated Soundscapes. Art will also highlight the many projects and accomplishments in their program this year, with an extensive gallery of student artwork on display in the lobby available for viewing during the reception and intermission. Film will showcase student-directed films, including work from their Sony Screening and a 48-Hour Film Festival. Music will feature several ensembles, including the string ensemble, jazz ensemble, jazz combo, and chamber singers, as well as demonstrating examples from our film scoring and sound recording program.
A total of 22 students across the five AVPA departments were chosen to have portraits painted by our Art students. Along with candid “selfies” and students speaking about their time in AVPA, the show’s theme is very much about each student’s experience in the program. The finale will feature all the AVPA students performing “Our Time,” a musical theatre song composed by Stephen Sondheim.
The show will open with the appropriately titled “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” the show-stopping number from our spring production of Cole Porter’s musical “Kiss Me, Kate.”
Our production of “Kiss Me, Kate” recently won several awards and nominations for the Ninth Annual National Youth Arts Awards for 2013-14:
Awards include: outstanding ensemble; lead actor in a musical, Christopher Clark as Fred/Petruchio; lead actress in a musical, Tasia Vasilopoulos as Lilli/Kate; and supporting actress in a musical: Claire Skelley as Lois/Bianca.
Nominations include: outstanding production; supporting actor in a musical, Reno Behnken as Second Man (Gangster); supporting actor in a musical, Oliver Berliner as First Man (Gangster); supporting actor in a musical, Josh Call as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio; supporting actor in a musical, Krist Fletcher as Harrison Howell; and direction Jill Novick.
The Kirk Douglas Theatre is located at 9820 W. Washington Blvd. in Culver City. A reception with live music by the Jazz Combo, an art exhibition, and silent auction will take place from 6:3 to 8 p.m. in the lobby. The show begins at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $40 in advance, $45 at the door, or $60 for premium-reserved seats. Tickets are available online at www.avpa.org. Please contact us at info@avpa.org for any questions.
The Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (AVPA) at Culver City High School has been inspiring and empowering students to build a compassionate, creative community through innovative and challenging arts education since 1996. AVPA enjoys tremendous support from many organizations, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Center Theatre Group, Playa Vista, West Los Angeles College, as well as from the Culver City community. For more information about the Academy, go to http://www.avpa.org or contact Co-Executive Directors Tony Spano at 310-842-4200 x6094 or Kristine Hatanaka at 310-842-4200 x6001.