Vanessa Bahena, senior theatre major, in a powerful scene from the Laramie Project at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.

The fourth-year Acting Class, under the direction of Maria Gobetti, presented The Laramie Project, a play about the reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, an openly gay student attending the University of Wyoming.

The play was written from interviews conducted by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project with the townspeople of Laramie, Wyoming. The murder was denounced as a hate crime and brought national attention to the lack of hate crime prevention laws in the United States.

Principal George Simpson selected "Laramie" as the one artistic event all LACHSA students would see this year. The play doubled as an artistic work and a tool for teaching students about prejudice and tolerance.

"I learned that my own personal differences are a good thing," said senior actress Simone Edwards, who played three
of the 68 different characters in the play. "After doing the play, I appreciate my uniqueness even more," she said.  

Senior Michael Chacon portrayed the Reverend Fred Phelps, who, under the protection of the First Amendment, continues  to picket at military funerals and gay pride gatherings.

Michael at first found it very challenging to portray a character he instinctively disdained. "As a person I may not like the man, but as an actor I use my distaste of that person to become that person," he said.

LACHSA's instrumental and vocal jazz ensembles once again took top awards at the Next Generation Jazz Festival, held on April 2 in Monterey.

One of the most prestigious high school jazz contests in the country, the festival attracts outstanding ensembles from across the country.

LACHSA's jazz choir, under the direction of Pat Bass, and jazz ensemble, under the direction of Jason Goldman, took first place awards at the festival. They have been invited to perform at the 54th Monterey Jazz Festival in September. 

These accomplishments come on the heels of the jazz combo's win of top honors at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival in Boston.   

Earlier, LACHSA jazz chanteuse Hope Flores (in photo) performed at the music industry's most high-profile event, the Grammy Awards, for the second year running as a member of the national Grammy Jazz Choir.    

LACHSA Fashion to Hit the Runway

LACHSA Visual Arts fashion classes, taught by designer Connie Kolupa, are hard at work producing their spring collection. The collection will be unveiled in May as part of the VA Spring Show. 

This year's theme of "Around the World" challenged students to integrate traditional costume elements from a specific country into a modern design. 

Over the past seven months, students have taken their designs from initial concept to production. They started in September by exploring concepts, creating illustrations, making patterns and constructing muslin samples. They are now entering the final stages of producing their designs in beautiful fabrics.

Rigorous assignments have focused on the many skills needed in draping, patternmaking and sewing, as well as on how to create budgets for buying fabric and estimating yardage for a garment. Critique also has been an essential part in developing their collections.  

The Fashion Show is set for Sun., May 22, 3-5pm, James Gray Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica.

Snapshot: Boston Alumni Reunion

LACHSA alumni, with faculty Jerry Freedman and Jason Goldman along with principal George Simpson, convene at our recent alumni reunion in Boston hosted by the Berklee College of Music.

Don't Miss Film's Premiere Event!

The 11th annual MoonDance Film Festival is fast approaching and the film submissions are pouring in.  Students are rushing to complete their films on time with the hopes of landing a nomination.   

Cole Wagner, a senior in the Theatre Department, said, "I can't wait to see if [my] film will be nominated for the top awards."

Lachlan Turczan, a senior in the Visual Arts Department, is "excited to see the finished films on the big screen."

TV actor and LACHSA faculty member Jeremy Guskin will host the event, which will premiere the works of both beginning and advanced filmmakers. Special guests and celebrities will present awards for achievement in filmmaking, such as Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

This year's MoonDance Film Festival will take place on Sat., May 21, at the Writer's Guild of America Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Visit the MoonDance Film Festival web page for tickets and information. 

A Partnership for Social Change 

On a long van ride from Orange County one evening, a troupe of LACHSA theatre majors reviews their homework to-do list.

It's almost 9 p.m., they've just returned to LACHSA from a training and there is still a commute home. It's only Monday.

Though they're exhausted and spent, these theatre students wouldn't have it any other way. They are enrolled in the Theatre for Social Change Class, the result of a partnership between the school and Encompass, a local non-profit dedicated to leading the nation in responsible community engagement.

In the class, students grapple with some of the most intractable social issues of the day, including racisim, sexism and homophobia. They also use theatre and improvisation to work with schools to effectively address bias in the classroom.

On that Monday evening, students are part of a teacher training on gender bias facilitated by Associate Director Skyler Jackson. Skillful and charismatic, Jackson welcomes the group of beginning teachers from elementary through high school. They become active participants in a role play simulating real life, school-based scenarios involving gender bias. 

The LACHSA students draw on their acting gifts and deep understanding of complex social issues as they improvise alternate -- and unrehearsed -- edits to the scenarios.  They also have the opportunity to work along side one of their teachers, Kevin Blake in a professional setting. 

"We see meaning in our work," said senior Alex Cameron, who is also LACHSA student body president.

"It's pretty amazing to think we will have an impact on what happens in classrooms throughout L.A.," added Wesley Barnes, another senior. 

Although it's an auditioned class that is part of the senior theatre curriculum, students demonstrate a commitment that extends far beyond the school day.

Encompass Executive Director and founder Lori Nelson explained it this way: "These students are hand selected and highly trained to do demanding work to raise awareness and -- hopefully -- change behavior among classroom teachers."   

Encompass works with schools and districts throughout Southern California with a range of programming, including Creating Bias Free Classrooms.

LACHSA Theatre Department Chair Lois Hunter offered to make Acting for Social Change an integral part of the senior theatre curriculum this year, recognizing the benefits to students.

"This is some of the most important work out there and our students are leading the way," Hunter said.

The work of LACHSA Alum Kehinde Wiley ('98), a figurative painter with Roberts and Tilton Gallery in Culver City, is set to appear at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). It will be part of the exhibition "Human Nature: Contemporary Art from the Collection." Wiley will discuss his practice, process and imagery in an engaging lecture and slide show on Thurs., April 7, at 7 p.m.

LACHSA Parent Council is hard at work planning for the 2^nd Annual LACHSA Walk for the Arts, event in the Fall 2011.  With a focus on raising awareness and funds for LACHSA's world-class arts programs, this year's Walk plans to be an even more successful event with a goal of set at more than $100K.  This year's Walk will take place on October 21st, 2011.

For more information about LACHSA Walk for Arts, click here. 

The Arts High Foundation forges ahead this spring with good news and new beginnings. In its aim to build a larger group of advocates for arts education, the Foundation is proud to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: Cara Esposito, Eric Small and Sandra Ell (l-r in photo below). 

In just a few weeks, the Arts High Foundation will launch its new website, which will be a portal to the Foundation's fundraising objectives, accomplishments and special events in support of LACHSA's award-winning arts programs and students. Designed by Lightray, the website will be located at www.artshighfoundation.org.

Each year the Arts High Foundation is delighted to administer the awarding of merit scholarships to LACHSA students. The Foundation encourages students, especially graduating seniors, to stay tuned for information about 2011 award applications and opportunities.

Finally, in partnership with the LACHSA Parent Council, the Foundation has raised over $330,000 from LACHSA parents and family support to help fund the arts programs. With the next school year in mind, the Foundation looks forward to continuing this harmonious relationship to ensure a first-class arts education for Los Angeles' most talented young artists.

Thank you all for your generosity and commitment!