This is the fifth in a series of profiles of our 15th Annual Orange County Arts Awards honorees.

Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, The Arts & Learning Conservatory is dedicated to creating a solid and focused experience on & off stage for each student through its unique musical theater and performing arts programs offering dynamic instruction in drama, voice, instrumental classes, and dance Its goal is to promote a hands-on experience in the arts to all children regardless of race, age, income or level of experience. Students in the A&L program receive university-level concepts presented at age appropriate levels, allowing participants to achieve higher levels of excellence in their personal & artistic abilities. Most importantly, it seeks to keep a love of theater and the arts alive while instilling valuable life skills that promote teamwork, articulation, public speaking, and refined social skills. The Arts & Learning Conservatory is an outgrowth of Artistic Director Debora Wondercheck (Professor of Instrumental Music, Vanguard University) and her desire to envision youth of all backgrounds with a love of the arts through hands-on learning. A&L began in 2004 as a summer performing arts camp with 13 string musicians and 8 actors. The following summer the program had an enrollment of 142, and a successful school year program was launched in the fall. In 2005 Arts & Learning became Incorporated and recognized as a non-profit organization. Today the Arts & Learning Conservatory performs for over 10,000 people yearly and provides arts education to nearly 1500 children of Orange County annually.

Audiences have an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity  to journey back into the woods and American musical theater history with the creators and original Broadway cast of the award-winning musical Into the Woods on Sunday, November 9 at 6 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall. Part conversation, part musical selections, this one-night-only reunion celebration is being written and produced by Eileen Roberts in association with Segerstrom Center for the Arts. It features special guests composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim and author and director James Lapine, along with original Broadway cast members Bernadette Peters (The Witch), Joanna Gleason (The Baker's Wife), Chip Zien (The Baker), Robert Westenberg (Cinderella's Prince and Wolf), Kim Crosby (Cinderella), Danielle Ferland (Little Red Riding Hood) and Ben Wright (Jack). Mo Rocca is the moderator; Tedd Firth is the musical director.  Tickets go on sale this Sunday.  Details here.