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On Stage And Loving Every Minute Of It

Cheryl Bentley/SUNCOAST NEWS

Julie Arcaro, 7, left, and Marissa Sanders, 7, rehearsed last week for the play "Using the Force." The play was written by participants in the Showcase Youth Communuity Theatre's summer program.

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By Cheryl  Bentley | The Suncoast News

Published: July 2, 2008

A comment by his fourth-grade teacher has meant all the difference to Brad Brady. He overheard her exclaim how wonderful his performance in a school play was.

"It was only one comment, and I wasn't supposed to hear it, but it has made a world of difference," he said.

It spurred Brady to get his degree in theater education at the University of South Florida and to become the head of the theater department at Renaissance Academy, a private school in the New Port Richey area.

Brady wanted to inspire young people to act, just as that fourth-grade teacher had influenced him. As part of his mission, he and Laurie Philpot, a drama teacher at Orange Grove Middle School of the Arts, in Tampa, started Showcase Community Theatre four years ago for young people.

Philpot also has a degree in theater education.

Their work will be on display this afternoon, Wednesday, July 2. Young actors will present "Using the Force," a play they wrote themselves. The play is free.

The group is also looking for young people from 8 to 18 to audition for "Wizard of Oz" on Aug. 11 and 12. That play will feature a large cast of up to 70 people and will probably be presented at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, in the Shady Hills area of northwestern Pasco.

Working in theater affects students in other areas of their lives, said Brady. "It gives them confidence. The stuff they can learn in theater is very influential in any job they can have."

Showcase produces three standard plays during the school year and one written by the students during the summer. Brady and Philpot choose plays with an eye to providing students with a variety of genres.

They try to do at least one musical a year.

Students generally rehearse 6 - 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays at Renaissance Academy, but also come on Wednesdays for difficult productions.

Fees are $100 for musicals and $50 for nonmusicals. They cover costumes, set and script fees.

The lowdown

The student-authored play "Using the Force" will be presented at 1 p.m., today, Wednesday, July 2, at Renaissance Academy, 8431 Corporate Way, off of Little Road southwest of Massachusetts Avenue. It is free.

For "Wizard of Oz" auditions, Aug. 11 and 12, e-mail bbrady@showcaseyouth.com with child's full name and age. Brady will reply with scheduled time.

For more information on the group go to the Showcase Youth Community Theatre href=http://www.showcaseyouth.com> Web site.

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