Theater department provides at-risk kids with fun-filled workshop

Youth Encouragement Services (Y.E.S.) provides weekly field trips for the at-risk kids attending its programs during the summer, but one day the kids got to take a field trip into their imagination as the Lipscomb University theater department provided a one-day workshop in make-believe.

 

Lipscomb instructor Deborah Holloway and several theater students partnered with Y.E.S. to provide an educational and entertaining acting workshop for 100 12- to 18-year olds participating in the non-profit program. The one-day camp at the Western Hills Church of Christ provided four different classes in the theater realm: acting, characterization, make-up and mask-making.

 

“I was approached by Y.E.S. in March about serving as one of the weekly field trips the kids participate in,” said Holloway. “My normal mission trip to Wales had been canceled, so this seemed like a great opportunity to fulfill the mission aspect of my summer and fulfill my personal commitment to Lipscomb’s mission.”

 

Y.E.S. strives to enrich the lives of children in inner city Nashville by encouraging them to reach their full potential through daily programs such as tutoring, summer camp, a basketball league, job skills training and other recreational and cultural activities. The program treats the kids to a field trip every week to a fun and exciting destination in the Nashville area. Previous field trips included jaunts to Lipscomb University to see plays put on by the theater department.

 

“Susie Estes, who is in charge of the Nashville Y.E.S., told me that the kids really liked coming to Lipscomb to see the plays,” said Holloway. “They were already interested in theater from their own schools, and this camp was a way for them to get theater training from a Christian perspective. Anytime I can give students good, clean fun, I am all for it.”

 

The acting classes the kids participated in focused on real aspects of the theater world. The younger kids who participated in the make-up and mask-making class learned how to paint their hands using make-up and turn them into hand puppets. Older Y.E.S. students were able to create elaborate masks using feathers and sequins during the mask-making workshop.

 

Later in the day, the Y.E.S. students were shown how to use costumes and theater make-up to get into character during the characterization class. The younger kids were shown how to use movement to express themselves and how to create characters through costumes, Holloway said. Lipscomb University theater students were also on hand to help guide the kids and provide entertainment for them through theater games.

 

“My favorite part was just getting to know the kids and seeing them smile and laugh as we played theater games,” said Drew Smith, a Lipscomb theater alumni. “I thought it went very well and all of the kids really seemed to enjoy it. I just hope they had as much fun as I did.”

 

Holloway collected donations from theater students and members of the Natchez Church of Christ to purchase supplies and provide a healthy lunch and snacks for the kids.

 

“I wanted to provide lunch and snacks for the kids because they come from homes where they don’t always get to eat a proper meal,” said Holloway. “I was able to get a discount from Chick-Fil-A and Purity on food and drinks and the kids were excited to eat their chicken nugget boxes.”