Press Releases
February 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Shelly Bernstein
Phone: (954) 559-0377
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA — Three Ways to be Wicked… with Stephen Schwartz, the creator of Wicked, who is coming to town in support of Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts and its programs on March 28 and 29, 2008. A number of events are being planned for South Floridians to meet Mr. Schwartz during his stay including:
- Spend “An Afternoon with Stephen Schwartz.” Attend a song writing and musical theatre workshop conducted by Mr. Schwartz at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts from 2:00-4:00 pm on Saturday, March 29. This is a unique opportunity for students and teachers to meet the composer and creator of smash Broadway hits including Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin as he shares songs and stories about his career, his life and his creative process. Tickets are $20. Seating is limited and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at www.browardcenter.org. or by calling (954) 270-6452.
- New members of Lovewell’s Producers’ Circle are invited to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend an intimate dinner party with Stephen Schwartz on Friday, March 28, a pre-show reception at the Broward Center on Saturday, March 29, and a post-show dessert and champagne party at the Las Olas Grande. For information about joining the Producers’ Circle and being part of these special events, please call 954-270-6452.
- Good seats are still available for the Saturday evening (March 29) performance of Wicked as a fundraiser for Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, a charitable organization providing arts education opportunities for South Florida youth. Call 954-270-6452 for tickets and information about joining Stephen Schwartz at the post-show champagne party at the Las Olas Grande.
About the Lovewell Method: The “Lovewell Method” is a unique, proprietary interdisciplinary arts approach to fostering collaboration and enhancing human interaction. Faced with the challenge of creating an original theatrical production in a matter of weeks, each session begins with students, professional staff, counselors-in-training, and a blank slate.
The staff guides the students through the rough waters of bringing order out of chaos, meaning out of data, and resolution out of random events. The themes, characters, dialogue, plot, music, lyrics, design and dance choreography are generated directly from the imagination, research, ingenuity, craftsmanship and innate wisdom of the student participants. At the end of each session, the participants stage a powerful display of music, theatre, dance and design combined into one cohesive presentation.
Encouraged to express their own ideas, feelings and experiences, the students become active contributors to the educational process rather than passive learners, and each gains a greater appreciation for the joy of being a part of something much bigger than themselves.
By empowering students to “make it happen”, they build character and grow emotionally as their experience teaches them creative problem solving, critical thinking, team building and collaboration, as well as organizational leadership and conflict resolution skills that will serve them well as they continue through school and consider future careers. The end result may be a wonderfully entertaining musical, but the process is an experience that touches participants in ways that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
The Lovewell Method was conceived and developed by Dr. David Spangler, who remains the creative force behind the Institute, which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The Lovewell Method was first utilized in a workshop setting in 1989. Over the years, it has been nationally recognized as a prime example of “best practices” in arts education and social action, and Lovewell Institute has been designated by the U.S. President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as one of the nation’s most effective arts education programs.
This summer, Lovewell Institute is offering programs in Florida, Kansas, Sweden and Russia. Please visit www.lovewell.org for more information.
September 10, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Debra Frenkel
Phone: (305) 588-2082
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING… and this time, rather than a “cold war”; it’s a “warm peace.” The Center for Russian-American Behavioral Studies’ Young People’s Project, in conjunction with Nova Southeastern University and the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, is proud to host Lovewell Institute’s original Russian-American production of “Konflict”.
At 7pm on Sunday, November 4, 2007, in the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center, Igor Karachevcev, the Russian National Teacher of the Year, and his colleagues and students from Gymnasia 166 in St. Petersburg, Russia will perform “Konflict”, a one act original musical that examines stereotypes among Russians and Americans and introduces a new global perspective offering solutions to the political and social challenges facing both cultures.
A collaborative effort of the Center for Russian-American Behavioral Studies’ Young People’s Project and the Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, this event will showcase the creative genius of students from Lake Placid, Florida working with students and teachers from Russia to conceptualize, write, compose, choreograph, produce and finally perform their own original musical theatre production.
The “Lovewell Method” is a unique, proprietary interdisciplinary arts approach to fostering collaboration and enhancing human interaction. Faced with the challenge of creating an original theatrical production in a matter of weeks, each session begins with students, professional staff, counselors-in-training, and a blank slate.
The staff guides the students through the rough waters of bringing order out of chaos, meaning out of data, and resolution out of random events.
The themes, characters, dialogue, plot, music, lyrics, design and dances are generated directly from the imagination, research, ingenuity, craftsmanship and innate wisdom of the student participants.
At the end of each session, the participants stage a powerful display of music, theatre, dance and design combined into one cohesive presentation. There are no leading roles in the performances; rather, each student stars in the role he or she helped to create and each gains a greater appreciation for the joy of being a part of something much bigger than themselves. And each contributes to the synergistic magic that happens on stage as a result of the energy and passion of 30 or more teenagers each playing roles they helped create; based on a theme they collectively devised, and following a continuum they designed.
Encouraged to express their own ideas, feelings and experiences, the students become active contributors to the process rather than passive learners. By empowering students to “make it happen”, they build character and grow emotionally as their experience teaches them creative problem solving, critical thinking, team building, organizational leadership and conflict resolution skills that will serve them well as they continue through school and consider future careers.
The end result may be a wonderfully entertaining musical, but the process is an experience that touches participants in ways that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
The Lovewell Method was conceived and developed by Dr. David Spangler, who remains the creative force behind the Institute, which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The Lovewell Method was first utilized in a workshop setting in 1989. Over the years, it has been nationally recognized as a prime example of “best practices” in arts education and social action, and Lovewell Institute has been designated by the U.S. President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities as one of the nation’s most effective arts education programs.
Event Sponsored by:
Nova Southeastern University Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Nova Southeastern University Farquhar School of Arts and Sciences
Nova Southeastern University Fischler School of Education and Human Services
*Additional sponsors to be announced.
June 8, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Person: Teresa Nourie
WORLD OF CREATIVITY: NSU presents Lovewell Institute’s Festival of New Works by Young Artists.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL — The Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts will premier original musical theater productions from young artists in its Festival of New Works Thursday, June 28th through Saturday evening June 30th 2007.
Hosted by Nova Southeastern University, this event showcases the creative genius of children from around the world who, over the span of three weeks, conceptualize, write, compose, choreograph, produce and finally perform their own original musical theatre production.
Lovewell Junior, for children ages 9-thru-13, and the Lovewell Teen workshop, for students ages 13-thru-18, will each offer live performances on the following dates and times:
Lovewell Junior: Thursday, June 28th @ 1pm and 7 pm & Saturday, June 30th @ 2 pm
(University School Middle School New Convocation Center)
Lovewell Teen: Friday, June 29th @ 7pm & Saturday, June 30th @ 7pm
(Miniaci Theatre on the NSU Campus)
The “Lovewell Method” is a unique, proprietary approach to fostering collaboration and enhancing human interaction. Faced with the challenge of creating a musical theatre production, each session begins with students, professional staff, counselors-in-training, and a blank slate. The staff guides the students through the rough waters of bringing order out of chaos, meaning out of data, and resolution out of random events. The themes, characters, dialogue, plot, music, lyrics, design and dances are generated directly from the imagination and innate wisdom of the student participants.
At the end of each session, the participants stage a powerful musical and dance presentation. There are no leading roles in the performances, rather each student stars in the role he or she helped to create and each gains a greater appreciation for the joy of being a part of something much bigger than themselves.
Encouraged to express their own ideas, feelings and experiences, the students learn creative problem solving, critical thinking, team building, organizational leadership and conflict resolution skills that will serve them well as they continue through school and consider future careers. The end result is a musical, but the process is an experience that touches participants in ways that will be with them for the rest of their lives.
In addition to the Ft. Lauderdale workshops, the Lovewell Institute will continue Linkoping, Sweden and St. Petersburg, Russia. According to Lovewell Associate its tradition of intercultural exchange, begun in l993, with summer workshops in Artistic Director Carrie Gilchrest, “The Festival of New Works represents an exhilarating weekend of talent and original works. It promises to be a unique experience that bridges cultural boundaries with a unified vision of creativity and inspiration.”
The Lovewell Institute was founded in 1989 by David Spangler, who remains the creative force behind the Institute. Lovewell is a 501(c) 3 organization. For more information contact: LOVEWELL INSTITUTE for the Creative Arts at www.lovewell.org - (954) 270-6452