Released by Emerald Coast Theatre Company …
ECTC has reached new heights during its seventh season for theater for young audience productions as well as educational final performances.
Miramar Beach, Fla. — After beginning its seventh season this fall, the Emerald Coast Theatre Company (ECTC) has seen greater success and attendance growth for both its Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) productions as well as its educational performances.
ECTC has performed for more than 6,700 school students since its inception in 2012 with more than 1,600 children and families attending TYA productions through school field trips or family outings last season alone. From October 25 through October 27 ECTC performed its fall TYA production “Pinkalicious the Musical” at its performance space located at 560 Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach. Between the weekend it was open to the public to attend and field trip performances for schools in the community, audience size grew from a record of 659 to 726 patrons.
“Youth programs were the foundation of ECTC and they continue to be the heartbeat of how we serve our community,” said ECTC co-founder and producing artistic director Nathanael Fisher. “Whether it is the young child that comes with their school group on a field trip and has that first ‘eyes wide open’ theatre experience, or it is an amazing family outing at the theater, the theater experience itself continues to be invaluable.”
In addition, ECTC’s teens performed “Elf the Musical JR” over November 15 and 16. This production set a new record for ECTC’s largest audience for an education program. ECTC’s educational program attendance record went from 392 patrons to an all-time high of 572 this past weekend.
ECTC’s co-founder and associate artistic and education director, Anna Fisher, is thrilled with the increased support from the area. “It warms my heart to see the community come out en mass to support the children who participate in our educational programs. These students work so hard and are dedicated to the art of theatre. They get so excited when they see that it’s not just Mom, Dad, and their siblings in the audience but that there is a theater full of people that are championing their growth as an artist!”
ECTC has opened registration for educational theater classes this spring for K through 12th grade. Spring productions include “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS,” and “High School Musical 2 JR”. ECTC is also offering a spring break camp as well as a teen theatre and film intensive. Spring classes are available at both ECTC’s location in Grand Boulevard and at the Florida Chautauqua Theatre in DeFuniak Springs. For more information on educational classes and registration, visit emeraldcoasttheatre.org/educational.
Major sponsors for this season are Grand Boulevard at Sandestin and Howard Hospitality. Professional Season sponsors include Ocean Reef Vacation Rentals & Real Estate, St. Joe Community Foundation, ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, and Vin’tij Food & Wine. Theatre for Young Audiences is made possible with support from The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and others. For more information on sponsoring ECTC, call Nathanael Fisher at (850) 684-0323 or visit emeraldcoasttheatre.org/sponsorship.
To make a tax-deductible donation, volunteer or learn more about Emerald Coast Theatre Company, find them on Facebook, call (850) 684-0323 and visit www.emeraldcoasttheatre.org.
ABOUT EMERALD COAST THEATRE COMPANY
Emerald Coast Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) founded in 2012 by Nathanael Fisher, MFA, and his wife, Anna Fisher. Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, ECTC’s mission is to enrich and entertain the Emerald Coast community through professional and educational theater. ECTC operates year-round with a two-fold mission to provide both educational and professional offerings to the Northwest Florida community. Educational outreach includes after school and home-school programs, touring and staged productions, summer camps, workshops and classes. The professional theater efforts are focused on thought provoking productions, festivals and collaborations as well as acting and improv workshops and classes for adults.