Collaborative Effort

Working with artists from the Lovewell Institute, local youth will once again be performing a musical of their creation at the Brown Grand Theatre.

The Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts is a not-for-profit organization that brings students together with professional artists to conceive, create, compose, write, choreograph, design, and produce an original musical in a workshop environment.
Lovewell is based in Florida, but its roots are in Kansas. The organization began in New York in 1984 and then became the “Lovewell Experience” in 1987 in Salina, Kansas. The director of the program is a Kansas native.
Amber Allgyer is the Director/Choreographer for this year's visit to Concordia. Based in Los Angeles, this is her sixth year with the Lovewell Institute. "I just love collaborating with the kids," she said. "It's a beautiful experience."
"And we love Kansas," added Music Director/Script Editor is Eric Flemons, also from Los Angeles. "We always have a blast here."
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 production in one week, each session begins with students, a professional staff, and a blank slate. The staff guides the students through the process of creating a show. The themes, characters, plot, music, lyrics, design, and dances in each production are generated directly from the imagination, experiences, craftsmanship, and innate wisdom of the students themselves. Students participating in this year's Lovewell show are, from Concordia: Justice Alexander, Belle Chavey, Megan Barr, and Olivia Hart. Also participating are Noelani Cervantes from Beloit; Lauryn Gaddis from Smith Center; Olivia Rolph from Delphos; and
Jacob Underwood from Mankato.
The show they've written will be called 'Unscripted - a Super Powered Musical'.
This is Belle Chavey's second year performing with the Lovewell Institute. "I really love this," she said. "It's totally different from other theater camps I've been to. It's so great to create something from nothing. It really lets me use my creative instincts."
The performance of 'Unscripted - a Super Powered Musical' will be Friday, July 23, at 7:00 p.m. at the Brown Grand Theatre. The performance is free and open to the public.