Showcasing Center Stage Conservatory Lower Level Studio
By Kaye Osborn
A dream comes true for two local thespians, Megan Lynch and Traci Sprague! Megan and Traci met while attending CSUS. Both were theater majors and shared a desire to manage their own Black Box studio. Luckily, Traci’s mom found the perfect place with an ideal location. The space used to be a downstairs Court Room at 948 Eleventh Street. The rooms were demolished but with their vision and hard work, was transformed into a theatre complete with a green room, snack bar and lobby. Their first adult play was Harold Pinter’s Betrayal. It was dramatic, well performed and thoroughly engaging.
Megan and Traci look for plays that are whimsical and always have joy. They relish collaborating with actors in their “laboratory.” They believe if you take care of the process, it will take care of the product. This belief can be applied to all aspects of life.
Center Stage Conservatory has been around since 1997. Traci and Megan have been at the helm since 2010. Center Stage Conservatory’s mission statement: In aneffort to bond the ever-growing, multicultural and socio-economically diverse people who comprise the population of California’s vast Central Valley, we aim to create a community of united artist who experiment, perform, and pursue a wide variety of subjects and styles. Through performance and process-driven education programs, we engage, inspire, create and empower artistic discourse.
They have had success running Center Stage Youth Summer Conservatory over the past three summers. CSYSC lasts seven weeks long for young people ages 10-20. Classes include acting, theatre history, voice and movement, improvisation, stage combat along with many other specialized topics. The participants are immediately called young artists. The young artists rehearse from 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. All are encouraged to perform to their highest level. Everyone learns to take care of each other. Their mantra is: “I’ve got your back!” Center Stage Youth Summer Conservatory strives to foster a creative environment that is both safe and artistically freeing. We aim to inspire a life long involvement in the arts by engaging, educating and empowering young artists to discover and refine their talents through the collaboration and performance of classicaltheatre. CSYSC will be going to Ancient Greece in 2013.
Center Stage Conservatory’s 2012-2013 Season The Seven Day Play Nov. 9, 10 and 11 7 PM and on Sunday at 2 PM
Baby with the Bathwater Feb. 8th-18th 8 PM on Sundays at 2 PM
Nickel and Dimed April 5-14th 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM
References to Salvador Dali Make Me Host May 10th-19th 8 PM and Sunday at 2 PM
Traci and Megan want you to answer to the community call and audition! For more information, please call (209) 846-0179 or visit www.centerstagemodesto.com
Here are some great stage performances this month:
GalloCenter for the Arts Of Mice and Men Sunday, Nov. 4 at 3 PM
WhiteChristmas Presented by Modesto Christian School Nov. 16 at 7 PM, Nov. 17 at 2 PM, Nov. 18 at 2 PM
Miracle of 34th Street – Presented by Troupe America Nov. 23 at 7 PM, Nov. 24 at 2 PM, Nov. 24 at 7 PM
YES Kiddettes Winnie the Pooh Downey High School Auditorium Nov. 2 at 7 PM, Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 at 3 PM
Prospect Theater Project Anna in the Tropics Nov. 16- Dec. 9
Modesto Junior College Little Theater Elephant’s Graveyard Nov. 30-Dec. 9
Arts in Flight Central Catholic High Nov 6 & 7
Up at the Sierra Repertory in Sonora, Cinderella is on stage at the Fallon House in Columbia www.sierrarep.org/
