Yuma Art Center holds call to artists for theatre fellowship

For the first time, an aspiring theatre practitioner will get the chance to direct the Yuma Art Center’s annual dinner theatre production in February as well as earn a $2,000 stipend.

The center, which is owned and operated by the city of Yuma, plays host to the show which draws a full house of 150 people each night for three days in February every year, according to Lindsey Benacka, Arts and Culture program manager with the Yuma Art Center.

“It’s a new and improved kind of program if you will,” Benacka said in a phone interview with the Yuma Sun. “We’ve had dinner theater for about six years now and it’s had a great success. It’s been a sell out for us every single year.”

For this coming winter, however, the Yuma Art Center will provide a fellowship that has not been offered in the past, she noted.

“This year we are trying to broaden our horizon by inviting a fellow to come and direct the show,” Benacka explained. “We are looking for a member of the community or in the regional area who maybe has a passion project that they’ve always wanted to work on and this is their opportunity to have a fully supported show.”

Ana Lazo-Padilla, marketing specialist with the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department’s Art and Culture Division, noted the fellowship can open doors for emerging directors.

“By doing this we are not only getting obviously new art but we are also giving an opportunity to our local young or maybe not so young directors,” LazoPadilla said. “When you graduate you need experience, this could be that experience. Recent graduates or a not-so-known director, this could be their shot and their time to shine.”

Lazo-Padilla said the local art scene seems to be booming, especially within the last couple of years, and those at the center wished to provide an opportunity for the art of live performance.

“We think theater is important just like we think all arts are important because they bridge some different gaps throughout our community and they provide artistic outlets,” Benacka added. “That’s our job is to make sure that everyone in Yuma can access the arts and be part of the arts and what better way to do that than to give an opportunity to someone to create a project. This coming year the (dinner theater) shows will be Valentine’s Day week in 2018. We would love to see as many applications as possible and hopefully it’s received really well so we can see about doing more fellowship programs like this in the future.”

The program will supply the selected fellow with a stipend, temporary housing-if needed, technical production needs and administrative support.

Under a part time residency, the fellow is required to be available to conduct regular rehearsals and must be available for the entire week prior to and the week of performance.

The full proposal description and guidelines can be found at http:// www.yumaaz.gov/documents/parks-and-recreation/art-center/Theatre_ Fellowship_17.18.pdf

All required materials must be submitted by emailing Arts@YumaAz. gov or in person at the Yuma Art Center which is located at 254 S. Main St.

The deadline to submit a proposal is July 31 and the residency period is to take place from Sept. 2017 to Feb. 2018, part time per production schedule.

For questions, call (928) 373-6202.