Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's "Stage of Discovery" Summer Camp-WE DREAM!

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's

Each summer, the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe hosts a 5-week summer camp for students ages 10 to 18 called "Stage of Discovery."  Jim Weaver, WBTT's education director and artistic associate, and Astrid Victoria, a Stage of Discovery alumnus who now serves on the staff of the camp, join the club this week to tell us about this wonderful program, the growth and progress of the students, and this year's theme for the Stage of Discovery performance called "We Dream."
The Stage of Discovery performers will present their "We Dream" show for the public on Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 17 at 2:00 p.m. in Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Donelly Theatre. Tickets are available at WestcoastBlackTheatre.org. Don't miss it! Come along and join the club!

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Transcript

Robyn Bell: Today I am pleased. Welcome back to the podcast. Jim Weaver, the education director and artistic associate at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and appearing for the first time on the Suncoast Culture Club podcast, we say hello to Astrid Victoria, who is one of the many young talents who has participated in Westcoast's annual Stage of Discovery, their summer musical theater training program, and has been also a featured performer in their Young Artist Program as second summer project that they have. And we're gonna talk to Jim and Astrid about both of these summer projects and I'm proud to say we are on location. I love coming downtown and seeing your beautiful facilities here. So Jim and Astrid, welcome to the club. 

Astrid Victoria: Thank you. 

Jim Weaver: Thank you for having. 

Robyn Bell: Now Jim, you completed your first full year now in your new role at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. 

Jim Weaver: Wow. I can't believe it already.

Robyn Bell: I know. I know. And the Stage of Discovery program is completely now under your care. That's kind of your baby. 

Jim Weaver: It's under my umbrella. Yeah.

Robyn Bell: so give us your elevator speech about this summer program. What exactly is the Stage of Discovery camp and what all do the students learn while they're here? 

Jim Weaver: Well, what they study it's a five week intensive. it's after the school semester is done, they study singing, acting, and dance, and it's a free program. They have to go through an audition process and we, we only do that. If they're willing to actually go through those steps, it shows us that they're serious about it. 

Robyn Bell: Yes. Level of commitment, because they're not paying the money. So yeah, I totally, I get 

Jim Weaver: this. Yeah. We wanna know when they're here, they really want to learn what we're trying to offer. And so they get a chance to study different basics about acting, singing, and dancing, and all the various techniques involved with that. Whatever we can offer within that five week timeframe, they get to eat. So we have 

Robyn Bell: hello? 

Astrid Victoria: Yeah, 

Jim Weaver: yeah, 

Astrid Victoria: yeah. Good food too. 

Jim Weaver: you know, so it really only costs them the time and the car ride from their parents. And it gives them a chance to learn about the arts. A lot of the students maybe have never experienced. These things before or had the opportunity to study, even though they may have wanted to, or they're just experimenting to see if they're interested in this, you know, for whatever reason down the line, but then we also get a lot of them that come back. So that proves to us that it's successful. It's resonating with them. It's something that they're enjoying 

Robyn Bell: meaningful in their lives. And if they're returning students, do they have to audition again? 

Jim Weaver: Yes. 

Robyn Bell: Yes. Okay. 

Jim Weaver: it gives us a chance to. The growth. 

Astrid Victoria: Absolutely. Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: Mm-hmm and in musical theater, there is a singing, there is the dancing, there is the acting, but there's also like what goes on behind the scenes mm-hmm and the building of the sets and the props. And so Astrid, as someone who has been in the camp, you were a camper for five years. That 

Astrid Victoria: about five years. Yes. 

Robyn Bell: Yes. So tell us about that back end. Do the students also get to learn that? 

Astrid Victoria: Yes, absolutely. Um, I will say. In my experience, I joined the Stage of Discovery program before the theater was renovated. So I even got to witness not only the process in itself of, taking, a show from, day one to day, whatever 30, you know, if we have a month to do it, I also got to witness the actual theater's growth in, in real time, which was. Very very interesting, because I had never been part of something like that. So being a student here, which is crazy, it's, it's been such a long time, but I have been able to witness something unlike anything else, because I think. when I was going into other projects, maybe at like a school or like high school musical or anything, I also participated in like the Sarasota Youth Opera before it was quite different because we were doing these, you know, all already written established projects. Whereas at Westcoast Stage Discovery, things were being created. like actively created. 

Robyn Bell: Yes. In real time. We're mm-hmm yeah, 

Astrid Victoria: literally in real time. All of our instructors. Okay. So that means like Mr. Nate Jacobs, our artistic director, he would write songs in front of us and we would sing them back. I remember my first year I had never experienced this before. We were doing a show called Folk Tale Follies. It was a series of African folk tales. And we were like bringing them to life on stage and our final number. He just started singing lyrics at us and we were like, oh, okay. We have to sing this now. And it ended up turning into this beautiful song about togetherness and friendship and love. And that was insane to me because I was so used to seeing things on a paper and being like, okay, somebody else wrote this and now we're doing it. , but I actually got to watch composition happen, like from a voice and from a band. Whoa. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. this is live music. 

Jim Weaver: Yes. Yeah, yeah. Yes. That's the joy of this kind of collaboration.

Astrid Victoria: Yes. You know? Absolutely. 

Jim Weaver: You see, who's there, what their level of ability is. And then you can kind of work with that and tailor things 

Astrid Victoria: mm-hmm 

Jim Weaver: to help build that up and encourage that. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes. And, and even on that same token, , Donald Friesen, our choreographer, he does the same thing. He choreographs as 

Robyn Bell: on the spot on, 

Astrid Victoria: on the spot, which is crazy to watch it's actually insane, especially as a young person who is trying to find their creativity and trying to grow into their artistry. And trying to become more free in that artistry. Mm-hmm right. It's, always so scary to like put yourself out there and, and try to just come up with things and be free and being unafraid to make mistakes. That kind of thing is terrifying. But when you see professionals like being so free and happy to do what they love, what they're passionate about and to succeed with flying colors. In front of all of these people, like it's, it's incredibly inspiring. And so being able to watch that from, such a young age, I think I was like 14 when I joined the camp. It was incredibly inspiring and helped me in my growth as an artist, because I was seeing all these people that inspired me so much.

Robyn Bell: So Ashford, we should say for the people that are listening, you started here as, I guess if you were 14, were you in high school when you started at the Stage of Discovery?

Astrid Victoria: I was just about to go into high school.

Robyn Bell: Okay. So maybe eighth to ninth, grade years, summer. 

Astrid Victoria: Exactly. 

Robyn Bell: You spent all of your. High school summers here you have graduated high school. You are about to start your second year of higher education at 

Astrid Victoria: yes, ma'am 

Robyn Bell: Southeastern University in Lakeland.

Astrid Victoria: Mm-hmm . 

Robyn Bell: And what are you majoring in there? 

Astrid Victoria: I'm majoring in commercial music. 

Robyn Bell: And what do you wanna be when you grow 

Astrid Victoria: up? Uh, I, you know what people ask me that all the time. all I can say is I want to write and create for the rest of my life. I think I would be happy doing just about anything in music and performance. So I'd never really have. A specific goal in mind, besides let me write forever. 

Robyn Bell: And you were a camper and then you kind of graduated to, the Young Artist Showcase.

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Robyn Bell: And now you are back here this summer as kind of. Camp counselor, if you would, what is your title this year? 

Astrid Victoria: Yeah. Uh, so I am assisting our wonderful music director, Matthew McKinnon, I'm the vocal assistant. 

Robyn Bell: Okay. 

Astrid Victoria: So I kind of help with all of the, uh, we have a lot of songs to learn, I think about, is it 15 for this show? Something 

Jim Weaver: 17. 

Robyn Bell: 17. Yeah.

Astrid Victoria: Yeah. So we have quite a few songs to, to learn and to teach the kids. And so. , helping out with like all the vocal parts, cuz we have to split into three parts, two parts, four parts based on the song, 

Jim Weaver: creating the harmonies. She's an instructor. ,

Robyn Bell: she's an instructor. And I wanna say with my Pops Orchestra, 15 to 17 songs is about what I aim for, for a whole show. So that, that is a good number to keep in mind as you go on forever. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Robyn Bell: Uh, but it's about an hour and a half to a two hour show. 

Astrid Victoria: Mm-hmm 

Robyn Bell: And it's a lot. 

Astrid Victoria: , it is a lot and it is a lot. A five week timeframe as well. 

Robyn Bell: Oh yeah. 

Astrid Victoria: So it's of course been a challenge. I think even, when I was a student, it was a challenge because they have to learn all the songs from scratch. Having, not even known it beforehand. Whereas from an instructor's point of view, we had the songs in mind, so we could be listening to them and preparing. but it's been absolutely wonderful to. Kind of need to stay on my toes. Yeah. And to be prepared for these kids who need us, to guide them through this process. And, uh, yeah. It's, it's been absolutely wonderful. 

Robyn Bell: So Jim, tell me for this five week, summer camp, how many students do we have in the program? 

Jim Weaver: This year? We have 28, 

Robyn Bell: 28 kids. 

Jim Weaver: Mm-hmm 

Robyn Bell: and it's free to them. So how is this paid for? Because it's not free to Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe 

Jim Weaver: One of the things that's amazing about Sarasota from when I first started coming down here is the support.

Astrid Victoria: Mm. 

Jim Weaver: That is so clear. For the arts. And so that's how we are able to do this through private funding, people, making donations who want to support the program as 

Robyn Bell: fantastic

Jim Weaver: well as grants that we're able to apply for.

Robyn Bell: I think the Barrancick Foundation gave you a grant for this, my good friend, Carol Carol Beeler Carol and Tom Beeler Foundation.

Jim Weaver: Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: She's a wonderful supporter of the arts. 

Jim Weaver: And she's been a supporter of this particular program since its inception. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. 

Jim Weaver: For years now. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. Now, is it capped at 28 or can you take as many as 50 students?

Jim Weaver: We actually try to put a cap on it. Okay. Um, in the past we've had a cap of 30. And so we actually had more people submit audition clips, but it became a matter of scheduling. Knowing that it's a five week commitment. Mm-hmm , some of them were available for the whole time. And then others would only be able to come in part of the time. And for us, it was like, well, they're not gonna get the full benefit of what we're trying to do. So that's how we wound up at the number of 20. 

Robyn Bell: The five week camp is a long time.

Jim Weaver: Yeah. And it's five days a week, Monday through Friday, 

Robyn Bell: we're keeping 'em busy. 

Astrid Victoria: Oh yes, absolutely. And in our, in our last two weeks, since we're, you know, getting closer and closer to the show, we're doing nine to five.

Jim Weaver: Yeah. 

Astrid Victoria: So the rehearsals become even longer, which is, which is typical of any show, especially when you're getting down to it. Cuz you wanna perfect everything. But it definitely is a time commitment, especially, for kids who. This is their first experience with theater, you know, 

Robyn Bell: and Jim, do you know of any other programs across the country like this, that kinda have the same format?

Jim Weaver: not that I'm aware of. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. I was thinking maybe this is a very, uh, it's unique. It's a incredibly unique. Yes. 

Jim Weaver: Yeah. Yeah. Most of them, you wind up do having to pay some kind of initiation fee mm-hmm or there are other kind of costs involved. Mm. And here, as I said, they get the training in the, in the classes they get provided meals. we provide them with, a show obviously, and all the support of the musicians. 

Robyn Bell: Yep. And cost costuming, 

Jim Weaver: costuming. We get the costuming. We also get them. Camp shirts, which I think, guess 

Astrid Victoria: we do every year, 

Jim Weaver: you know? So 

Robyn Bell: how do I get a camp shirt? 

Astrid Victoria: you gotta, you gotta sign up. You gotta participate. 

Robyn Bell: So what are the ages of the students this year? The youngest to the oldest, 

Jim Weaver: we typically go between 13 to 18. 

Robyn Bell: Okay. 

Jim Weaver: But we had some that came through this year that were really exceptional. So we've got two. 10 year olds. 

Robyn Bell: Wow. 

Astrid Victoria: Mm-hmm mm-hmm and they're great too. 

Robyn Bell: I bet. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes they are. 

Jim Weaver: Yeah. Very, very talented. So we were like, okay, we'll stretch this a little bit. 

Astrid Victoria: Oh yeah. 

Robyn Bell: Is it a pretty even mix between boys and girls? 

Astrid Victoria: I would say so. Yeah, I would say so. Yeah.

Robyn Bell: Is that something in the audition process you think about so that all the different parts are covered or were 

Jim Weaver: no. 

Robyn Bell: No. No. Okay. That's good. Doesn't matter. You could have 28 boys or 28 girls, or you could have two boys and 26 girls wouldn't matter. 

Astrid Victoria: Whoever wanted to do it. Okay. Yeah. 

Robyn Bell: All right. Great. And how do you, like, obviously we end with a performance, which by the way we should say is Saturday, July 16th at seven 30 and Sunday, July 17th, at 2:00 PM here at the west coast, black theaters, Donnelley theater and tickets can be purchased at west coast, black theater.org, buy those tickets, okay. So , we end with a performance. Where do you start? What does, like the first week of this camp look like for these kids? 

Jim Weaver: The first week. Um, and this is part of, as I came into the program and made a few changes. 

Robyn Bell: Okay. 

Jim Weaver: Because in the past, from what I was told, they actually have the classes, but they also started the rehearsal process for the show within the classes right away, because it is such a short amount of time. and with my education background, I really wanted the, the kids to come in and get some more foundational information. So we spent the first two weeks of the. Really focused on the classes themselves. So they got some foundational information about singing. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Jim Weaver: About dance, about acting and learning the different kinds of theater spaces. And what's upstage what's downstage all of those. 

Robyn Bell: Oh, I'm still trying to learn that, 

Jim Weaver: but I thought thats something that would be lasting mm-hmm in terms of information that they could take with them and then build. As they go through, if they come back again right. Or wherever they, wind up in the future. So that was the first two weeks. And then I started gradually incorporating. Rehearsals for the show, giving information about the songs, the lyrics what's gonna be in the script and started handing those things out. So it was a gradual shift. Into the, rehearsal process. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Robyn Bell: And Astrid, is there a theme for this year's show?

Astrid Victoria: It is called we dream. We dream. Tell me about this. So. Jim would be really good to consult on this because, because he did compose the, uh, like the arrangement of all the songs and monologues. But I will say from my perspective, I'm really enjoying it because it is this beautiful collection of monologues and poems that kind of shift. topics and moods based on kind of the progression of the show. So we have themes of togetherness, which has been a, I think, a theme throughout Stage of Discovery for, the duration of our time. At least since I've been here, it's, there's always something about, being connected to each other and friendship and love. So there's always that overarching theme, but then there's also. Themes of what goes into love, what kinds of effort goes into love or mm-hmm , or maybe when you're angry about the way that you express yourself and how, we kind of perceive ourselves and others in that light about communication and love. And, um, so 

Robyn Bell: how we process those emotions. 

Astrid Victoria: Exactly. 

Robyn Bell: Yes, I get it. 

Astrid Victoria: Exactly. Mm-hmm and, and so in years prior, we've had these. Fun storyline driven type things. Whereas this year it's very introspective and that's, that's what I'm loving about it because we have all these kids coming on individually, giving out their monologue or their piece of the poem. Based on you're seeing it from one person mm-hmm , you know, and, and that's just wonderful, cuz it kind of captures these individual emotions as the show goes along. And I think that the audience is really going to resonate with them. 

Robyn Bell: And Jim, that was your intention all along with this show mm-hmm yes. And of the 15 to 17 songs, is it like full cast the whole time or there some duets or solos and small ensembles? 

Jim Weaver: Yeah, it's broken down. Okay. There are ensemble pieces that everyone. Some sections of, but then there are duets and solo pieces. That we are able to kind of hone in more on specific people

Robyn Bell: and, Astra. Do you have a favorite song on this one that you've been working on? You're like, wow, this is really great. These, these students are really performing this well. 

Astrid Victoria: Okay. I don't wanna spoil too much of the list of songs. Yeah. However, however, we do have this. We have, , As by Stevie Wonder yeah. In, in the list and that I think is a favorite among like a lot of people in the cast, but that's, that's a wonderful song. We all love it. And the dance Mr. Donald has, has done an amazing job with the choreography. That's one of my favorites. I do have others, but I don't wanna, I don't wanna spoil

Robyn Bell: we, we have to come to the show and we'll tell you. And you'll like, yes, that was my favorite too. 

Astrid Victoria: Exactly. It's a guessing game. you have to be thinking. Hmm. Which one does Astrid like the most throughout the whole? I'm just kidding. I'm just getting pay attention to the babies. Not me. 

Jim Weaver: if you don't mind my adding into this too. Part of the reason why I chose the pieces that I did, because we have monologues the songs as well as, um, poetry by Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni, Tupac. It was to give the kids a chance to incorporate what they're learning in the classes, but also something that I thought they would be able to relate to. Mm. So even with the performance in my mind, it was a continuation of their study. 

Robyn Bell: absolutely. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes, very much a showcase very much like. Picking up what, what they've learned and showing it to everybody. And, and one of the things that I love the most about this is, you know, it's not just them saying lines back and forth, but it's these, minute long to two minute periods where one student is shining in their ability mm-hmm to act or to perform or, or to express because a lot of these poems and monologues are very. Very emotional. And so it's been wonderful to see these kids dig into themselves as performers and just show, their entirety as an artist. You know, it's, it's wonderful. 

Robyn Bell: Yeah. 

Jim Weaver: It takes a lot of bravery. 

Astrid Victoria: It really does. 

Robyn Bell: And vulnerability, 

Astrid Victoria: it really does. And I can say, my little brother is in the program.

Robyn Bell: Nice. 

Astrid Victoria: Um, yes. Shout out to JC love you, bro. 

Jim Weaver: he's doing a great job too. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes, he's. He has not participated for all the years that I participated. He was in the program for about two years, took a break for no other two and then came back last year for Technica color and then has been participating for we dream. And he is not naturally a stage performer. He's a drummer, actually. He likes to play in a band. He and I actually have a little band together and it's, and we have a lot of fun. Yes but so I I've known him from. purely a musical perspective. You know, of, of, of as a young composer and, you know, helping me to create these, songs, that are, are shared art, but being able to watch him grow as a performer, as something that he's been up to this point, almost completely unfamiliar with mm-hmm , you know, that has been eye-opening to me. And especially also, as I've been gone for the past year in, in school, you know, I've gotten to watch. This crazy amount of growth and I'm, it's, it's unbelievable. Like how proud I am, because I've been able to watch him flower in this environment. So yeah, it's, it's great. 

Robyn Bell: And that is an amazing aspect of really all these camps that, that we put on or that we attend is to watch this growth from sometimes nothing to, oh my goodness.

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Robyn Bell: I can't believe what you have a achieved. Yes. 

Jim Weaver: And that's part of the goal of this is like they maybe never had the opportunity. to explore that and realize that that's what they have within. To do mm-hmm you know? 

Robyn Bell: Yep. And then the sky's the limit from there. 

Jim Weaver: Yeah, 

Astrid Victoria: absolutely. 

Robyn Bell: Yep. Now, Astrid, last year you kind of graduated from being in this Stage of Discovery camp. And you went into the young artist program where you were a featured performer year show, love language and evening with Astrid. Victoria was last August. Yeah. And now tell us then Jim, about this second initiative with this Young Artist Program, how does that work here at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe

Jim Weaver: well, it's an opportunity and I'm sure Astrid from the other perspective has a lot that she can add to this. 

Robyn Bell: Sure. 

Astrid Victoria: I do

Jim Weaver: but yeah, it provides people with exceptional levels of talent and ability and opportunity to put together their own show. So we get to focus on a solo artist Astrid presented some songs that are out there that are published, but she also wrote some original pieces wow. That were in the show. 

Robyn Bell: And is this an outgrowth of the Stage of Discovery? Pretty much. 

Jim Weaver: Not necessarily. Okay. Okay. Because sometimes it'll be people that have common audition that are part of a main stage production. Yes. Okay. That are part of the troop. All right. It just happened to be with Astrid situation. She's shown so brightly in it. The program got that. It was like, okay, there's just no questions. She's gonna do this. . 

Robyn Bell: And, and Astrid, what was that process like for putting on your own show, writing your own music? From start to finish. 

Astrid Victoria: Yeah. Um, I have a lot, I could say, so I'll try to keep it, you know, pretty condensed, but I will say it was such an unbelievable opportunity that I have never received before. I had already written those songs. They, they were just songs that I had written in high school and like had, had done over the years. Um, Just, you know, as a wait to vent, that's how I started. Sure. That's, that's how a lot of us start writing. We just do it because we need to get out all these crazy emotions in our head. Right. 

Jim Weaver: Whatever's going on in your life at that time. 

Astrid Victoria: Exactly. And as I realized that I love to do it. I love to write and I love to create, I started using them to perform and. Over the years because of the Stage of Discovery program and the way it encouraged me to grow and be free as an artist, I have become a very ambitious person. um, I just that plain and clear, I've been given the opportunity to embrace my artistry in a way that I never thought possib. and my Young Artist Showcase was a perfect extension of that. I think, because I was given the opportunity to kind of with, an incredible amount of help as well and guidance, I was able to oversee an entire project and that 

Robyn Bell: it's like an internship almost.

Astrid Victoria: Yes. It was. As, as like an 18 year old girl, right? Or 19. Yeah, I believe I was 19. 

Robyn Bell: who's counting. 

Astrid Victoria: I was able to take on this, role of leadership mm-hmm of like, this is the message I wanna communicate. These are the songs I wanna do. These are the people that inspire me. These are my words. Mm-hmm I was able to write out an entire script for it. I was able. say, Hey, can we have the band on the stage? I was able to be like, uh, here are the chord charts for my songs. Let's play them. Can you guys help me write the rest of the parts for these? 

Jim Weaver: So to tie into that, you know, so part of the whole program is you provided the stage, the theater space. You provided the musicians. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Jim Weaver: To be able to put this together. and have the ticket sales. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes.

Jim Weaver: And they get to keep the money. 

Astrid Victoria: Yeah, 

Robyn Bell: that's what I was about to say, because I read this. So basically it's kinda like you're putting on your own scholarship show, right? 

Astrid Victoria: It is 

Robyn Bell: because all the proceeds go to your education 

Astrid Victoria: and for somebody like me, that is the dream.

Robyn Bell: Yeah. 

Astrid Victoria: That's the dream because I want to do that. I want to write and perform my own material for a living. And so the fact that I was given just a taste of that to, and, and. Only going towards my success towards my, uh, my college tuition is where I, I put the money towards. 

Robyn Bell: Good for you. 

Astrid Victoria: Oh, thank you. Being, given that opportunity was not only a gift, but just something, a complete tool of inspiration for me. Cause it was like, I like this, I like this. I wanna do it forever. Yeah. You know, and I remember sitting down at my desk. Writing out the script and I had finished it and it was this long document of, this is what I wanna say about this song. And here's this artist that inspired me and it was long and I got done with it and I go, I wanna do that for the rest of my life.

Jim Weaver: And, and the thing is too is like, and I've said this to so many people, it's like, the more you can do in this business, the better your chances for success in being able to make a living mm-hmm are, you know, 

Robyn Bell: absolutely. Cause that's the key, right? We gotta make money off this. Well, yeah, we need to make a living.

Jim Weaver: You have to, you have to eat exactly and you have to pay taxes, but she's now able to walk away with the experience of having put together. At this stage of her development, an entire show yeah. Entire program. And she knows what goes into it. Mm-hmm, all the steps that are involved. 

Robyn Bell: And let's just say there's probably no other place other than the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe that really allows these young musicians and to do this 

Astrid Victoria: truly mm-hmm, , 

Jim Weaver: I've been at this a long time and this is the first time I've ever seen a program like this.

Astrid Victoria: Mm-hmm 

Robyn Bell: it's truly, it's really great. So Astrid, any other plans for you to do a second? One of these shows 

Astrid Victoria: I would like to that. Okay. We haven't spoken about that or anything, but I would take the opportunity.

Robyn Bell: Start your contract negotiations now, right? 

Astrid Victoria: Yep.

Robyn Bell: So. We wanna remind everybody they wanna attend the Stage of Discovery performance. That's coming up on July 16th. That's a Saturday at seven 30 and a repeat performance of that on July 17th. At two o'clock here at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. You could get your tickets at west coast, black theater dot. Org tickets, I believe are only $27 mm-hmm and there may be some student price tickets of $26. No, I'm just kidding. I don't know what those prices are. If you're a student and you are in my music appreciation class, you should come watch this performance for your report. And I've been such a pleasure. I wanna thank you both for joining me today to talk about this wonderful Stage of Discovery summer program and the Young Artist Program here at the Westcoast, Black Theatre Troupe. Both fantastic opportunities for our youth in this area and a wonderful way for our community to support these students in building musicians and entertainers as they find their love of music and theater. So thank you both. 

Jim Weaver: Thank you. 

Astrid Victoria: Thank you so much for having us 

Robyn Bell: now. Go change some lives out there today.

Jim Weaver: Okay. 

Astrid Victoria: Yes, ma'am. 

Jim Weaver: You've got it.