By: JAM
Cheers, laughter, and improv flowed through the mouths of all the children and young professional actors at Bang Theatre in Los Angeles. HTZ was there to get the scoop on what this program was about and find out more about some of the young actors that are giving back to the community.
Bang Theatre owner, and executive producer of Wizards of Waverly Place, Peter Murrieta has teamed up with LA’s BEST program, professional actors such as David Henrie of Wizards of Waverly Place, and K through 5th grade students to give these young kids an opportunity to work with instructors and working actors to improve their acting skills. LA’s BEST is a nationally recognized nonprofit community program that helps out Los Angeles area schools and brings performing and visual arts programs into the Los Angeles school community. These programs give an introduction to the performing and visual arts for the students over a ten week period.
The roots of this collaboration started when David Henrie came to see Peter Murrieta in a show and afterwards began brainstorming about ways they could help in the community. About a month ago, David met the LA’s BEST team and came up with the idea of helping kids learn how to do improvisational skills because he felt it was a great way to get kids to come out of their shells and laugh.
Peter, David, and LA’s BEST program had their kick-off day with twenty students from the program along with young professional actors such as Debby Ryan, Francia Raisa, Allen Evangelista, Nicholas Braun, Brandon Mychal Smith, Justine Bateman, and musician Chase Ryan at Bang Theatre. The students worked with these professional actors playing different improv games, including a time when laughs filled the room as Brandon Mychal Smith and an improv student ended up in a backbend in the middle of the circle of participants. Each performance was greeted with loud cheers for all participants. The abundance of energy continued throughout the improv exercises and culminated with group pictures and the excited students getting time to chat with and get autographs from the professional young actors. This amazing program will continue at the students’ schools for ten weeks with an instructor and a working actor visiting the school weekly to help the students enhance their acting skills, confidence, and team building skills.
To learn more about acting classes and how Bang Theatre supports the community, check them out at HYPERLINK "http://www.bangstudio.com/" http://www.bangstudio.com/. To find out more about the LA’s BEST program visit HYPERLINK "http://www.lasbest.org/" http://www.lasbest.org/. Young actors such as David Henrie, Debby Ryan, and Brandon Mychal Smith are giving back to the community, so during this time of giving think about how you can support local charities and make a difference in your community just like the stars!
Brandon Mychal Smith participated in exercises with the students!
David Henrie waited his turn to be with the students!
Nicholas Braun gave helped the kids with movement exercises.
Allen Evangelista had the kids laughing throughout his exercise segment!
Justine Bateman and Irene Douglas worked together during their exercise.
The kids were excited to participate in the group photo session!
Debby Ryan worked great with the kids -- they all loved her!
Debby Ryan was excited to sign autographs for the kids at the Bang Theatre!
The improv class gets two thumbs up from the "suite" Debby Ryan!
Francis Raisa loved working with the kids and teaching her improv techniques!
David Henrie worked up a little magic with his improv skills for the event!
Chase Ryan also lended a hand during the event!
Debby Ryan told us she is super stoked about her new camera!
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