- H
What's going on here? Let me explain. In June, I was accepted into the 2020 class of Sight and Sound theatre's conservatory program. This means I'll be getting the opportunity to (1) spend a full calendar year in Pennsylvania learning from experts in all aspects of musical theatre, (2) share God's truth in a powerful and entertaining way to hundreds of thousands of people, (3) be mentored by people who share my beliefs and passions, (4) do what I love doing (singing and acting on a stage.)
In January, I'll be beginning classes at the theatre in Lancaster, PA. They only accept 10 students a year into the program (this year - I’m one of only two guys) out of scores who audition from both the US and abroad. I’ll also have the pleasure of performing in Sight and Sound's premiere of their new musical 'Queen Esther'.
It is a 12 month program, with the expressed goal of investing in the next generation of Christ centered performing artists by mentoring them both as a performer, and a disciple of Christ. This is accomplished through (1) classroom instruction in Acting, Singing, Dancing and other relevant courses; (2) providing the opportunity to perform in Sight & Sound Theatres professional stage productions; (3) cultivating a lifestyle of character, commitment and competence.
Many of you know the Faggion family, three of whom have been a part of the conservatory in the past few years. They can all attest to the depth of impact the conservatory has had not only their lives as artists, but in their walk with God.
Due to the demands of the program, it will be impossible to work while performing nine shows a week on top of classes. I’m working hard to secure all required funds prior to January, hence covering all my tuition and living expenses for the year.
That's where you come in!
In addition to the $8000 tuition, I'm estimating it'll take around $900 a month to cover rent, food, car, and other expenses for the 12 months. I'm currently working multiple jobs to reach that goal by the beginning of January when I move, but there's a long way to go.
I ask you to consider being a part of my journey as I set out into the world of professional theatre, all while helping to reach literally hundreds of thousands with biblical truth through "Queen Esther". Any gift will be a big help and is greatly appreciated.
Keep an eye out, I've got other opportunities in the works to support my journey as well! These include (but are not limited to) a fundraising concert where I'll be singing selections from Broadway, local theatre, and more.
For more details about me and what I’ll be doing at Sight and Sound, please continue reading below. Thanks for taking the time to consider my request and for any way you might choose to be a part of my journey. Please share this page with your friends, and even more importantly, I would appreciate your prayers for me as I pursue this amazing adventure!
MORE ABOUT ZACH
My name is Zach Meeker, and I'm a 22-year-old homeschool graduate, graphic designer, singer, actor, and a slew of other things. I've been singing on a stage since I was three years old, and acting since I was nine. For 12 years, I performed (and staffed) at a local Christian theatre called Spiritual Twist Productions. I've since gotten the opportunity to be a part of a number of community theatre stage shows, cabarets, and concerts. I've felt for a long time that I was given my talents to point back to God, but I just wasn't sure how that was going to play out.
I never seriously considered pursuing musical theatre as a profession until late 2017, when some close friends and I wrote and produced a troupe-style comedy. Mostly written in the course of a 3 day weekend, the show was a musical comedy adaptation of 'The Three Musketeers '. What made this show different is that the morning before the third performance in our four-show run, Wilson Brant, a fellow cast member and one of my best friends was killed in a car accident. It was devastating to all of us in the cast, as well as the large community that knew and loved Wilson. In the midst of our heartbreak, we agreed as a cast to continue on and perform that night in his honor, and in that tragedy, we were able to witness something beautiful. Theatres and Churches from across Raleigh began to flock to our show, supporting us in whatever way they could. In his passing, Wilson created something he’d always wanted to see, an environment where passionate theatrical artists and passionate believers met and worked alongside each other.
In the midst of that trial, I got to see the power of theatre in bringing people together and in sharing the gospel. Since that point, I've felt more and more the calling to use theatre and the performing arts as a tool to build communities and to glorify God.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the results of the Sight and Sound Conservatory first hand in the lives of my friends, Andrew, Ellie, and Joey Faggion, as well as having the honor of seeing them perform on a stage surrounded by the best Christian theatre has to offer.
MORE ABOUT SIGHT AND SOUND THEATRE & CONSERVATORY
The Sight and Sound Conservatory is located near Lancaster, PA, in the heart of a region rich with prestigious theatres and theatre schools, and is associated with the renowned Sight and Sound Theatre, which has a location in PA as well as Branson, MO ( https://www.sight-sound.com/ ).
The year long conservatory program features a variety of intensive classes including Improvisation, Voice and Speech, Singing for the Stage, Stage Combat, Musical Theatre Dance, and many more, in addition to a year long discipleship class.
More importantly, applying what is taught in the classroom, the conservatory students will perform on the Sight & Sound stage as cast members alongside the professional cast in approximately ten shows a week! This not only strengthens skills, but helps students evaluate whether the theatre life is for them as they experience firsthand what it is like to be on stage doing the same show over and over again for months on end.
For those of you not familiar with Sight and Sound Theatre, it is an extremely popular tourist attraction and draws visitors from all over the US. The theatre in PA seats over 2000 people and has a 15,000 square foot stage. It's an awe inspiring place. If you have never been there, I'd highly recommend adding it to your to-do list for 2019-2020.
SUMMARY
As mentioned in the overview, the intense conservatory schedule doesn’t provide students time to work a separate job. Thus, this GoFundMe page for your friendly neighborhood Zach, targeting $19,000.
So, I ask for your assistance in this mission. Gifts of absolutely any amount are incredibly helpful, and beyond appreciated. Raising this much money isn't an easy task, but with your help, I'm confident that the goal is within reach.
Most importantly, I ask for your prayers in the upcoming months as I prepare for the year ahead.
Please feel free to contact me with any and all questions you might possibly have.
In January, I'll be beginning classes at the theatre in Lancaster, PA. They only accept 10 students a year into the program (this year - I’m one of only two guys) out of scores who audition from both the US and abroad. I’ll also have the pleasure of performing in Sight and Sound's premiere of their new musical 'Queen Esther'.
It is a 12 month program, with the expressed goal of investing in the next generation of Christ centered performing artists by mentoring them both as a performer, and a disciple of Christ. This is accomplished through (1) classroom instruction in Acting, Singing, Dancing and other relevant courses; (2) providing the opportunity to perform in Sight & Sound Theatres professional stage productions; (3) cultivating a lifestyle of character, commitment and competence.
Many of you know the Faggion family, three of whom have been a part of the conservatory in the past few years. They can all attest to the depth of impact the conservatory has had not only their lives as artists, but in their walk with God.
Due to the demands of the program, it will be impossible to work while performing nine shows a week on top of classes. I’m working hard to secure all required funds prior to January, hence covering all my tuition and living expenses for the year.
That's where you come in!
In addition to the $8000 tuition, I'm estimating it'll take around $900 a month to cover rent, food, car, and other expenses for the 12 months. I'm currently working multiple jobs to reach that goal by the beginning of January when I move, but there's a long way to go.
I ask you to consider being a part of my journey as I set out into the world of professional theatre, all while helping to reach literally hundreds of thousands with biblical truth through "Queen Esther". Any gift will be a big help and is greatly appreciated.
Keep an eye out, I've got other opportunities in the works to support my journey as well! These include (but are not limited to) a fundraising concert where I'll be singing selections from Broadway, local theatre, and more.
For more details about me and what I’ll be doing at Sight and Sound, please continue reading below. Thanks for taking the time to consider my request and for any way you might choose to be a part of my journey. Please share this page with your friends, and even more importantly, I would appreciate your prayers for me as I pursue this amazing adventure!
MORE ABOUT ZACH
My name is Zach Meeker, and I'm a 22-year-old homeschool graduate, graphic designer, singer, actor, and a slew of other things. I've been singing on a stage since I was three years old, and acting since I was nine. For 12 years, I performed (and staffed) at a local Christian theatre called Spiritual Twist Productions. I've since gotten the opportunity to be a part of a number of community theatre stage shows, cabarets, and concerts. I've felt for a long time that I was given my talents to point back to God, but I just wasn't sure how that was going to play out.
I never seriously considered pursuing musical theatre as a profession until late 2017, when some close friends and I wrote and produced a troupe-style comedy. Mostly written in the course of a 3 day weekend, the show was a musical comedy adaptation of 'The Three Musketeers '. What made this show different is that the morning before the third performance in our four-show run, Wilson Brant, a fellow cast member and one of my best friends was killed in a car accident. It was devastating to all of us in the cast, as well as the large community that knew and loved Wilson. In the midst of our heartbreak, we agreed as a cast to continue on and perform that night in his honor, and in that tragedy, we were able to witness something beautiful. Theatres and Churches from across Raleigh began to flock to our show, supporting us in whatever way they could. In his passing, Wilson created something he’d always wanted to see, an environment where passionate theatrical artists and passionate believers met and worked alongside each other.
In the midst of that trial, I got to see the power of theatre in bringing people together and in sharing the gospel. Since that point, I've felt more and more the calling to use theatre and the performing arts as a tool to build communities and to glorify God.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the results of the Sight and Sound Conservatory first hand in the lives of my friends, Andrew, Ellie, and Joey Faggion, as well as having the honor of seeing them perform on a stage surrounded by the best Christian theatre has to offer.
MORE ABOUT SIGHT AND SOUND THEATRE & CONSERVATORY
The Sight and Sound Conservatory is located near Lancaster, PA, in the heart of a region rich with prestigious theatres and theatre schools, and is associated with the renowned Sight and Sound Theatre, which has a location in PA as well as Branson, MO ( https://www.sight-sound.com/ ).
The year long conservatory program features a variety of intensive classes including Improvisation, Voice and Speech, Singing for the Stage, Stage Combat, Musical Theatre Dance, and many more, in addition to a year long discipleship class.
More importantly, applying what is taught in the classroom, the conservatory students will perform on the Sight & Sound stage as cast members alongside the professional cast in approximately ten shows a week! This not only strengthens skills, but helps students evaluate whether the theatre life is for them as they experience firsthand what it is like to be on stage doing the same show over and over again for months on end.
For those of you not familiar with Sight and Sound Theatre, it is an extremely popular tourist attraction and draws visitors from all over the US. The theatre in PA seats over 2000 people and has a 15,000 square foot stage. It's an awe inspiring place. If you have never been there, I'd highly recommend adding it to your to-do list for 2019-2020.
SUMMARY
As mentioned in the overview, the intense conservatory schedule doesn’t provide students time to work a separate job. Thus, this GoFundMe page for your friendly neighborhood Zach, targeting $19,000.
So, I ask for your assistance in this mission. Gifts of absolutely any amount are incredibly helpful, and beyond appreciated. Raising this much money isn't an easy task, but with your help, I'm confident that the goal is within reach.
Most importantly, I ask for your prayers in the upcoming months as I prepare for the year ahead.
Please feel free to contact me with any and all questions you might possibly have.