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Community Outreach Teen Theater

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The mission of The Community Outreach Teen Theater located in Ottawa, IL,  a town of 18,000 in rural Illinois just 88 miles outside of Chicago, is to promote inclusion and acceptance of all individuals through a variety of team building activities and social justice based productions. Community Outreach Teen Theater was started by a local drama coach and middle school educator, Mary Lindig, as a way to provide a FREE summer drama program for teens in Ottawa, IL. Community Outreach Teen Theater operates because of donations and volunteers. Community Outreach Teen Theater introduces students to aspects of a theatrical production for novices and increase skills for the more seasoned performer. All productions provide performance and technical experiences for students entering sixth grade through recently graduated high school seniors. In 2017 we started with 23rd students who, under the direction of Mrs. Lindig, presented Voices of Social Justice, a group of one acts featuring the Bully Plays. This performance also included students' artwork, poetry, and songs.  This past summer we grew to 35 students, and it truly was for students by students. The production, Don't Stop Believin'! by Craig Sodaro with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur from Pioneer Publishing , was about a group of teens who had to come together to save their community center. The musical pinpointed many issues such as homelessness and poverty and the need for arts for students in low economic areas! This past year students under the age of 18 did all of the directing, choreography, and technical work for the production.  Three adults worked as mentors and guides to the lead students. Our program is so important to this town as most students who are part of this program walk or ride their bikes just for a chance to be part of a drama program as there are no dramatic arts programs within a 20 mile radius for this age group during the summer. Participants included students from Ottawa and the surrounding town of Marseilles. This past summer we had over 450 people attend our performance at the Open Table United Church of Christ in Ottawa, IL which provides us space to perform. We are in need of funding to produce our next show, Willy Wonka, Jr. Please, Please, help by making a donation to this up and coming community teen theater! All persons who work with the students are volunteer and do not receive or take any of the funds! 100% of the funds collected will be used for upgrades to the performance space, purchasing technical equipment, purchasing props, costumes, and scripts/music.  We are looking for corporate sponsors as well and will include you on our Donor Wall, on our t-shirts, and in programs if you give Community Outreach Teen Theater $150.00 or more.  Visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/COTTOTTAWA/
or email [email redacted] 

Thank you for being willing to help the teens of Ottawa have their own community theater!

Organizer

Mary Lindig
Organizer
Ottawa, IL

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