Erie's Best Entertainment Value!
Of All-School Musicals!
Now in 2007,
“The Footlights Theatre Program.”
remains one of the longest running and most successful programs our
city has to offer our youth.
Four Mayors and three Administrators later, we still survive.
The
Footlights Theatre Program has exposed countless young people and
their families to the magic of live Theatre and the Arts. It has
taught them more than just the value of live entertainment, but how
to reach beyond the barriers brought about by their differences and
instead work together to achieve a common goal. It has taught them
the values of hard work, discipline, and the joyous feeling of
giving something back to the community. Most importantly, it has
taught them the value of making someone smile. All thanks to the
vision of three men who believed in the good of our youth and that
with the proper guidance, children can accomplish anything.
Thirty-four years is truly a milestone in a time where
programs for the Arts are usually cut instead of continued. Many of
these children may never do theatre again. Some may go on to pursue
it on a community, semi-professional, or professional level. Some
may be content to simply remain an audience member. Whatever the
case may be, they will take this experience with them, and remember
for the rest of their lives the three nights one summer, where they
got to be a star.
Len Ekimoff also retired in 1989, and the City of Erie Parks decided
to have administration duties of all Recreation Programs handed over
to local Non-Profit Organizations. Since then,
G.E.C.A.C. ,The YWCA of Erie,
and the
YMCA of Greater Erie
have all served as administrators.
In
1994, there was talk of making
summer
theatre
a
year- round program, and the name
“Student Summer Theatre”
seemed inadequate for a program that was no longer seasonal. A
contest was held with the kids in the program that year to choose a
new name. The children voted —and
“Student Summer Theatre”
was reborn as
“The Footlights Theatre Program.”
Unfortunately, the year-round program never came to be, but the
“Footlights”
name remained.
That
summer, they presented the very first
“Student Summer Theatre”
show,
“You’re
a Good Man, Charlie Brown”.
In
1976, Jim Schneider took charge of the program and not only served
as Technical Director, but also Directed many of the productions
himself. Jim kept the
light burning for 14 years. From 1986 through 1989, he handed the
directing reins over to Shawn Clerkin, Fred Schleicher
(Alumni),
and Danelle Miller-Smith
(Alumni),
but still ran the program and served as Technical Director.
In
1990, Jim retired and handed the reigns of
The
Student Summer Theatre Program
over to David W. Mitchell
(Alumni),
who has run the program and serves as its Director until the present
date.
In
1975, Alex Clemente of
The Erie School District
and
Len Ekimoff of the
City of Erie’s Parks and Recreation Department
created the most unique summer recreation program our city has to offer.
A Musical Theatre program that would be free to all
Erie children, regardless of experience, background, or social
status. They would learn first hand about theatre through the production
of a full–length musical.
Every child would have
their moment in the spotlight, and no one would be turned away.
