Summer Performing Arts Company

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The Summer Performing Arts Company or SPA is a summerstock educational theatre program in Grand Forks, North Dakota that is part of the Grand Forks Public Schools. Started in 1987 as a voice lesson and performance program for high school students, SPA now has over 1000 students ranging from elementary to high school, and produces one to three mainstage productions each summer at the Red River High School Theatre and Central High School Auditorium. Other venues have included the Chester Fritz Auditorium at the University of North Dakota and the Empire Arts Center in Downtown Grand Forks. In addition to the mainstage productions, accredited classes for high school students are offered. A middle school/junior high program and elementary school program are also offered.[1] In addition, the Grand Cities Children's Choir operates as a division of SPA. "GCCC" features several separate choirs that have regular concerts and special tours.

[edit] Keep the Faith

The program has gained national recognition for its production of Keep the Faith, a musical written by SPA staff and area composers and musicians after the historic 1997 Red River Flood.[2][3] After attending the 10 year anniversary performance of Keep the Faith, former FEMA director James Lee Witt made a suggestion of bringing the musical to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ General information. Summer Performing Arts Company. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  2. ^ Keep the Faith. Summer Performing Arts Company. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
  3. ^ Gunderson, Dan. "Keeping the faith a decade later", Minnesota Public Radio, 2007-04-20. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  4. ^ The Dullum File. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.

[edit] External links

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