Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts

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Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, also known as Lovewell or Lovewell Institute, is a 501(c)3 organization that organizes workshops for youth to write and perform an original musical. In 1989, Lovewell was founded by David Sheridan Spangler in Salina, Kansas. In 1993, Lovewell launched an international cultural exchange with Sweden. In 1996, Lovewell sponsored its first bilingual musical, entitled "Backstage Story," in Oskarshamn, Sweden. [1] In 2009, Lovewell partnered with United Way of America and the Violence Prevention Office of Broward County to conduct a peace education workshop with high school students in south Florida. [2] The high school students produced the original musical Weight of Words, which addressed students' personal experiences with "parental abuse, harassment due to sexual orientation, nationality, religion or disability, and cyber bullying." [3] In 2011, BankAtlantic sponsored five different schools for 5th grades to perform Weight of Words. [4] In 2015, Boca Raton's "Promise — The Alliance for Youth" nonprofit introduced Weight of Words to four more schools in Palm Beach County. [5]

Notable alumni

Jacob Jeffries, Lead Singer/Pianist for the Jacob Jeffries Band [6]

Nathan Tysen, Songwriter and Performer [7]

Kait Kerrigan, Playwright, Musical Theatre Lyricist, and Novelist

Chris Miller, Musical Theater Song Writer and Composer [8]

Keith Center, Lead Singer and Songwriter of The Dreamscapes Project

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References

  1. Yoon, Bongwook. Perceived Contributions of Educational Drama and Theatre: A Case Study of Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts. pp. 20–30.
  2. Allen, Barb; Williams, Teri; Duckworth, Cheryl (April 2012). "What do students learn when we teach peace? A qualitativeassessment of a theater peace program". Journal of Peace Education. 9 (1): 86–87. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. Fishman, Scott (April 9, 2011). "Davie drama students create anti-bullying play". The Sun Sentinel. Forum Publishing Group. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  4. "Weight of Words, An Original Anti-Bullying Musical". CNN. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  5. "Four schools to hold simultaneous performances of anti-bullying musical "The Weight of Words"". January 28, 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. "Summer Roadtrip: Jacob Jeffries (Jacob Jeffries Band)". NKDMAG. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  7. Bowling, Suzanna. "Nathan Tysen and Arthur Perlman Win The Kleban Prize". Time Square Chronicles. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  8. Peter, and Bernard; Krysten, Chambrot. "Camp at Nova Southeastern gives students a dramatic outlet". School of Ed. Retrieved 22 July 2015.