NORFOLK - Not every school in Nebraska has access to a 1200-seat theater, so the Norfolk Arts Center is trying to let students from all over have that experience.
The Arts Center Friday hosted over 1,000 students from schools all over northeast Nebraska for two performances of The Lightning Thief. The show is an adaptation of the Percy Jackson series of novels presenting by the national touring company TheatreWorks USA.
The performance is part of a year-long effort to connect area kids to the arts.
“It’s a program we’ve been developing,” said Denice Hansen, program coordinator at the Norfolk Arts Center. “We have a K-12 theater program. We are wanting to bring some type of theatrical exposure into the lives of all kids K-12.”
Hansen says the shows might open doors for students that may not have been opened otherwise.
“Some of these kids will see theater for the first time in their lives - possibly the only time in their lives,” Hansen said. “Some of these kids may go on to One Act and Speech, and those are great foundation pieces to grow into adulthood.”
The show wraps up the Arts Center’s 2017-18 K-12 theatre program. Now, Hansen says they’ll begin preparing for their summer theater programs and for more shows in the fall.
