ORLANDO, FL (June 23, 2008) – The Orlando Repertory Theatre (The REP) is thrilled to receive a grant from Target to host the 2nd Annual Target Family Theatre Festival. This is the second year in a row The REP has received this grant in an effort to build awareness of Orlando’s cultural community and to bring families together through art education.
Target Family Theatre Festival is an event designed to promote cultural awareness in Central Florida and to develop theatre for family audiences, by producing shows, training young artists, and offering educational experiences in the arts. This year, the festival will launch on July 19, from 10 am – 2 pm with the Opening Day Celebration, an exciting family event complete with free shows, live entertainment and fun hands-on activities for kids! Opening Day Celebration will also feature a free performance by Laughing Pizza, award winning family entertainers. Throughout the festival families are encouraged to see all performances including: Footloose the Musical, The Great Alphabet Adventure, Michelee Puppets, Kirk Marsh, and Outer Toons.
“We are thrilled that once again Target is reaching out to our community to provide a very special opportunity for families with the second annual Target Family Theatre Festival”. Says Gene Columbus, Executive Director of The REP. “In addition, the Orlando Repertory Theatre is excited to partner with our Loch Haven Park neighbors, the Mennello Museum of American Art , the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center, and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater to bring a fun and educational experience to our visitors”.
Target gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs. “At Target, we are making a real difference everyday through our grant-making program,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. “We're proud to sponsor with the Orlando Repertory Theatre as part of our ongoing commitment to give back to the communities where our guests and team members live and work”.
The Orlando Repertory Theatre would like to thank Target, Orange County Government Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs and WKMG for sponsoring the 2nd Annual Target Family Theatre Festival.
The 2nd Annual Target Family Theatre Festival begins July 18 with the opening of Footlose, the Musical and continues with the Opening Day Celebration July 19 and a variety of family-friendly shows through July 27. Opening Day Celebration is a free event for the whole family! Tickets to Footloose the Musical are $12, all other shows are $6. Please visit www.orlandorep.com or call 407-896-7365 for complete festival information.
The Orlando Repertory Theatre is a non-profit organization and is supported in part by United Arts of Central Florida, State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment of the Arts.
About Orlando Repertory Theatre - The REP is a professional theatre for young audiences with a mission to enlighten, entertain and enrich children and adults by producing theatre of exceptional quality. The award winning REP Youth Academy provides classes, camps and workshops for children along with professional development opportunities to local classroom teachers. Housed in a three-theatre complex in Loch Haven Park, The REP is also home to the University of Central Florida’s MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences graduate program.
