MOUNT VERNON – Hundreds of Knox County children will experience “the power of imagination” when the 2022 Youth Enrichment Series (YES) opens Sept. 22 at Knox Memorial Theater.
Second-graders from Centerburg, East Knox, Danville, Fredericktown, Mount Vernon and St. Vincent de Paul will assemble for the MTVArts production of “Shrek Jr.”
Third-graders will see “Shrek Jr.” the next day.
Nine other live morning performances are scheduled this fall and next spring for students in kindergarten through high school.
Facilitated by the Knox Educational Service Center, the annual series is funded by the Knox County Foundation except for four scheduled programs by MTVArts.
Bruce Jacklin, artistic director at MTVarts, said the annual series offers a unique and important experience for children.
“When a student attends a theater production, it goes beyond the classroom setting,” Jacklin said. “It’s visual storytelling that stimulates the mind and the imagination. It helps our students to see a different perspective from their own.
“They are witnessing humanity, motivation, psychology, conflict and resolution. Theater opens up the power of imagination beyond the classroom and much more than you might think.”
Lisa Lloyd, program director for the Knox County Foundation, said the foundation is pleased to again sponsor the Youth Enrichment Series for children throughout the county.
“The arts are an important part of a well-rounded education, and we are thrilled to help make possible the unique theatrical experiences this series provides,” Lloyd said.
“Our community is made stronger when we leverage our collective creativity, passion and imagination. We appreciate the Knox Educational Service Center for their efforts to inspire these traits in the next generation through the Youth Enrichment Series.”
Taylor Gingery, gifted coordinator at Knox ESC, said the four-member student leadership team at the ESC’s Knox Learning Center – senior Emmalee Patrick, sophomores Harley Gilbert and Analise Hagley and freshman Gabriel Foote – will assist teachers and theater personnel at each of the series performances.
“These students were selected as the leadership team because of their demonstrated responsibility and dependability,” Gingery said. “They will help get children safely into and out of the theater, direct students to designated seating and manage time efficiently.”
The YES series will resume Sept. 29 when county sixth-graders arrive at Memorial Theater for a performance of Tony West & The Imani Dancers.
The remainder of the schedule includes:
Oct. 4 – Ballet Met, fourth-graders
Oct. 6 – MadCap Puppets, second-graders
Oct. 12 – Robert Post, “How to survive middle school,” seventh-graders
Oct. 13 – Sarah Reed, storytelling musician, first-graders
Oct. 18 – MadCap Puppets, third-graders (except East Knox)
Oct. 19 – Eric Paton, world-class drummer, fifth-graders
Early March 2023 – MTVArts, “Seussical the Musical,” kindergarten
May 5 – Classical Series, American Literature, grades 9-12
