Excerpt from a feature piece for the The Lexington Theatre Company
There isn't a day in the ADP calendar more special than the ADP Spring Showcase. If you have the privilege of being in the audience, you'll watch diverse groups of talented kids doing what they love—performing. And if you get the privilege of being backstage, you'll experience friendship, community, laughter, and joy. You'll see a little bit of nerves and a lot of excitement on every student's face. You'll watch friends cheering each other on, you'll see teachers guiding each student to their full potential, and you'll see moments that you never forget. This is the ADP Spring Showcase.
My name is Isla Dawahare, and I'm an eighth grade Creator. I've been part of the Artist Development Program at The Lex since they first started it, online, in 2020. I currently take private voice, acting, dance, and Story Cycle, the songwriting class that was recently opened to middle schoolers. This is my fourth showcase with ADP, and it was such a special experience.
This experience didn't just begin showcase week—we commenced the second semester of classes working on our showcase pieces, then we spent the next two months rehearsing, finalizing, and fine-tuning those pieces. Practice videos were shared, to give students all the tools they needed to put in work outside of the weekly classes to make their pieces the best they can be. After months of hard work and endless fun, the week of showcase arrived. There were now daily rehearsals, and it almost felt like preparing for a Mainstage show. These rehearsals were spent getting comfortable in the space, and making sure each individual felt safe and confident. Showcase is such an amazing learning experience for all ages and experience levels. It's an opportunity for every student, from Explorers to Trailblazers, to expand and practice life skills beyond performing arts including empathy, confidence, teamwork, resilience, and more.
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