Bringing the arts to Silver State

More and more arts programs are being cut from schools every year. Having arts in education is extremely important as the arts teach valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, presentation and creativity.

Having arts available for students at schools is a wonderful opportunity. It is a way for students to get involved and have fun at the same time.

I grew up in Carson City doing community and school theater, and always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I went on to get a bachelor's degree in theater studies and a master's in education. I was honored to get hired on at Silver State High School to start a theater program.

I am in the process of creating an online theater course that students can take for credit. I teach improvisation and acting to groups of middle and high school students twice a week. I am a true believer in the need for arts in education and I am passionate about theater and teaching kids about theater.

KidScape Productions is a professional acting program that was started by Christiana Frank. Christiana is a professional actor who has extensive training and experience in the world of theater. Instructors from KidScape go into schools to teach theater to kids ages 3 and up. KidScape has been teaching classes every Monday at Silver State Charter School in comedy improv.

For more information on KidScape Productions, go to www.kidscapeproductions.

com or call 775-787-3900.

KidScape and I are collaborating to put on a theater production this coming month at Silver State High School.

The high school's Holiday Extravaganza will be a mixture of comedy improv games, skits, Christmas carols and instrumental solos. Everyone in the show is a student at the school and is enjoying learning about the art of comedy improv and other theater skills.

The SSHS Holiday Extrav-aganza will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Silver State High School, 3719 N Carson St.

Cost for the show is free to students with an ID card and $5 for general admission. Money from ticket sales will go toward future productions at the school.

• Abbey Gardner is the theater teacher at Silver State School.