DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST THEATRE EXPERIENCE?

(TheatreCares' SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! - 2015)

My name is Scott A. Cook and I am the Artistic Producer of TheatreWorks Florida, a 501(c)(3) professional theatre company based in Davenport, FL. I remember my very first theatre experience very clearly. It changed my entire life. However, many families, friends and neighbors won't ever be able to even answer that question because of their inability to pay for a ticket at the box office. They simple can't afford it.

     I was raised in the country on a mountain on a farm in a log cabin. Theatre was not a luxury my family could afford. When I was 8 years old, by a strange twist of fate I can’t quite recall, I somehow ended up seeing A Chorus Line on Broadway – standing room only. My very first live theatre show. I was absolutely mesmerized at what I experienced on that stage and knew right then I would make musical theatre my life, not really knowing at that young age the fantastical journey that was about to unfold.

     My career led me through a young adults musical touring company called Rhythm- Lite Touring Productions (Utica, NY), onto the Walt Disney World Company as an AEA singer/dancer/actor (Orlando, FL), into the world of directing & choreographing musical theatre around the USA and now, Artistic Producer of the award-winning theatre company, TheatreWorks Florida (Davenport, FL).

    Theatre not only transformed my career choice – it transformed me as a person. It continually teaches me more life lessons than I could possibly dream of. The power of storytelling on stage and the effect it can have on one’s heart, mind and soul has no price… and I simply would not be the man I am today if it were not for the magic I discovered at such a young age.

(TheatreCares' WINTER WONDERETTES - 2014 - with Frida Söderdahl as SUZY)

     In 2014, TheatreWorks Florida created its highly successful community outreach program, TheatreCares, as a response to our very first National Endowment for the Arts grant. TheatreCares’ mission was simple yet powerful: promote accessibility and lifelong learning in the realm of the performing arts by providing full-scale theatrical experiences for audiences who are physically, emotionally, financially, socially or geographically challenged and may otherwise not have the opportunity to embrace and engage in the art of a live performance. Little did we know then that the experiences we were about to create would truly change the lives of people we didn’t even know.

     From the "Christmas Miracle" of a woman in a nursing home that had not spoken in 6 years who suddenly came alive singing and clapping to Winter Wonderettes (2014), to the auditorium full of 8 to 10 year old underserved students who were actually seeing a live musical for the very first time with our tour of Schoolhouse Rock Live! (2015), TheatreCares became more than a community outreach program – it stood for everything I had grown up with that had shaped my entire life.

(The "Christmas Miracle" of TheatreCares' WINTER WONDERETTES - 2014)

TheatreCares Arts Access Pass program firmly commits to making ALL of our TheatreWorks Florida programming accessible to everyone.  Anyone who wants to embrace the arts should never be denied that opportunity just because they don’t have enough dollars in their pocket. TheatreCares Arts Access Pass is TheatreWorks Florida’s response to that exact need. For more information on TheatreCares Arts Access Pass: Click Here

The purpose of the TheatreCares Arts Access Pass program is to make the arts accessible to everyone, regardless
 of their ability to pay. TheatreCares strives to eliminate the financial barrier that prevents families and individuals from experiencing our theatre’s vibrant and diverse live stage productions. Inclusion in the arts builds communities, inspires creativity, and increases understanding of different stories and viewpoints. In addition, exposure to the arts, early and often, builds future audiences, strengthening the economy and culture of our cities.

We humbly ask you to support TheatreWorks Florida & TheatreCares in helping the less fortunate in our community become enriched, empowered and transformed through the art of live theatre. Your donation today will make sure no one is left behind tomorrow. All donations are directly applied to the purchase of event tickets for the underserved in our community. A sincere thank you for supporting the “art of changing lives” in Central FL.

WEB: theatreworksfl.org  |   FACEBOOK: theatreworksfl

(TheatreCares' SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! - 2015)

THE "ROCK OF AGES" EXPERIENCE - TheatreCares (Fall 2016)

TheatreCares and Full Sail University (Orlando, FL) partner together to bring FREE educational technical theatre/film Live Lab workshops to underserved music students in Orange & Polk County (FL) that delivered interactive hands on experience with the "Rock Of Ages" show band.

CAST: LEAD VOCALIST - Stephen Alan*; BAND: Shannon Kropf (Keyboard), Bobby Keller** (Lead Guitar), Mark McDowell (Guitar 2), Mark Young (Bass) and Dave Kropf (Drums).

* Stephen Alan is the front man for Orlando-based band, “Mad As Adam”.

** Bobby Keller is the lead guitarist for national heavy metal band, “Meka Nism”.

The "Rock Of Ages" Experience was sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Artworks.

Work sample only. "Rock Of Ages" is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French Plays.

More TheatreCares info: CLICK HERE

 TheatreWorks Florida is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity; established on April 20, 2007.  Division of Consumer Services Registration #: CH24420

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.