Swine Palace partnered with the LSU Community University Partnership to offer cultural opportunities for elementary and high school students in the neighboring Old South Baton Rouge community.

Swine Palace Offers Cultural Opportunities to OSBR Youth

Throughout the 2008-09 season, Swine Palace partnered with the LSU Community University Partnership (LSU CUP) to offer cultural opportunities for elementary and high school students in the neighboring Old South Baton Rouge community. Many of the students have interests that range from drama to American literature. The collaboration has resulted in over 100 community youth from OSBR attending performances at LSU's Reilly Theater.

The partnership is a result of Swine Palace's Community Outreach Task Force started in 2007. "One of our primary missions is to serve as a bridge between LSU and the Greater Baton Rouge community by producing high-quality professional theatre productions," said Kristin Sosnowsky, LSU Assistant Chair of Theater and Managing Director of Swine Palace productions. "We can only accomplish this if our work is truly accessible and relevant to all members of our community."

Cultural programming for local youth has been a staple of LSU CUP since 2005, when the office received the New Directions grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "We jumped at the opportunity to develop engagement strategies alongside key campus and community stakeholders," said Brandon Smith, LSU Community Affairs Liaison, who also serves on the task force. "It is equally critical that we sustain programs that the community has grown to love."

Through this initiative, students receive complimentary tickets for upcoming performances based on the genre and the scholarly content. Buchanan Elementary and McKinley Middle School students attended the adapted stage production of the wildly popular High School Musical while McKinley High School drama students were invited to last season's King Hedley II and this season's SATELITTES, both contemporary dramas that depicted modern issues regarding race and the inner city. Sosnowsky said, "It is vital for students to not only experience performing arts in the classroom, but have opportunities to attend live professional productions and partake in the social aspects that come with being an audience member." Through attending productions, students have the opportunity to connect class with practice. Dr. Ramon Sibley, McKinley High drama instructor added, "My students are always impressed with the actors, sets, and facilities of these productions and they talk about it for days."

Following performances, LSU CUP and Swine Palace occasionally arrange a "talk back," where students gain additional insight from actors regarding 'behind-the-curtain' preparation and acting tips. In other instances, master classes are scheduled at McKinley High School where selected cast members give hands-on training during the students' drama class and discuss themes of the play in depth. "Their questions always surprise me. The levels of their insight and appreciation are genuinely unique and thoughtful," Sibley reflected.

"That is," according to Sosnowsky, "what makes this partnership special. We know we are expanding their view of the arts, their community, and the world."

If you would like more information on LSU CUP's cultural programming initiatives for local youth, please contact Brandon Smith at bsmit31@lsu.edu.

Brandon Smith
Community Affairs Liaison
LSU Community University Partnership
387.5131