The Beaufort Performing Arts Collective and BCCC are collaborating to create new classrooms
Posted at 16:27, Thursday, March 16, 2023
- (L to R) BCCC President Dr. Dave Loup, BPAC Treasurer Scott Craigie, BPAC Secretary Pamela Anderson, BPAC Board Member Karen Britton, BPAC Vice President Linda Lane, BCCC Vice President of Continuing Education Dr. Stacey Gerrard, BPAC President Patch Clark, Theater BPAC Coordinator Jeffrey Phipps, BPAC Board Member and BCCC Director of Personal Enrichment Clay Carter. (BCCC)
WASHINGTON, NC — A new organization is taking the stage at Beaufort County Community College. The newly formed Beaufort Performing Arts Collective (BPAC) is comprised of local artists representing all aspects of the arts. The all-ages group will use BCCC’s newly renovated auditorium for their performances and partner with BCCC’s Personal Enrichment Programs to offer a series of classes this spring.
Patch Clark chairs BPAC, Linda Lane is vice president, Pamela Anderson is secretary, Scott Craigie is treasurer, and Karen Britton, Clay Carter and James Casey round out the board of directors.
Part of its mission statement reads: “We believe that everyone should have access to the transformative power of art.” This makes the community college partnership a great platform to reach a wider audience in Beaufort County.
“We are very excited to partner with Beaufort County Community College,” said Patch Clark, president of the BPAC Board of Directors. “We are committed to sharing art with the community and underserved populations. We are very excited to create this program and get the whole community involved.”
“We at the college are very excited to partner with BPAC,” said Dr. Dave Loup, president of BCCC. “Part of our mission in the humanities is to help people learn more about themselves and give them the opportunity to ‘walk in someone else’s shoes’ for a while, even on stage. This is one of the ways that the visual arts and humanities allow us to empathize with people who may be different from us in many ways. BPAC will help us fulfill this important role for our residents.”
BPAC aims to attract new performers through the Continuing Education Division with its offerings. Students will study all aspects of the performing arts while preparing a production. The first class begins on April 4 with an emphasis on live and cinematic performances and productions. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 18:00 to 20:00. Each session will focus on subjects such as musical theater acting, filmmaking and production such as set design and lighting.
The first showcase performance will take place on Saturday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m., featuring students and experienced actors. It will include a one-man show, a music and dance performance and a short independent film.
People interested in developing their theater talents are encouraged to register for classes by calling 252-940-6375. The current class is open to students 16 and older. Classes are just $35 and no experience is necessary. The price of the classes includes free tickets to the performance for family members. For more questions about the class, call Clay Carter, Director of Personal Enrichment, at 252-940-6357.
