Black Box Theatre Takes Root at Wolf Performing Arts Center

A painted tree has sprouted in the stairwell of Bryn Mawr’s Wolf Performing Arts Center. With confidence, character, and creativity as nourishment, the tree grows leaves with the names of students whose families have donated in their recognition. The names are proudly displayed on green, red, and yellow leaves attached across sprawling branches.

The non-profit organization is expanding its mission of enriching the lives of young people and the community by ensuring all children are given the opportunity to experience theatre. Some of the current tree leaves are dedicated to this year’s graduating seniors, who were honored during Wolf PAC’s Celebration of Character event held March 18 and 19.

Celebration of Character is Wolf PAC’s largest yearly fundraiser. This year, the two-day event raised $24,262 out of a $25,000 goal. All donations will go to Wolf PAC’s Spotlight Fund - used to enhance the facility’s in-house black box theatre.

The fundraiser featured an “evening out” where families took part in a festive cocktail hour and enjoyed a cabaret put on by Wolf PAC staff. The cabaret featured songs voted on by families and friends of the PAC, unique to this year’s performance.

This year’s Celebration of Character worked to raise money for the performance space while uniting the community in expression of love for theatre.

“It's a community night. It's a time to remember that passion for the arts is all around us and comes from the amazing students we work with and the families who support them… that passion is so deep-seeded in the people who work at Wolf PAC and call it their home,” said Janine Merolla, Wolf PAC’s Special Projects Manager.

The evening showcased a live auction highlighting an architectural “vision” of the completed black box, allowing families to contribute to specific items the performance space needs.

“We need quality sound and lighting equipment so our actors can be seen and heard, quality curtains that span the room to create an intimate space where audiences could lose themselves in our shows, quality seating to ensure plenty of people can see the work of our young performers,” said Tim Popp, Wolf PAC’s Artistic Director.

Additions to the black box including pipe and drape, sound, and lighting equipment are set to begin April 10.

Currently, Wolf PAC rents theatre space from Rosemont College and Saint Joseph’s University. Renting external space limits Wolf PAC to four weekends a year for productions, added Popp. High rental costs put restrictions on the theatre’s yearly budget, tying up funds that could be used for the education of student actors.

“Having our own personal performance space opens up opportunities to produce theatre for young performers and the community,” said Popp.

The family-friendly Sunday event featured a second showing of the staff cabaret as well as kid-friendly snacks and an array of raffles.

“As a staff we dedicate our lives to teaching theatre and the arts to our community, so I think it brings great impact for them to see us doing it ourselves and realize that we can all take the step of bravery to do what we teach,” said Sarah Braverman, Wolf PAC’s Operations Director.

Seniors who have leaves will receive their “fallen” leaf from the tree to take home when they graduate from Wolf PAC. Their names will be painted onto the branches to recognize them as lasting members of the family.

Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts senior, Dotan Yarden, has been an actor at Wolf PAC since 2008. He was honored during the Celebration of Character ceremony as a graduating senior. He reflects on his time at Wolf PAC with high hopes for its future.

“By the time I send my kids to Wolf PAC (and I will) I hope that its spaces and resources can come closer to matching the overflowing creativity and determination of its staff and students, and that we can share this special place with an exponentially growing student population hungry for a forum in which to discover themselves and their peers,” said Yarden.

Donations to Wolf PAC can be made at http://www.wolfperformingartscenter.org/.