Young people who want to learn stagecraft just got a boost.

Earlier this month, the All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre was awarded a $5,000 grant from Jackson National Life in support of its Guild Program, which trains students from 9- to 18-years-old in the arts of directing, makeup, set construction, props, costume creation, scripting, management and technical work. There are levels in the program — apprentice, journeyman and master — and kids who receive a master level certification  can become crew heads for All-of-us Express main stage shows.

“The guild program is extremely beneficial for youth who have dreams of taking on backstage craft in the real world," said All-of-us Express board president Sandi Sigworth in a press statement. "It provides them with the skill set to do so, while also enhancing their resumes and/or college applications. We are appreciative of the recent financial support of Jackson National Life, as well as the ongoing support of the Capital Region Community Foundation — both of which have helped us keep this program readily available for our youth participants.”

All-of-us Express' production of “Scheherazade: Legend of
the Arabian Nights” continues this weekend.

‘Scheherazade’
7 p.m. Friday, July 29; 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30
All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre
Hannah
Community Center
819 Abbot Rd., East Lansing
$5 for children 17 and under, and $7 for adults

(517) 333-2580

www.cityofeastlansing.com/onlineregistration