Students learning the joys of theater arts
NONPROFIT: 'Life is a Circus' program offers middle school youth life skills, teamwork.
By Cindy Von Quednow, Staff Writer 

Chrisanto Carrillo, 15-years-old, spins a plate on a stick during a Enrichment Works "Life is a Circus" session at Sepulveda Middle School in North Hills Wednesday, July 14, 2010. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)

At 14, Ivanna Felix is just learning that life can be a circus. Fortunately, she's also acquiring the skills to help her cope.

Felix and a dozen other students are participating in "Life is a Circus," a summer program offered by the nonprofit Enrichment Works that promotes education through the theater arts.

"I'd (otherwise) be at home doing absolutely nothing, but here I can spin a plate, which I never knew I could do," said Felix, who will be attending Van Nuys High School in the fall.

In addition to learning how to use various props and even the skills needed in clowning, participants are offered techniques for relating their circus experience to real life: For instance, my teacher is like a lion tamer, always cracking a whip and ordering students around.

"We use circus acts to teach life skills," said Donna Wood-Babcock, a graduate of Ringling Brothers Clown College who is leading the summer program. "The objective isn't to create circus stars, it is an engaging tool to get kids to learn about teamwork."

For the third straight year, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has selected “Food For Thought,” for performances in its network of elementary schools

For the fourth straight year Enrichment Works has been selected as an Arts Education Grant recipient by Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe.

"Jay Johnson: The Two and Only," conceived, directed and produced by Board Members Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel, has won the 2005-2006 Ovation Award for Best Solo Performance. The prize, given by the LA Stage Alliance, was for the current Broadway show's run at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. A previous engagement of the master ventriloquist's show at the Brentwood Theatre was the scene of an Enrichment Works benefit performance in January.

Catholic Healthcare West & Network for a Healthy California Support

Catholic Healthcare West has awarded Enrichment Works $18,000 to provide nutrition assemblies and classroom visits to LAUSD elementary schools in the West Valley under the Northridge Hospital Medical Center's Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Initiative. 

Debt-Free America Sponsors 10 Shows

VALLEY GLEN, California. -- April 1, 2008 -- “The Money Mon$ter,” an original musical that takes the fear out of personal finance, will be presented at 10 Los Angeles Unified School District after school programs in April and May thanks to a $5,000 grant from Debt-Free America, a nonprofit credit counseling and debt management service.

"A Doggone Musical" and "Food For Thought 2" Perform

Actors from two Enrichment Works musicals performed selections from their shows at the first annual Valley Community Fair held at Grant High School on September 28th.