b'at that beautiful, diverse communitywith a Broadway counterpart. Some of Join Our Brick Campaigncome together on stage, you say, Whyitsshowsmatchprofessionalactors & Leave a Legacy of Supportcant we do this? with pre-professional understudies or for Maplewoods New Library Butchangingtheworldthroughcast members. And VTC Next focuses casting and staging is just one aspect ofondiversifyingtheaterstraditional Order Your Personalized Brick Now Through Oct. 15 atVanguards mission. The ultimategatekeepers by training a diverse https://www.maplewoodlibraryfoundation.orgpurpose of Vanguard is togroupofyoungwriters, diversifyallaspectsClarkproducers, composers, ofmusicaltheaterobjectstothedirectors, and stage through a robustterm colorblind cast- managers. educationaling. She says the world isThroughout program. theyearthe Infact,not colorblind. Instead, she de- company also Clarkwasliberately casts certain charac- runsacting nominatedters, not just to give young actorsclassesfor fora2022of color a chance to shine in lotsstudents;it Tony for artsofdistinctroles,buttobringdoesitsbest educationbe- to make those cause so muchtheaudiencefacetofaceclassesafford-ofwhatVan- withitsprejudicesandableandpro-guarddoesisfo- assumptions.videsscholarships cused on opening theto those who need it. industry to underservedItsthree-weeksummer students.Thetheaterrunsastock sleep away camp, for in-mentoringprogram,BroadwayBud- stance, costs $3500, half of what other dy, that pairs 30 up-and-coming actorssuch camps cost. At the same time, it (Top) Vanguard Theater Production of Spit Fire Grill, Spotlights Photography. (Above) Vanguard Theater Production of Passing Strange.22/ matters magazine / school 2023'