POWERGRAMS

8 EDUCATION When kids from Tuscaloosa's McKenzie Court heard "break a leg," they expected to see someone wearing a cast and using crutches. But last summer, they learned it means good luck in the theater world, which the children had no way of knowing since they had never been to a play. As part of the Tuscaloosa Police Athletic League's (PAL) summer program, 15 youths, ages 6-18, saw "Once Upon a Mattress," a comedic retelling of the medieval fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." The unexpected treat was a gift from the Alabama Power Foundation. Led by the Tuscaloosa Police Department, PAL is a juvenile crime prevention program that brings together law enforcement officers, community volunteers and at-risk youths in a positive environment. Through PAL, kids participate in free after-school and summer educational and athletic programs at Harris-Glynn Gym. The Alabama Power Foundation helped sponsor "Once Upon a Mattress" through Theatre Tuscaloosa's Play It Forward program. Theatre Tuscaloosa provides corporate sponsors with a block of tickets they can donate to nonprofit organizations based on financial need or service to the community. The foundation chose the PAL kids, opening their eyes to a new fantasy world. "I'm so grateful to the Alabama Power Foundation for giving our kids this opportunity," said Lillie Leatherwood, director of PAL. "They were tickled by the experience because it was something different for them. They had never seen a live stage play. They got to sit close to the stage and even got to meet the characters after the play. They loved it!" Western Division Vice President Mark Crews said it was important to provide this unforgettable experience. "PAL is making a difference in many lives," Crews said. "The Alabama Power Foundation investment recognizes success and this program has positively impacted our youths. We are grateful for the efforts of Officer Leatherwood, Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson and the PAL board." Theatre Tuscaloosa established the Play It Forward corporate sponsorship following the April 27, 2011, tornado that devastated the city. It was the theater's way of rewarding first-responders and others who were involved in tornado relief. "We wanted to lift the spirits of the folks affected by the disaster and reward those who worked so hard to help the tornado victims by giving them the chance to see a show for free," said Adam Miller, Theatre Tuscaloosa managing director. "Since then, we have broadened the program to include anyone who does good in our community, or anyone who faces adversity or is working to alleviate adversity. It's an opportunity for us to recognize the blood, sweat and tears of those who work to make our community a better place to live." Miller said Play It Forward sponsors help support one production during the season with a $1,500 donation. In return, the theater provides a block of up to 75 complimentary tickets to the company's chosen nonprofit group. In addition to PAL, other local organizations that have benefited from this program include Caring Days, a day program for adults with Alzheimer's and other memory disorders, United Way of West Alabama and The Brown House, a ministry that serves underprivileged families in the West Circle community of Northport. "We are so glad that through our play, we could open doors for these kids on a world they might not otherwise have experienced," Miller said. Located on Shelton State Community College's Martin Campus, Theatre Tuscaloosa is one of the largest community theaters in Alabama. It partners with the college to provide quality theatrical performances, along with workshops and classroom instruction. The theater was formed in 1971 by the Tuscaloosa Community Players. In those early years, performers staged plays at venues around Tuscaloosa, building sets in garages and carports. Then, in 1976, the Community Players moved to their first permanent home, the historic Bama Theatre, when the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa leased the facility. The players' inaugural performance was "George Washington Slept Here." The Community Players joined forces with Shelton State and the Punch and Judy Children's Theater (sponsored by the Junior League of Tuscaloosa) in 1980, and hired an artistic director. With the growth of the Community Players over the next decade, the organization was rebranded as Theatre Tuscaloosa to reflect its transformation into a significant regional theater. Since 1998, Theatre Tuscaloosa has been producing live shows in the state-of-the-art Bean Brown Theater in the Sandra Hall Ray Fine Arts Center at Shelton State. Along with a theater designed for performances, the facility includes a scenic studio, costume shop, rehearsal hall and administrative offices. Each year, 7,500 to 10,000 people visit the theater to see a live show. More than 12,000 people, including stage managers, actors, directors, volunteers and audience members, benefit from the theater's plays and educational programs annually. With this summer's production of the musical "Grease" on July 12-21, Theatre Tuscaloosa is celebrating its 48th season of producing live plays. "The Alabama Power Foundation and our other Play It Forward sponsors are very special to us," Miller said. "As a nonprofit, we are dependent on individuals and organizations to help close the gap between expense and income. Ticket sales alone cannot cover the cost of producing high-quality plays. When corporations like Alabama Power step up, it's like a stamp of approval for our theater and what we are doing in the community." By Carla Davis FOUNDATION INTRODUCES TUSCALOOSA YOUTHS TO COMMUNITY PLAYERS Theater 101 Leatherwood took her PALs to see plays.

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