Lights, camera, action! ArtSpeak! is coming to the CHS auditorium Nov.17. The event, which is organized and led by students enrolled in the CHS Advanced Acting and Directing class, is completely free and open to the community. It is geared towards students and parents in the community. ArtSpeak! brings performers from TV, movies, Broadway, or music to MCPS schools to make them accessible to the community. “It’s such a cool, intimate event with huge performers who come to speak,” Drama teacher Naomi Ratz said. The event was created 20 years ago by Dr. Mark Shugoll, who founded ArtSpeak! to share his love of theater with young people. “We want students to want to go to the theater,” Shugall said. “We hope by meeting theater stars, CHS students will want to go see live theater themselves.” Some notable guest speakers from past ArtSpeak! events include Emmy nominated actress Patti Lupone and Tony-nominated actor Robert Fairchild. This year’s speakers are actors Santino
Fontana and his wife Jessica Fontana. The couple acted together in the 2013 broadway musical Cinderella. Jessica Fontana played Cinderella in the smash-hit musical, while Santino played Prince Charming and was nominated for a Tony award for his performance. Santino Fontana has appeared on TV playing a lead role in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and is behind the talking and singing voices of Prince Hans in the Disney animated movie Frozen. According to Shugall and Ratz, the performers typically perform and then answer audience questions such as their most embarrassing moments on stage and what their lives and relationships are like in shows and film. According to Santino and Jessica Fontana, they are very excited to meet CHS students and talk about what it’s like to perform across the country. “We love what we do and want to share it with students,” the Fontanas said. “It is so important for students to develop a love for theater and the arts. We are going to do it in a fun way.” The Advanced Acting and Directing class will promote, organize and run ArtSpeak! According to junior and Advanced Acting and Directing student Bobby Morris, he is very excited about the opportunities that ArtSpeak! will give CHS fine arts students. “[ArtSpeak!] opens an opportunity for students to really get a feel of an industry they are interested in, first hand from a professional,” Morris said. ArtSpeak! will occur on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.