June 13, 2007

Media Contact
Lourdes Rodriguez-Barrera
NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309
954-445-1287 (mobile)
rodrlour@nova.edu

Beginning in June, an impressive array of pre-teens and teenagers from around the country, Sweden and China will be working passionately to create, produce and perform what will be the culmination of an intense three-week creative arts workshop series.

The Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts, based out of Nova Southeastern University, will premier original musical theater productions from young artists in its Festival of New Works, June 28 through 30 on the NSU Campus.

Hosted by Nova Southeastern University, this event showcases the creative genius of children from around the world who, over the span of three weeks, conceptualize, write, compose, choreograph, produce and finally perform their own original musical theatre production.

Lovewell Junior, for children ages 9 through 13 and the Lovewell Teen Workshops, for students ages 13 though 18, will each offer live performances June 28-30 on the following dates:

 Lovewell Junior Performances:

Thursday, June 28 at the New Convocation Center located in the Dauer Middle School of University School of NSU 

• 1 p.m. (featuring a special performance by Camp Nova Students participating in the Lovewell Institute;
• 7 p.m. Lovewell Junior participants perform

Saturday, June 30

• 2 p.m. Lovewell Junior participants perform

Lovewell Teen Workshops

All performances held at the NSU’s Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center

• Friday, June 29 and Saturday June 30 at 7 p.m.

The Lovewell Method is a unique, proprietary approach to fostering collaboration and enhancing human interaction to create a theatrical production. Faced with the challenge of creating a musical theatre production, each session begins with students, professional staff, counselors in training and a blank slate. The staff guides the students through the rough waters of bringing order out of chaos, meaning out of data, and resolution out of random events. The themes, characters, dialogue, plot, music, lyrics, designs and dances are generated directly from the imagination, experiences, and craftsmanship of the student participants. The Lovewell Method stresses creative problem solving, critical thinking and provides training in team building, organization and leadership, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and vocational skills building.

During its 20 years of existence, The Lovewell Institute for the Creative Arts ("Lovewell") has developed over forty original musical theatre productions and videos through annual summer workshops and a variety of after school programs in partnership with a number of organizations, including Nova University school, Kinkoping Sweden Community, Boca Raton's Promise, Boys Girls Clubs, the YMCA, the Salina (Kansas) Public Schools, Florida Keys Community College, and Donna Klein Jewish Academy. Students from across the United States and Europe have participated in Lovewell's programs. As a result of this process, Lovewell has accumulated a vast amount of experience and information regarding the power of the Arts to educate, transform, build and harmonize our communities.

Nova Southeastern University is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeast, and it is the 6th largest independent institution nationally. NSU awards associate's, bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, doctoral, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields. The university is comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional schools of osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, optometry, allied health and nursing, medical sciences, dental medicine, law, marine biology and oceanography, business and entrepreneurship, computer and information sciences, humanities, conflict resolution, family therapy, interdisciplinary studies, education, psychology and counseling, and family programs.