Other News - Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts

Performing Arts founder named for Jefferson Award

BY RON BROWN

MEDFORD, Ore. -- When school budgets get tight, often the first things cut are arts programs...music, art, and theatre. A Medford man with an extensive background in theatre and film was one of those cut loose from a public school arts program a few years ago, and is now leading hundreds of Southern Oregon kids to an on-stage experience.

"We want to teach them what theatre is about in the sense of the process of theatre," says Jeff Tabler. "What it takes to put on a show. We want to educate them about theatre. And that includes history of theatre."

For 8 years now, Tabler has been working to make theatre an experience for as many Southern Oregon kids as possible. His Oregon Conservatory of Performing Arts brings in kids in age from 6 to 18 and teaches them all about the performing arts. But he says that isn't all they learn.

"They also learn something about themselves. They build their self-confidence. They learn about teamwork. And all of that helps them in their school setting or in their community. Makes them feel better about themselves," he adds.

When OCPA was first founded, many schools had arts programs that have since been cut back, or totally cut out. To fill the gap, OCPA will have four camps this Summer in which students will produce and perform a stage program, from "20th Century Broadway" to "Romeo and Juliet." And that means some people with Oregon Shakespeare Festival experience will be helping out. He even hopes to eventually have a children's festival for Shakespeare.

He also says the arts should have a higher priority in public schools. He laments, "It is so sad to see that our budgets in schools have been sliced and the first things to go are some of the arts. It's too bad because the arts do help kids in the long run."

And he says he's in it for the long run as well. "It's tough. It's a challenge. But I like it. And I enjoy it. And when you see the outcome at the end, you just want to keep doing it. And keep doing it. And keep doing it, you're so gratified."

Tabler's newest project is to help form a Latino theatre group at Eagle Point High School.

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