WATERLOO – On July 14, the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy held the first official tours of its new facility here.
The event also featured the announcement of federal funding of over $1 million to convert an industrial warehouse into a new accessible cultural space for youth.
The funding is part of a $3 million fundraising campaign.
The new Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy plans to serve as a cultural incubator for youth throughout the Waterloo region and beyond.
The project involved renovating the donated 12,000 square feet of space and constructing rehearsal halls, classrooms, music rooms and acting studios.
Part of the federal funding will go towards constructing an exterior ramp at the academy, and building accessible washrooms at three other locations.
“It’s an investment that will go way beyond the bricks and mortar of this actual facility,” said Drayton Entertainment CEO Alex Mustakas.
“And we are so grateful for the validation of what we do and what we can provide for our community.”
Mustakas noted Drayton Entertainment has offered arts education programs to children and youth for a number of years.
Do it for the kids — David Connolly invited the kids at the event to join him at the front for his speech, stating that he does all of this for them.
With over 800 performances annually, its seven stages, plus over 400 artist contracts, full-time and part-time staff of over 180, Mustakas said its facilities have been very busy.
While acknowledging not all kids who attend the Youth Academy will go on to pursue a career in acting, he said the programs will inspire leadership, spark imagination and boost confidence in a socially aware, inclusive environment.
“One of our major goals is to advance inclusion for underrepresented groups in our industry and in our community by supporting the next generation of storytellers and theatre makers,” said Mustakas.
While introducing associate artistic director and head of the Youth Academy, David Connolly, Mustakas called him “our doctor of inspiration and kindness.”
Connolly is a director, educator and a disability and inclusion advocate. He said is deeply committed to changing the fact he is one of only two amputees who has performed on Broadway.
Along with his responsibilities at Drayton Entertainment, Connolly is an ambassador for both the War Amps child amputee program, and the Shriners Hospital for Children.
While heading onto the stage for his speech, Connolly was emotional while asking the kids who were there to join him at the front.
He said he grew up three blocks away from the academy’s current building.
“I was just like, there’s no way I’m [going to] be blocks away, because I was a disabled theatre lover who didn’t have anywhere to go,” he said.
“To be a part of this commitment to Drayton Entertainment, generational change is the biggest honour and thrill of my life.”
The Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy has welcomed 1,000 students through its doors in its short time on Parkside Drive in Waterloo.
Connolly stated the students have ranged in age from eight to 80, as they began adult classes in the spring which sold out.
Connelly told everyone at the event’s conference that Mustakas is asked nearly once a month to go and help other theatres.
But instead of expanding outwards, Connelly explained Mustakas chooses to look within and support the type of grassroots initiatives that made Drayton Entertainment what it is today.
“Thirty-three years later, we’re at this new horizon of what it means to make a difference and build community,” Connelly said.
News conference — After the tours, a news conference took place on the second level of the Youth Academy building, where Drayton Entertainment CEO Alex Mustakas announced the federal investment into the academy.
