Keep the arts alive

To the Santa Ynez Union Valley High School Theater Group, Jeff McKinnon, and the cast of To See The Stars, thank you so much for one of the most incredible evenings of high school theater we have ever enjoyed. Your production was well staged, and the performance of the actors, as demonstrated in their concentrated commitment to tell the truth of the story, was at a higher level than often experienced in high school theater.

The director, Jeff McKinnon, should be commended on his choice of material and the manner in which he inspired the actors to bring history to life. This production reminds us of the importance of the arts, teaching history, the humanities, and language. This timeless story of prejudice, repression, and the human spirit to stand up for progressive change and human rights was expressed in a live, believable, theatrical performance.

Thank you to all the artists involved, on stage and behind the scenes. Let’s keep the arts alive!

This article appears in Dec 22-29, 2016.