The College of Performing Arts presents American Celebration

Greetings from the College of Performing Arts (CoPA)! This is one of the busiest time of the year for us as we recently presented the 28th Annual American Celebration, a staged live song-and-dance show starring Chapman students. This two night extravaganza is the university’s major fundraiser directly benefiting student scholarships. This year, over $2.2 million was raised!

American Celebration is a fully produced show with costumes, scenery, lights and a professional orchestra. Auditions occur the first week of the fall semester and are open to students of all disciplines and majors. It is a non-stop thrill ride of fun and hard work!

In just three short weeks, students learn music, choreography and staging and perform in front of a live audience! It’s a lot of work in addition to classes and regular school work but well worth it!

It is one of the most collaborative events at the university with over 100 students participating on and offstage. It is a chance for students to work with the highly talented CoPA faculty and working professionals in the entertainment industry.

This year, students performed numbers from Annie, Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Mamma Mia, Man of La Mancha, and Les Misérables. It is a great way for students to get involved, give back to the community and make some great friends!

To watch the webcast from American Celebration 2009, click here. To learn more about the College of Performing Arts, please visit our website at www.chapman.edu/copa.