From: Vol. 1, Issue 3, February 22-28, 2008



By Mark Garcia

Dana Point Times



South Orange County School of the Arts gives students skills to work in the show business and arts industries



They’ve appeared on television, Broadway and the big screen. They’re working in New York, Hollywood, Atlantic City and everywhere else in between. They’re singing backup for Rihanna, acting in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and dancing in The Lion King musical.



Who are they?



They’re all graduates of the South Orange County School of the Arts, a visual and performing arts academy within Dana Hills High School that caters to students throughout Capistrano Unified School District. Launched in 1996, the school offers a variety of programs including dance, drama, musical theater, vocal music, production/design and visual arts, and currently has an enrollment of more than 400 students.



“It’s basically a school within a school,” said SOCSA Foundation President Alan Wickstrom.



Or more like a college within a school. Students are offered numerous classes in their “major,” which are worked around their core classes—history, English, math, etc. Students in dance classes can even receive physical education credits. In addition, students are required to audition, produce and perform in their respective field. “We give kids the education, outlet and platform that are critical for them to become whatever they want to be for the rest of their lives,” said Wickstrom.



Indeed. Maybe the best indicator of how successful the program is is by the number of alumni who are currently employed or enrolled in a top-notch arts school. SOCSA alums are working in plays, theaters, television and movies, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.



Among its top alumni is Clark McClanathan. If Scott Covington is considered the top football player to come out of Dana Hills, then McClanathan is SOCSA’s equivalent.

McClanathan, a 2003 SOCSA/Dana Hills grad, is currently a theater major at USC but recently was an actor in the last two Pirates of the Caribbean movies. He was a core pirate and had scenes with Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom. He also directed a film that ran at the Newport Beach Film Festival.



McClanathan says SOCSA played a vital role in his theatrical development. “Going through the program confirmed for me what I wanted to do with my life,” said McClanathan. “I love acting, and SOCSA gave me the confidence and the belief that if I stay in the industry, I have the tools and knowledge so that everything will be all right.”



And Joey Richter, a 2007 SOCSA/Dana Hills grad who’s currently enrolled at the University of Michigan’s fine arts department, hopes to take a similar path. “They’re all doing what they love to do,” Richter said. According to Wickstrom, Richter is well on his way. Last year, Richter was the winner of the MACY (Music and Art Commendation for Youth) Comedian of the Year award, which goes to the top high school comedian in Orange County. “He will be on Saturday Night Live someday,” said Wickstrom.



Richter credits SOCSA—and specifically founder Robb Rigg—for giving him the skills to be successful. “SOCSA is great because it gave us the opportunity to think out of the box,” Richter said. “Mr. Rigg was awesome in helping us develop a sense of independence and helping us to be creative.”



And Rigg says the purpose of SOCSA was to give the knowledge and the skills to students who wanted to succeed in the arts. “Athletes specialize,” Rigg said, “so why can’t art students?”



Those skills have proved helpful for many SOCSA graduates as they move on to various colleges and fine arts schools. “My lab teachers love me because I know what they’re talking about and I take charge,” said Brandon Hughes, a 2005 SOCSA/Dana Hills grad who now attends Full Sail University in Orlando, Fla. “I feel I’m one step ahead of my classmates because of [SOCSA].”



If SOCSA graduates seem to have an advantage as they head into the real world, it’s probably because of the amount of time and effort they put in at SOCSA. There’s no doubt these students work—and work hard. Along with their regular five to six classes, some students take one, two or even three more classes after school, which are scheduled either on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays.



“The kids in SOCSA are a different breed of high school student,” said Lamasa, a 2003 SOCSA/Dana Hills graduate. “We put in a ridiculous amount of hours. I don’t remember many days that I spent less than 10 hours at the school.”



Dana Point’s Keely Ahrold—a dance and theater major—begins her day at 5:30 a.m. and usually doesn’t get home until 6:30 p.m. “The days are long, but it’s worth it,” she said. “All this work is going to help me get into college.”



Ahrold, who aspires to be a Radio City Rockette, said SOCSA has taught her just how competitive the arts industry can be. “You would be surprised of just how much of a dog-eat-dog world it is,” she said. “But the teachers at SOCSA have engrained in my mind that sometimes you just have to accept what happens, learn from the experience and move on.” 



Make no bones about it, at SOCSA the top actors and dancers get lead roles, and the best artisans are displayed. Competition is certainly encouraged. “We don’t play favorites,” said Ray Woods, artistic director at SOCSA. “If you’re not the best, you don’t get in. We’ll find other avenues for a student to participate—if they want—but you have to be the best, that’s why our performances are award winning.”



Last year, SOCSA won a Rotary Club competition for Best Musical Theater in Orange County, and in 2006, the program won 28 MACYs awards. Over the years, SOCSA has also won numerous Cappies (Critics and Awards Program) Awards. “The arts programs here at Dana Hills are phenomenal, and the productions are the best in the state,” said Dana Hills Principal Rob Nye. “As a high school principal, my job is to give kids as many options as they want to get them interested in school.



If that’s through the arts, then we’re going to do it.”



Wickstrom added one of the main reasons for SOCSA’s success has been Woods, who was recently recognized by Arts Orange County as Outstanding Arts Educator of the year.



“Under Ray’s leadership, the SOCSA program has seen tremendous growth in prestige and recognition,” said Wickstrom.



With the right guidance, the students and graduates of SOCSA are proving the bright lights of Hollywood and Broadway are not that far away from Dana Point.