Here, you can learn more about Illuminations, Guggenheim Entertainment's non-profit division.

The Philosophy
ILLUMINATIONS is a distinguished agency that blends "pure" performing arts, supportive social services and youth education. ILLUMINATIONS created this unique combination to provide hands-on educational services and artistic opportunities to deliver socially relevant contemporary performances to young audiences and their families. Through the content of its plays, ILLUMINATIONS addresses the needs of children in school-age audiences and their families, particularly those at-risk.

Range and Focus of Services
ILLUMINATIONS emerged in 1986 in response to community interest in dramatic arts education for its children. Since its inception, ILLUMINATIONS has performed for over 1,000,000 students. Today ILLUMINATIONS is recognized nationally as an important educational theater company dedicated to providing quality theater for its audiences.

ILLUMINATIONS' mission develops future theatre-going audiences by presenting quality programs to a variety of young people on a community-wide basis. In fact, ILLUMINATIONS will be the first live theater that many of the young people will experience. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously. We strive to address, through the content of our plays, the needs of children, particularly "at-risk," under-represented, and culturally diverse school-age audiences and their families. Realizing the importance of remaining sensitive to the needs of an ever changing audience base, ILLUMINATIONS is committed to the continued recruitment of staff and volunteers that represent the large and diverse communities we serve.

The goal of ILLUMINATIONS' interactive educational process is to provide our audiences with an understanding and awareness of the issues presented. When designing a program, five basic areas are taken into consideration: Self-Esteem, Valuing, Empathy, Cooperation and the Creative Factors (Fluency, Flexibility, Originality, and Elaboration). ILLUMINATIONS provides school-age children and young adults with opportunities to experience and share their feelings and to explore and develop their creative/artistic talents and potentialities through drama education. We encourage our audiences to share their feelings and to ask questions to find reasons and stimulate thinking. Our role is to promote discussion, not to preach a course of action. Through our productions, ILLUMINATIONS facilitates social change and promotes individual creativity. Using a variety of drama techniques and multi-media approaches, ILLUMINATIONS empowers children with new communications and problem-solving skills, thereby assisting them in developing higher self-esteem.

The Program
Dedicated to providing quality theatre experiences for young people and families, ILLUMINATIONS operates two programs designed to meet the ongoing needs of youth and their families.

Family Theatre & Student Matinee Series Entertainment is the key to the program for young audiences and families. A cast of professional adults perform each play which is specifically designed to encourage greater awareness and concern of issues by promoting discussion. ILLUMINATIONS uses an array of theatrical techniques and production styles, so education and entertainment are performed in unison.

The Family Theatre Series is designed to entertain and educate audiences by introducing them to classical and contemporary theatre. These performances are produced for the general public with weekdays devoted to field trip opportunities for school children.

The Drama & Education Wing:

The Touring Program
ILLUMINATIONS has a twelve year history of touring to schools reaching over 1,000,000 students, with a fully supported and comprehensive service, ILLUMINATIONS provides educational theatre experience to children, adolescents, and adults. The program encompasses all of the following: performances, classroom visits, interactive workshops, teacher in-service training, learning guides, community activity packets, consumer health lessons, and peer education/leadership training as a means to educating children through theatre. We enhance curriculum already in place. We believe that theatre reaches children on a deeper and more satisfying level than a textbook and that emotionally effecting a child through dramatic performance can help them appreciate and understand other points of view. There are two main components to this program:

Literature, History, & Science Enhancement Programs
This project portrays important historical periods, brings to life math, science, and health concepts, or reenacts well-known works of literature to stimulate existing teaching strategies. Interaction between the audience and the actors is encouraged; consequently, education and entertainment go hand-in-hand.

Prevention & Education Programs
This innovative program augments and enhances the existing programs already in place within the schools. These performances are designed specifically to educate and to inspire thought on contemporary issues. The productions often include multi-media techniques that combine large screen video, live action drama, and pre- and post- show discussions. Of the 1,000,000 students ILLUMINATIONS has served since 1986, more than 70% of these pupils have viewed the prevention education programs. ILLUMINATIONS developed and implemented the award winning Together for Peace and Together Tobacco Free programs in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. ILLUMINATIONS extensive experience in bringing high quality health prevention and issue oriented theater productions to students all over California, has proven to be both an effective and extremely cost efficient way of affecting students. Annual per student cost is estimated to be $1.07/person.

Community School for the Visual & Performing Arts
Low cost workshops which emphasize creative self-discovery through music, theater arts, dance, and visual arts, are provided to its participants. Through apprentice programs, summer training conservatory programs, school year drama and education programs, parks and recreation programs, and the acquiring of basic theater skills, participants discover their own creativity.

In-School Drama & Education Program
Interaction of teacher, student and parent in a school setting is the goal of this program. Workshops provide a method to self-exploration where enhancement of personal skills in communication and imagination prosper. Professional educators, working with ILLUMINATIONS, enter each school and introduce aspects of theater to children who may never have the opportunity to experience or learn about the arts were it not for ILLUMINATIONS.

By providing the general public with professionally produced plays and musicals, ILLUMINATIONS promotes discussion, stimulates thought and interest, and inspires curiosity whether it is into the culture depicted, other writings by the author or playwright, the style of theatre used in that particular production, or a discussion of relevant family issues. It is the creation of interactive learning environments coupled with high-quality theatrical techniques and innovative styles that makes ILLUMINATIONS the most compelling theatre in this region.

In short, ILLUMINATIONS provides valuable, cost-efficient, cultural and educational services to its host communities. Enlightenment and education through interaction and entertainment help ILLUMINATIONS continue to be successful. ILLUMINATIONS stresses the presentation of an issue-oriented play and integration of the existing curricula. It is important that the curricula involve the educator, the students, their families, and the community.