The Performing Arts Conservatory: Youth summer showcase to highlight songs of the 70s

The Performing Arts Conservatory’s (TPAC) summer showcase is highlighting the sounds of the 70s this summer. 

The African American youth arts program is hosting its last showcase of its 13th season, “70’s Retro Rhythm: How We Got Our Groove Back!” The showcase highlights what the students have learned through performances on June 15 at Arts for Lawrence. 

“Our goal is to always help students in that age group pull all four of those perf art disciplines together to work together as a team,” Bridget Townsend, co-founder and executive director of TPAC. “It’s really teaching them skills on discipline but also understanding how what you do impacts another teen, and so we all work together to produce a really amazing production.” 

Created by Bridget and Robert Townsend, TPAC is cultivated around youth development and has come alongside young Black artists in the community since 2012. TPAC programming runs August through June alongside the school year for students grades 6-12, and covers all four performing arts disciplines: vocal, instrumental, dance and drama.  

The showcases at the end of each season, however, are designed to demonstrate to parents and supporters the growth during the season. 

Everything their students learn is designed to advance their artistic skills and also show them how to work together as a team and prepare them for other areas of their lives — such as college programs, job interviews or even cooking classes, Bridget Townsend said. 

“It adds extra flavor to the lives of these students … we find that it goes beyond the performing arts and just our organization,” Bridget Townsend said. “We like to say we’re a small organization producing big results but … the goal here is total youth development and how can we enhance these lives so that they become amazing adults.” 

Each year, the senior students are tasked with selecting the theme and name of the season closer based on their current interests and what messaging they want to deliver, Bridget Townsend said. This year, the students have chosen the music of the 1970s. 

READ MORE:  Indiana Historical Society summer concert series returns May 15 

“70’s Retro Rhythm: How We Got Our Groove Back!” comes in response to the students feeling like they lost their luster after the pandemic, Bridget Townsend said. The showcase features lively, upbeat and fun musical performances, including artists such as The Dramatics, Kool & The Gang, Aretha Franklin and Sly and the Family Stone. 

“I knew that I wanted to do something that had bold sound,” Shortridge High School senior Cerista Johnson said. “I’m just happy that I’m able to do something that I got to pick. Previous seniors got to pick the show, and I always wanted to be able to have that experience.” 

For her last showcase, Johnson said she wanted to feature “rich and cultural music,” though she didn’t know that would be 70s at first.  

Johnson joined TPAC in sixth grade, discovering her love of music through her church’s choir. She grew up on The Temptations and Gladys Knight and other “oldies,” so when the senior students came together as a collective, Johnson said 70s had that bold sound she was looking to express. 

“A lot of music where we are today, present music, is representative of the past. Like, Beyonce and a lot of big pop stars, this is where their music originated from,” Johnson said. “I knew that this was gonna be my last show, so I wanted to go out and represent and go out with a bang but also honor where I came from.” 

The showcase features a lot of medleys throughout the 70s, from Philly Sound to Motown, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. 

However, the music of the 70s is not as simple as it sounds, and can often be very difficult, Robert Townsend said. Audiences can expect to see — and hopefully appreciate — how the students not only learned the harmonies in various types of songs but also studied different genres of music and art disciplines.  

“These are often not taught a lot of other places, and as a part of our culture, I think it’s important for us to continue to share our culture,” Robert Townsend said. “We are an oral people, so this is like a perfect way to do it.” 

Being able to step into a room and say, “Yes, I can sing opera, I can sing gospel,” is super important and opens the doors for more opportunities as an artist, Johnson added. “That’s what I’ve learned throughout TPAC, and I’m very grateful for everything that I’ve learned here.” 

“70’s Retro Rhythm: How We Got Our Groove Back!” Takes place at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on June 15 at the Theatre at the Fort at Arts for Lawrence, 8920 Otis Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance, For more information, visit www.tpacindy.org.     

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.