Theatre Director GLORIA
WATTS has been helping children on the
stage for 27
years in Los Angeles. While she inherited her love
of performing from her mother, who performed in Vaudeville,
it was also an inborn talent that she shared with others.
Gloria directed many shows at Cleveland High School.
She learned about casting from her drama teacher
and planned out her future. To give performers
the ability
to shine, she planned to double cast the lead roles
in all productions she would direct.
“Performing should be fun and it should make
children feel good. Whether they’re challenged,
autistic, average or high achievers, everyone has
a talent. They
just need a place to use it,” Gloria said.
Gloria earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree with a
major in Theatre Arts in 1969 at CSUN. She also continued
her education with an AA Degree in Early Childhood
Development from Diablo Valley College.
In 1979, Gloria founded the Toddler
Theatre, Kindertheatre, and School Days Theatre at
the Jewish Community Center.
Over the years she provided training to young women
and men all over Los Angeles working as a Theatre
Arts Teacher with Welby Way Elementary, Hidden
Hills Theatre,
Bell Canyon Broadway, Round Meadow Elementary,
Bay Laurel Elementary, Oak Hills Elementary, Yuerba
Buena
Elementary, Media Creek Middle School, Canyon Club
Theatre, St. Mel’s School, and St. Francis
Xavier School.
Gloria’s legacy will live on
as the child performers she directed share their love
of acting,
singing,
and dancing with the next generation.
|
