Nearly ten years ago, a teenaged Sunday School teacher partnered with Oceanside Christian Fellowship’s (OCF) Worship Director to battle a well know nemesis in the world of theatre: the cheesy church drama. Dissatisfied with most of the Christian scripts available for church performances, Rebekah Hellerman and Margy Emmons began writing their own musical productions. OCF Youth Theatre was born. Over the years the program morphed from an alternative Christmas production to a full-fledged youth arts program where kids ages 6-18 had numerous opportunities to explore the arts within the safety of a church environment where directors and choreographers cared deeply for each individual child.
Each summer, Rebekah would return home from college to direct a musical. OCF Youth Theatre sponsored four successful Summer Theatre Camps, produced well-known family musicals such as Oliver! and Beauty and the Beast, and participated in outreach in inner-city Los Angeles. With its program doubling in numbers in two short years, Rebekah sensed the need for a year round program where youth could participate in the arts in a safe and nurturing environment. Families who had no connection to OCF Church were signing up to participate in camps and productions. Rebekah noticed the impact OCF Youth Theatre had on the youth who participated. Lives were being transformed.
Under the guidance of mentors and friends, in 2007 Rebekah founded Haven Academy of the Arts, a non-profit organization designed to carry on the traditions of OCF Youth Theatre all year long. OCF Church graciously allowed this new non-profit to use its classrooms and auditorium for rehearsals and performances. Haven opened its doors September 2008 with its first musical production, The Sound of Music. As a small, start up non-profit, the production featured 30 youth from both OCF and the local community. Haven produced three more musicals that first year and offered a K-5 art class.
Word spread quickly about this new arts program that emphasized character development. New students joined the program. Enrollment increased. Artistic and Managing Director Rebekah left teaching to work for Haven full time. Now in its third year, Haven Academy continues to thrive. Students who have found a safe place to grow and develop are inviting their friends to join in the fun. Haven’s Fall production of Annie featured 70 kids grades K-12. Students can now enroll in workshops and classes in dance, improv, and voice. Haven Academy has become what it was created to be: a haven. Haven Academy creates an environment that places special value on each individual child’s experience and nurtures both the young artist’s talent and character development.