July 1, 2007

LifeHouse Theater Scholarship boosts budding actor
By Michel Nolan, Staff Writer

Adam Hunt is a young man with many faces.

Faces framed by wigs and heavy with stage makeup - Ebeneezer Scrooge, Linus from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz," a dwarf from "Snow White."

In May, all that hair and makeup paid off for the 18-year-old from Highland.

Adam, who just graduated from Redlands East Valley High School, was awarded a $1,000 LifeHouse Theater Scholarship to pursue a career in the arts.

"Acting is really what I want to do. My dream is to move to New York City and be on Broadway," says Adam, who performed in a variety of community theater productions beginning with the Junior University production of "Snow White" when he was in the eighth grade.

"That was my first big part," he says. "It opened up a whole new world to me. Ever since I played the dwarf, many career options have opened up, but in the back of my mind I thought about acting."

Adam already has an acting job with Disney while preparing to major in theater at Cal State Fullerton this fall.

He was hired at Disneyland in February to play various characters. He was one of 12 hired out of 800 people who auditioned.

The Scholarship Award was presented May 21 by LifeHouse founder and President Wayne Scott.

"We are pleased and proud to present our scholarship award to this accomplished young man," Wayne says.

"Adam's numerous stage credits around the Inland Empire point to a bright future in the theatrical arts. He is a very personable and dynamic young man that we've had the privilege of having in a number of our productions."

Wayne adds, "We saw right out of the starting gate he was going to be a talent to be reckoned with wherever he chooses to go."

Since joining the LifeHouse Theater group, 2<MD+,%30,%55,%70>1/<MD-,%0,%55,%70>2 years ago, Adam says he's found Wayne to be a great mentor, knowledgeable and talented.

"He's the one you turn to when you need help," Adam says.

The $1,000 LifeHouse Theater Scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors or college underclassmen who demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in the arts and who have also shown he or she embraces the values and mission of LifeHouse Theater.

The award was first presented last year to Colton High School graduate Joshua Lomeli, who was subsequently admitted to the highly competitive and prestigious UC Berkeley theater program. Joshua was recently awarded a full college scholarship by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Applicants for the award must have participated in at least one LifeHouse Theater production.

Information and qualifications for the award, as well as an online application, can be found at the LifeHouse Theater Web site, www.lifehousetheater.com.

Call (909) 335-3037, ext. 21.