Theater
Mazda was always able to put it on more stable ground
through fundraising efforts.
“The big problem was back then no one knew
Long Island City existed,” Mazda said. “We did a lot to
improve access to cultural activities in the neighbor-hood
through the Secret Theatre and the LIC Arts
Open which will return for its 10th year in May. We’re
trying to go gangbusters this year and make it a real
celebration.”
In addition to providing performance space for
plays, musicals, dance, music, opera, film, classes,
rehearsals, art openings, parties, and film festivals,
Mazda launched The Secret Theatre Academy for
children ages 6 to 17 in 2010.
“After giving access to thousands of artists through
the years we were able to become the biggest theater
school in the borough, and the only theater school in
an actual theater,” Mazda said. “We have 70 to 80 kids
each semester and in then we have eight weeks of
summer camp for a couple of hundred kids.”
Young performers build confidence and begin
to develop skills as stage actors and performers
through classes such as musical theater, Broad-way
musical theater and Broadway tap dance, and
drama theater.
“We also provide individual coaching for those
of our students preparing them for prestigious
performing arts schools,” Mazda said. “So it’s the
10th year of the Academy and the 10th year of the
LIC Arts Open, I guess you could call it a decade
of cultural activity.”