TOM TITUS -- Theater

Six months ago Daunielle Hauser, a 20-year-old drama student at Orange

Coast College, had no idea what she wanted to be when she grew up. Today

she has a worthwhile project to which she intends to dedicate the rest of

her life.

Daunielle will leave in September to become the first American student

to be accepted into the Community Arts Program at the prestigious

Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. The school provides

educational and performance facilities for music, drama and dance.

But when she graduates in 2004, Daunielle won’t be heading for

Broadway or London’s West End to seek fame and fortune. Rather, she’ll be

returning to OCC to help bring the arts to the less fortunate of Orange

County.

“I want to dedicate my life to this,” says Daunielle, a bubbly redhead

with enough inherent energy to light up several stages. “The arts provide

people with the freedom to express themselves, but many people don’t have

access to them.”

She’s thinking of underprivileged children, the elderly and even those

incarcerated in jails and prisons. Her mission will be to bring theater,

music and dance -- along with a sense of self-worth -- to people in these

circumstances.

“I remember what dancing did for my self-confidence as a young girl,”

she says. “I want to be able to help other kids enjoy this experience.”

Daunielle credits her OCC theater instructor, Rick Golson, with

steering her in the direction she’s chosen to take her life. Golson gave

her the Liverpool Institute’s brochure and, as she says, “I knew

instantly it was the place for me.”

There is an Orange Coast connection with the Liverpool school founded

by Paul McCartney on the site of the former Beatle’s old school, which

was built in 1825. A former OCC theater student and teacher, Donna

Soto-Morettini, is head of the Liverpool school’s acting program, and two

years ago she staged interviews, auditions and workshops for the

institute on the OCC campus.

“It’s a great school,” Golson remarked. “I felt it was a perfect fit

for Daunielle’s talents and aspirations.”

“My intention is to build a bridge across the cultural divide,”

Daunielle declares. “The arts can break down ethnic, racial, cultural and

socioeconomic barriers. People don’t need to speak the same language to

communicate to one another in dance, music or mime.”

A dancer since the age of 4, Daunielle has appeared in such OCC

productions as “The Little Prince” and “Eastern Standard,” as well as

doing “a lot of tech” as a backstage volunteer. She hopes to bring the

artistic life she’s enjoyed to people who otherwise would have no access

to it.

“Right now, there’s no college or university in this nation doing

that,” she declares. “The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is

cutting edge. My dream is to return home and set up a similar program at

OCC. It would be awesome to establish a community arts curriculum on

Orange Coast College’s campus.”

As she prepares for her big trip across the pond, two things fill her

with apprehension -- the Liverpudlian accent, which is hard for even

Londoners to understand, and the gloomy English weather. “I hear it’s

pretty dreary there year-round, but I’ll get used to it.”

There’s one other formidable obstacle in her path -- money. It will

cost her about $24,000 a year for tuition, air fare, books, supplies,

room, board and living expenses.

Daunielle is on a fund-raising mission to finance her education. She

received a $500 OCC theater scholarship this spring, and will put that

toward her college fund. She also has solicited several service clubs for

donations.

“I’ve been contacting foundations and arts patrons for their help as

well, and have received some support,” she says. “But time is running

out, and I still have lots of work to do before I leave.”

Those wishing to lend a financial hand can contact Golson at (714)

432-5640, Ext. 6.

For Daunielle, attending LIPA is a dream come true. “I’ve always had a

deep love for the arts,” she declares, “and I have a passion for people.”

* TOM TITUS writes about and reviews local theater for the Daily

Pilot. His stories appear Thursdays and Saturdays.