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T H E AT E RPREVIEWnext generation of creative artists — whowill take the theater to the next level —pushing the envelope, having some fun. Andbringing unique audio entertainment toradio — not just music or witty banter, butsomething new and exhilarating.”“Changing Lanes Radio Theatre” airs onKSDS radio, 88.3FM, the last Sunday of everymonth at 6:30 p.m. The show is livestreamed, and all prior programs arearchived at www.jazz88.org/programs/Changing_Lanes_Radio_Theatre/. The Universitywebpage is changlinglanes.ucsd.eduTriple WhammyIn theater, a triple-threat is a multi-talentedperformer who can act, sing anddance with proficiency. And T3 TripleThreat is a nonprofit arts and education organizationdedicated to “enriching the livesof youth in need through the arts.”Morie Williams, founder of T3 Triple ThreatYouth Mentors.The founder of T3 Triple Threat YouthMentors is Morie Williams, a triple threathimself who’s spent the last 25 years doingwhat he loves, mostly on vacation cruises.“In 2003,” Williams says, “I had just finisheda cruise-line tour of South America.And in those poor countries, I saw so manyunfortunate kids. I knew I wanted to givesomething back to the youth of my owncommunity.”He started offering free classes in jazzdance, vocal coaching and acting for students10-18 years old, but all ages are welcome.He’s been running summer programs,but hopes to expand to after-school classesfor disadvantaged kids. His home base is theNorth Park Rec Center, but since 2006,thanks to two high-energy partners, T3 hasbeen offering classes in Montreal as well.“My biggest ambition,” says Williams, “isto raise funds to pay teachers and rent.” Allseven San Diego acting, singing or dancingcoaches are working on a volunteer basis, asis Williams.“They’re all professional-level performerswho come together to give back, and toshare their passion for the arts.”Right now, Williams is selling raffle ticketsfor a Holland American cruise for two.The winner will be announced on July 28.Amazingly, at a dollar a ticket, he’s well onhis way to his goal of earning $5000, as hedid last year.“I believe in the importance of the arts,”Williams says. “The things you gain —confidence, problem-solving, teamwork, camaraderie,social skills —all can be translatedinto any career.“Theater saved me,” the tirelessteacher/performer confesses. “I grew up inSan Jose, with a single parent. At 14, Iwanted to audition for the San Jose Children’sMusical Theatre (now the San JoseMusical Theatre), but when I found outMorie Williams and crew.A Triple Threat production.there was an audition fee, I was too embarrassedto tell them I didn’t have the money.A year later, my dad was doing better and Iwas able to audition — through a paymentplan. They saw something in me, and thatpropelled me forward, and helped me getinto a Performing Arts high school.“I can’t preach enough to parents thevalue of the arts,” says Williams. “It’s helpedme travel around the world. Of course, a lotof ‘No Thank You’s’ come with the territory.I teach the kids: Prepare Yourself, KeepStriving, Don’t Quit, and Lady Luck mayshine on you. It’s a powerful journey of selfdevelopmentand self-awareness that I loveto share.”Information on T3 Triple Threat and its ‘Pay-as-You-Wish’ classes can be obtained atT3triplethreat.com or 619-SUNARTS (786-2778).Pat Launer, long known as “the voice of theaterin San Diego,” is an Emmy Award-winningarts writer and theater critic who’swritten for newspapers, magazines, radio, TVand online. Her theater reviews can beheard weekly on KSDS-FM, and she writesregularly for Patch.com.Pat has been named aLiving Legacy by theWomen’s InternationalCenter. www.patteproductions.com2 7 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y 1 9 8 5 - 2 0 1 2 | J U LY 2 0 1 2 | S A N D I E G O M E T R O . C O M2 7