ART IMITATES LIFE MUSICAL DRAWS ON REALITY OF KIDS SURMOUNTING HARDSHIP.

Byline: Rick Coca Valley News Writer

``Nobody Runs Alone,'' a funny yet heartfelt musical by local teachers about the social challenges young people face, will open April 28 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

Created by educators and artists Henri ``Hank'' Amigo, Bob Arnold and John Balbuena, the play chronicles the life of Alone, a young man growing up in an abusive household, trying to steer the straight and narrow through a school mentoring program.

In real life, Amigo, writer and producer, and Balbuena, musical director, teach at Fair Avenue Elementary in North Hollywood. Arnold is the play's director and the former dramatic-arts teacher at Sun Valley Middle and North Hollywood High schools. He currently works as an educational consultant.

Art will definitely imitate life, as nearly all the cast members, both young and old, have participated in some way in a mentor program run by the playwrights at Fair Avenue Elementary, Sun Valley Middle and North Hollywood High schools.

Also known as ``the three amigos,'' Amigo, Arnold and Balbuena are friends and artists who have dedicated their lives to teaching, acting as role models and - more importantly, they say - getting older students and successful program graduates to act as role models in efforts to make sure students succeed.

Co-creator Amigo has taught at Fair Avenue Elementary School for 17 years. He said the older students take their roles as mentors seriously.

``There are always four or five high school kids in my class every day,'' Amigo said.

Students have gone on field trips for everything from deep-sea fishing to checking out California State University, Northridge, so they can see the different worlds and possibilities open to them. That's why Amigo spent a significant amount of the money he received from show benefactor Nick Boone of the Boone Foundation on rental fees for the El Portal Theatre.

``I wanted these kids to have the opportunity to do a professional show, to know what it feels like to be professionals,'' Amigo said.

Artur Aleksanyan, 13, a student at Sun Valley Middle School, plays lead character, Alone, when he's younger. Kevin Campos plays the character as a high school student. Aleksanyan has also participated in the mentor program.

``That's what the community needs right now,'' Aleksanyan said. ``We're growing up around strange things. People want to kill themselves. Why would you want to kill yourself? You're still young. You've got to live each day to the fullest.''

Through the program, Aleksanyan went on a field trip to North Hollywood High, where he and a group of students toured the school and saw the various activities. He also served as mentor to a younger student.

``I've always been taught, but to teach?'' Aleksanyan said. ``I like to teach, to do it in my own way, without anybody telling me what to say. I told him what you should and should not do.''

Then Aleksanyan might have inadvertently explained the program's success: ``I'm sure (the younger student) enjoyed it,'' Aleksanyan said. ``I sure did.''

``Nobody Runs Alone'' will run April 28 to May 6. Tickets: $15 and $20. For tickets and show times, call (866) 811- 4111. The El Portal Theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

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Kevin Campos and Jesenia Bernal rehearse a scene from ``Nobody Runs Alone'' at the El Portal Theatre.

Rick Coca/Valley News