The following are the core classes in the 2010-2011 Youth Education Program. These include classes for youth (4-12) and teens (13-18).
Core classes for teenagers and youth
For more information for our season-long education program and the registration form, go to the 2010-2011 Youth Education Program page.
The programs on this page are displayed in order of their start date.
Ages: 14 – 18
Class focus: Through scripted or improvised material, students pursue a more intensive study of the craft of acting. Each session is designed to target the development of a particular skill. No previous experience necessary. Limit 14 students.
Saturdays, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Cost: $140 per session
14 instructional hours
Session I: The Young Actors’ Studio
September 11 – October 23
In a quest for theatrical truth in acting and inspired by the teachings of Stanislavsky, Lee Strasberg created techniques which became known as “the Method.” His Actors’ Studio in New York City has been considered the nation’s most prestigious acting school. Using scripted material, students will explore his techniques of relaxation, concentration, sense memory and emotion memory in order to learn how to approach a script and make the play come alive for the actor. The class will also include animal work as an entrance into physical characterization.
Instructor: Heather Snow Clark
Session II: Take The Stage
October 30 – December 18 (no class Nov 27)
Scene work is vital to the growth of an actor. Using challenging scripted monologues and scenes, students will learn to make bold choices as they develop and connect to their characters’ inner lives, discover physical characterization (how characters walk, talk and move), pursue honest relationships on stage and explore action as a way to reveal character.
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
Session III: The Play's The Thing!
January 15 – February 26
Are you afraid to audition for that Shakespearean play? Does Shakespeare just leave you intimidated? In this class students will use theatre exercises, improvisation and even music to better understand the words of one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Through the use of scenes and monologues, they will be introduced to language, character, movement and voice as they learn to bring Shakespeare’s characters to life with ease.
Instructor: Lucius Robinson
Session IV: A Company Of Playmakers
March 19 – May 14 (no class Apr 16 or 23)
Most ground-breaking, community-changing theatre and performance is made through a collaborative process. Therefore, practice and skills in this area are essential to any young artist’s education. In this class, students will complete the process of making their own piece of theatre. They will write and workshop a script together, direct together and perform together.
Instructor: PJ Maske
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Play On! SESSION 1 FULL
Ages: 8 – 9
Class focus: Students will continue to explore story dramatization but with more emphasis on group work and improvisation. No previous experience necessary. Limit 18 students.
Wednesdays 4:30 – 5:45 PM, or Saturdays, 10:45 AM – 12 Noon
Cost: $95 per session
8.75 instructional hours
Wednesday Session I: Fairytale Rewind FULL
4:30 – 5:45 PM
September 8 – October 20
Students will create and act out the other side of the story as well known fairytale and nursery rhyme characters such as the Big Bad Wolf, Cinderella’s Step Sisters, Red’s Grandma and that cow who jumped over the moon put the story on rewind and play them from their point of view.
Instructor: Martie Todd Sirois
Wednesday Session II: Myth, Magic and Mystery
4:30 – 5:45 PM
October 27 – December 15 (no class Nov 24)
Students will create and act out tales of wonderment as they travel to magnificent places such as Mt. Olympus, Wonderland, Narnia and Never Land.
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Wednesday Session III: Character Safari
4:30 – 5:45 PM
January 12 – February 23
Students will create exiting stories with believable characters as they explore fun story environments such as the jungle, the school, TV, outer space, under the sea and even
under the bed!
Instructor: Martie Todd Sirois
Wednesday Session IV: Upside Down Inside Out Wacky Tales
4:30 – 5:45 PM
March 16 – May 4 (no class April 20)
Using Sideways Stories from Wayside School as inspiration, students will create their own zany characters and stories!
Instructor: Martie Todd Sirois
Saturday Session I: Fairytale Rewind FULL
10:45 AM – 12 Noon
September 11 – October 23
Instructor: Susan Meyer
Saturday Session II: Myth, Magic and Mystery
10:45 AM – 12 Noon
October 30 – December 18 (no class November 27)
Instructor: Susan Meyer
Saturday Session III: Character Safari
10:45 AM – 12 Noon
January 15 – February 26
Instructor: Susan Meyer
Saturday Session IV: Upside Down Inside Out Wacky Tales
10:45 AM – 12 NOON
March 19 – May 14 (no class April 16 or 23)
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Creative Drama
Ages: 6 – 7
Class focus: Students will explore skills needed to bring a story to life such as concentration, movement, pantomime, voice, dialogue and characterization. No previous experience necessary. Limit 18 students.
Wednesdays 4:30 – 5:30 PM, or Saturdays, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Cost: $90 per session
7 instructional hours
Wednesday Session I: Stories Alive!
4:30 – 5:30 PM
September 8 – October 20
Have fun and learn basic acting skills as you bring favorite stories to life through drama.
Instructor: Johannah Maynard Edwards
Wednesday Session II: Around The World
4:30 – 5:30 PM
October 27 – December 15 (no class Nov 24)
Travel to other lands through drama!
Instructor: Martie Todd Sirois
Wednesday Session III: Creative Players
4:30 – 5:30 PM
January 12 – February 23
Discover exciting ways to tell a story.
Instructor: Lisa Kinlaw
Wednesday Session IV: Story Makers
4:30 – 5:30 PM
March 16 – May 4 (no class Apr 20)
Make up your own classic tales!
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Saturday Session I: Stories Alive!
9:30 – 10:30 AM
September 11 – October 23
Have fun and learn basic acting skills as you bring favorite stories to life through drama.
Instructor: Kirsten Ehlert
Saturday Session II: Around The World
9:30 – 10:30 AM
October 30 – December 18 (no class Nov 27)
Travel to other lands through drama!
Instructor: Linda O’Day Young
Saturday Session III: Creative Players
9:30 – 10:30 AM
January 15 – February 26
Discover exciting ways to tell a story.
Instructor: PJ Maske
Saturday Session IV: Story Makers
9:30 – 10:30 AM
March 19 – May 14 (no class Apr 16 or 23)
Make up your own classic tales!
Instructor: Linda O’Day Young
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Acting Out
Ages: 10 – 11
Class focus: Students are introduced to basic acting skills and vocal training through the development of believable characters in improvised and scripted scenes all in an atmosphere of fun. No previous experience necessary. Limit 18 students.
Thursdays 4:30 – 6 PM, or Saturdays, 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Cost: $110 per session
10.5 instructional hours
Thursday Session I: Stage Door
4:30 – 6 PM
September 9 – October 21
Through the use of theatre exercises, improvisation and scripted material, students will learn basic techniques they need to know in order to audition effectively, develop believable characters and act for the stage.
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Thursday Session II: Chill With Will
4:30 – 6 PM
October 28 – December 16 (no class November 25)
Why would anyone want to perform Shakespeare? It’s so old! It doesn’t make any sense! It doesn’t have anything to do with me. You won’t be saying that after you learn to chill with Will, one of the coolest playwrights of all time. Students will use improvisation, theatre games, movement and music to better understand and speak the words of Shakespeare with ease.
Instructor: Johannah Maynard Edwards
Thursday Session III: Really Us! or Kids In A Nutshell
4:30 – 6 PM
January 13 – February 24
Students will use fun improvisation games and exercises to create original scenes which demonstrate their “Quick and Easy Guide To Understanding Your Child” written by them and dedicated to parents everywhere!
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Thursday Session IV: Places Please
4:30 – 6 PM
March 17– May 5 (no class April 21)
Using scripted material, student actors will experience the rehearsal process from audition to performance as they develop and sharpen skills in character development, character relationships, rehearsal techniques and memorization.
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Saturday Session I: Stage Door
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
September 11 – October 23
Instructor: Linda O’Day Young
Saturday Session II: Chill With Will
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
October 30 – December 18 (no class November 27)
Instructor: Lucius Robinson
Saturday Session III: Really Us! or Kids In A Nutshell
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
January 15 – February 26
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Saturday Session IV: Places Please
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
March 19 – May 14 (no class April 16 or 23)
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Center Stage
Ages: 12 – 13
Class focus: Through scripted or improvised material, students will learn basic acting concepts such as objective, circumstances, articulation, projection, characterization and improvisation. No previous experience necessary. Limit 14 students.
Thursdays, 4:30 – 6 PM or Saturdays, 11 AM – 12:30 PM
Cost: $110 per session
10.5 instructional hours
Thursday Session I: In The Spotlight
4:30 – 6 PM
September 9 – October 21
It can be a little frightening to have all eyes on you, but that changes when you know what you’re doing. In this class students will learn and review skills, concepts and techniques every actor needs to know in order to be a well-rounded artist. Through the use of scripted and original material, students will learn to speak with confidence whenever they feel they are “in the spotlight” such as in the classroom, at an audition or on stage.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Thursday Session II: Shake It Up With Shakespeare
4:30 – 6 PM
October 28 – December 16 (no class Nov 25)
Shakespeare’s not stuffy especially when you shake it up with creative possibilities. Through theatre games and improvisation, students will explore possible interpretations of scenes and monologues, develop a personal connection to Shakespeare’s world and sharpen their acting skills.
Instructor: Lucius Robinson
Thursday Session III: Characters In Motion
4:30 – 6 PM
January 13 – February 24
An actor doesn’t reveal a character simply by saying lines. An actor must become the character physically. In this fun and exciting class, students will learn and practice skills for creating characters with the whole body. Using basic principles of non-verbal communication, students will explore the relationship between what an audience sees and what a performer does with his/her body. Come dressed for movement.
Instructor: PJ Maske
Thursday Session IV: Playmakers
4:30 – 6 PM
March 17 – May 5 (no class Apr 21)
Through theatre games, improvisation and storytelling, students will learn how to put in writing their unique ideas and bring them to life on stage.
Instructor: Johannah Maynard Edwards
Saturday Session I: In The Spotlight
11 AM – 12:30 PM
September 11 – October 23
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
Saturday Session II: Shake It Up With Shakespeare
11 AM – 12:30 PM
October 30 – December 18 (no class November 27)
Instructor: Johannah Maynard Edwards
Saturday Session III: Characters In Motion
11 AM – 12:30 PM
January 15 – February 26
Instructor: Heather Snow Clark
Saturday Session IV: Playmakers
11 AM – 12:30 PM
March 19 – May 14 (no class April 16 or 23)
Instructor: Lucius Robinson
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Playtime
Age: 5
Class focus: Students will continue to explore and express their own individual creativity in an atmosphere which also promotes the importance of teamwork in bringing a story to life. No previous experience necessary. Limit 12 students.
Saturdays, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Cost: $90 per session
7 instructional hours
Session I: Let's Pretend!
September 11 – October 23
Have fun as you become the characters in some favorite stories.
Session II: Rumble In The Jungle
October 30 – December 18 (no class November 27)
Go wild as you bring jungle tales to life.
Session III: Alligators And Learning All Around
January 15 – February 26
Act out stories, poems and songs which help you learn!
Session IV: Magic Carpet Ride
March 19 – May 14 (no class April 16 or 23)
Oh the places you will go as you discover characters and stories from other lands!
Instructor: Susan Meyer
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Dramatic Play
Age: 4
Class focus: To encourage young students to express themselves vocally as well as physically and to exercise that great pretending machine. No previous experience necessary. Limit 12 students.
Saturdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Cost: $90 per session
7 instructional hours
Session I: Getting To Know You And Me
September 11 – October 23
Through stories, poems and theatre games, we’ll learn so much about ourselves and others.
Session II: Animal Kingdom
October 30 – December 18 (no class Nov 27)
Celebrate animals great and small and the stories they have to tell.
Session III: Fiesta!
January 15 – February 26
Have fun with exciting Hispanic folktales
and music.
Session IV: Fairies, Elves, Dragons and Unicorns
March 19 – May 14 (no class Apr 16 or 23)
Act out stories of enchantment and magic.
Instructor: Jan Morgan
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
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