The following are the core classes in the 2008-2009 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 2008-2009 Youth Education Program page.
The programs on this page are displayed in order of their start date.
Play On!
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.
Cost: $95 per session
8.75 instructional hours
Ages 8-9
Tuesday Session II: Fairytale Trials
October 21 - December 16 (no class November 11 or 25)
Tuesdays, 5 - 6:15 pm
It's time to hear the other side of the story as well-known fairytale characters, such as the Big Bad Wolf, Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella's Stepsisters, have their day in court.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Tuesday Session III: Prop Bag Theatre
January 13 - February 24
Tuesdays, 5 - 6:15 pm
Stories from a bag? Using various items from the prop bag, students will work together to create strong characters and exciting stories.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Tuesday Session IV: Let's Make A Play!
March 10 - April 28 (no class April 7)
Tuesdays, 5 - 6:15 pm
Students will use music, movement, theatre games, props, costume pieces and other prompts to create their own class script to bring to life on the stage.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Saturday Session II: Fairytale Trials
October 25 - December 13 (no class November 29)
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12 noon
It's time to hear the other side of the story as well-known fairytale characters, such as the Big Bad Wolf, Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella's Stepsisters, have their day in court.
Instructor: Corrie Davis
Saturday Session III: Prop Bag Theatre
January 17 - February 28
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12 noon
Stories from a bag? Using various items from the prop bag, students will work together to create strong characters and exciting stories.
Instructor: Corrie Davis
Saturday Session IV: Let's Make A Play!
March 14 - May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12 noon
Students will use music, movement, theatre games, props, costume pieces and other prompts to create their own class script to bring to life on the stage.
Instructor: Corrie Davis
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Creative Drama
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.
Ages 6-7
Cost: $90 per session
7 instructional hours
Tuesday Session II: People, Places And Stories
October 21 - December 16 (no class November 11 or 25)
Tuesdays, 5 - 6 pm
Act out important life lessons taught in folktales, legends and stories from people and places near and far!
Instructor: Patsy Castellano
Tuesday Session III: Up, Up And Away!
January 13 - February 24
Tuesdays, 5 - 6 pm
Don't forget to pack up your imagination as you explore stories from around the world!
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
Tuesday Session IV: 4-3-2-Once Upon A Story
March 10 - April 28 (no class April 7)
Tuesdays, 5 - 6 pm
Discover the power of your imagination as you make up your own classic stories!
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
Saturday Session II: People, Places And Stories
October 25 - December 13 (no class November 29)
Saturdays, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Act out important life lessons taught in folktales, legends and stories from people and places near and far!
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
Saturday Session III: Up, Up And Away!
January 17 - February 28
Saturdays, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Don't forget to pack up your imagination as you explore stories from around the world!
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
Saturday Session IV: 4-3-2-Once Upon A Story
March 14 - May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Saturdays, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Discover the power of your imagination as you make up your own classic stories!
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Acting Out
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.
Ages: 10-11
Cost: $110 per session
10.5 instructional hours
Wednesday Session II: Chill With Will
October 22 - December 10 (no class November 26)
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
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: Lucius Robinson
Wednesday Session III: Places, Please!
January 14 - February 25
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
Through scripted scenes, students will explore character development, character relationships, memorization skills and rehearsal techniques.
Instructor: TBD
Wednesday Session IV: In The Spotlight
March 11 - April 29 (no class April 8)
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
Students will learn to speak with confidence in the classroom, at an audition or on stage as they explore personal narratives, storytelling and monologues. Students will also learn how to audition well when they are reading from a script for the first time!
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Saturday Session II: Chill With Will
October 25 - December 13 (no class November 29)
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
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: Lucius Robinson
Saturday Session III: Places, Please!
January 17 - February 28
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
Through scripted scenes, students will explore character development, character relationships, memorization skills and rehearsal techniques.
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
Saturday Session IV: In The Spotlight
March 14 - May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Saturdays, 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
Students will learn to speak with confidence in the classroom, at an audition or on stage as they explore personal narratives, storytelling and monologues. Students will also learn how to audition well when they are reading from a script for the first time!
Instructor: Sylvia Mallory
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Center Stage
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 18 students.
Ages: 12-13
Cost: $110 per session
10.5 instructional hours
Wednesday Session II: Lines From The Heart
October 22 - December 10 (no class November 26)
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
"I can't write! It's too hard! Anyway, I'm not a writer!" Put those negative thoughts on the back burner. In this class students will use movement, music, improvisation and exciting writing prompts to produce a creative environment where ideas flow freely - unblocked by opinions of what is "good" or "bad" and resulting in the truest expression of themselves.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Wednesday Session III: Scene Study For Real
January 14 - February 25
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
Acting is not pretending. Acting is becoming and above all else, you've got to keep it real. So how do you make your character believable? How do you make a scene seem so real? How do you make a rehearsed moment seem to be happening for the first time? Through scripted scenes, students will explore techniques for keeping it real on stage.
Instructor: Barbette Hunter
Wednesday Session IV: Acting Through Action
March 11 - April 29 (no class April 8)
Wednesdays, 5 - 6:30 pm
An action on stage such as folding clothes, throwing a ball, playing cards or sweeping a floor can reveal more about a character than any words can. In this monologue and scene study class, students will use props to explore how action can reveal the inner life of a character.
Instructor: Linda O'Day Young
Saturday Session II: Lines From The Heart
October 25 - December 13 (no class November 29)
Saturdays, 11 am - 12:30 pm
"I can't write! It's too hard! Anyway, I'm not a writer!" Put those negative thoughts on the back burner. In this class students will use movement, music, improvisation and exciting writing prompts to produce a creative environment where ideas flow freely - unblocked by opinions of what is "good" or "bad" and resulting in the truest expression of themselves.
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
Saturday Session III: Scene Study For Real
January 17 - February 28
Saturdays, 11 am - 12:30 pm
Acting is not pretending. Acting is becoming and above all else, you've got to keep it real. So how do you make your character believable? How do you make a scene seem so real? How do you make a rehearsed moment seem to be happening for the first time? Through scripted scenes, students will explore techniques for keeping it real on stage.
Instructor: TBD
Saturday Session IV: Acting Through Action
March 14 - May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Saturdays, 11 am - 12:30 pm
An action on stage such as folding clothes, throwing a ball, playing cards or sweeping a floor can reveal more about a character than any words can. In this monologue and scene study class, students will use props to explore how action can reveal the inner life of a character.
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Playtime FULL
Class focus is 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.
Ages: 4-5
Cost: $90 per session
7 instructional hours
Saturdays, 9:30 – 10:30 am
Session II: Once Upon A Book FULL
October 25 – December 13
(no class November 29)
Have fun as you bring some favorite stories to life!
Session III: Magic Carpet Ride FULL
January 17 – February 28
Oh the places you will go as you explore characters and stories from other lands!
Session IV: Critter Tales FULL
March 14 – May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Act out stories about critters great and small.
Instructor: Susan Meyer
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
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.
Cost: $140 per session
14 instructional hours
Saturdays, 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Session II: Words, Words, Words: What Does Shakespeare Really Mean?
October 25 - December 13 (no class November 29)
To be or not to be, that is the question or ...O Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo? Sure these are some of the most famous Shakespeare quotations. But what do they mean? Students will explore the magnificence of Shakespearean dialogue and text, and learn the fun tricks to decoding this flowery way of speech. Basic skills in understanding scansion, iambic pentameter and verse vs. prose will be addressed, as well as status of character and how that can be discovered simply by the way they speak.
Instructor: Jesse Gephart
Session III: Improvisation For The Stage
January 17 - February 28
Knowing how to play, be spontaneous and trust one's instincts are invaluable skills every acting student must develop. In this exciting improvisation class students will explore character creation through physical and vocal choice, learn how to be fully committed and confident on stage and discover the joy of teamwork and group play.
Instructor: Anoushka Brod
Session IV: Scene Study
March 14 - May 9 (no class April 4 or 11)
Scene work is vital to the growth of an actor. In this class students will use challenging scripted material to develop believable characters, pursue honest relationships on stage, explore action as internal dialogue and create scenes which leave their audience wanting more.
Instructor: Staci Sabarsky
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
Advanced Acting Studio CANCELLED
Ages: 16 - 19
Class focus: This is an intensive conservatory experience for the advanced actor. This class will focus on character objectives, tactics, physical expression and relationships through exploration of existing scripts, original material and improvisation. Two sessions of Performance Skills or instructor approval required. Limit 12 students.
Cost: $140 per semester
14 instructional hours
Saturdays, 12:30 - 2:30 pm
Fall Semester:
September 6 - December 13 (no class November 29)
Spring Semester:
January 17 - May 9 (no class March 7, April 4 or 11)
Instructor: J. Michael Beech
To enroll, please send in the registration form (PDF)
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