BALTIMORE: Summer Theatre Programs for Kids of All Ages
By: James Howard May. 25, 2006
School is out soon, but what to do with your aspiring Thespians all summer? Well, three local theatres have terrific programs that offer a variety of classes, at a variety of prices for a variety of ages. Below is information about those programs. Be sure to contact the theatres directly for further information and registration.
Everyman Theatre on
Program: "Act a Story"
Ages: Children entering grades K-1 in the fall.
When: June 29, 30, July 5, 6, 7, 10am – 11am
What: The littlest actors will participate in a series of creative dramatics classes, and end each session by performing a story for parents and friends. Participants may sign up for one or all five sessions.
Cost: $12 per child per day or $50 per child for all five days (Everyman subscribers take 10% off.)
Program: "Act it Out"
Ages: Children entering grades 2-3 in the fall.
When: June 29, 30, July 5, 6, 7, 12 noon – 2 pm
What: These youngsters will participate in activities designed to bring out creativity, including fun theatre games. Poems and short scenes will be performed for family and friends on the last day of class.
Cost: $125 per child. (Everyman subscribers take 10% off.)
Program: "The Actor in You"
Ages: Children entering grades 4-5 in the fall.
When: June 29, 30, July 5, 6, 7, 3pm – 6pm
What: Students will focus on acting skills, learning how actors create characters and bring them to life on stage. A short performance will be held for family and friends on the last day of class.
Cost: $150 per child. (Everyman subscribers take 10% off.)
Program: "Summer Acting Intensive for Teens"
Ages: Students entering grades 10-12 in the fall.
When: July 10 – 28, 10 am – 3 pm
What: This will be a powerful training experience for highly motivated teens, who will work with Everyman professionals in intensive sessions to polish their skills. Guest artists will introduce participants to new ideas and experiences.
Cost: $525 per child. (Everyman subscribers take 10% off.)
Roberta Wells-Famula, Education Director at Everyman says, "The summer program is designed to give students an opportunity to work with theatre professionals to enhance acting skills in a challenging yet fun environment. Several artists will work with students over the three week period on basic acting skills including speech and movement, as wells as work on improvisation, scenes, and monologues. The opportunity to work with professional actors is important to the emerging artist. The experience of these professionals gives students insights into the world of theatre. Additionally, the program does not seek to produce a play by the end of the three weeks. Rather, the program focuses on skills and technique - something that is not as effectively done while rehearsing for a specific play. The culminating activity is the opportunity for students to share their scenes and monologues with family and friends on the final day of class. Most actors choose to teach because they find it enlivens their own acting. Teaching forces the actor to refine his/her work and to analyze his/her process. There's a great deal of joy in sharing what you do with young people who are seeking to become artists themselves. The kind of energy that a young person brings to the process is very exciting. Our summer program includes week-long classes for young children, too. We'll welcome children as young as kindergarten age through grade 5. That coupled with the intensive three week program for teens will bring a lot of excitement into the building. We thrive on that. The imagination and energy of young people is a huge pleasure for everybody involved. Our Teaching Artists grow a lot through the experience as they teach the next generation of actors."
Spotlighters Theatre on
Program: "Young Actors' Academy"
Ages: Students 12 – 17 years old.
When: July 10 – August 10, Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
What: Students will spend 5 weeks in intensive course work in Acting Method and Technique, Theatre History and Styles, Music/Voice, Dance/Movement, Audition Preparation, Make-up, Stage Combat and Comedic Acting. Each day will include a variety of classes, lunch and rehearsal for the youth show, Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, which will be performed at the Spotlighters Theatre in the fall.
Cost: $350 per child. If paid in full by June 1, there will be a 10% reduction, for a cost of $315 per child. Students may also pay a $150 deposit with application, $100 due July 11 and $100 due on July 18.
Spotlighters is currently seeking corporate sponsorships and grant funding for this program. Their goal is to raise enough money to make it free of cost to participants. Robert Teachout, Academy Development Coordinator, says, "Spotlighters has committed to provided financial assistance for at least 5 students (the academy is limiting participation to 20 students), allowing economically challenged teenagers to have the opportunity and joy of participating in theater. But our goal is even more ambitious: We want to raise enough funds to allow all the students to participate at NO COST. We are attempting to do this through our online auction, a student sponsorship program, and other donation opportunities."
If you know of or are part of a business that might be interested in sponsoring this worthwhile program should contact Executive Director Fuzz Roark at the number above.
Finally, Wells-Famula suggests for students with acting aspirations, but not in a program, "Go out and see lots of plays. And when you're not watching plays, read plays. Get to know the world of the theatre. Understand its history and why theatre exists. Take classes when you can and work on productions (in any capacity - acting, crew, etc.) when you get the opportunity." Good advice!
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