New Theatre Arts Classes Offered at Gettysburg Community Theatre

Gettysburg Community Theatre, the non-profit 501c3 organization located in the original Elks Lodge building at 49 York Street within the first block of Lincoln Square in historic downtown Gettysburg, will offer a variety of theatre arts classes for children and adults this winter and spring beginning the week of January 9th. Students can register online at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 717-334-2692 with credit card, or by visiting the box office with cash, check or credit card during box office hours 2-7pm Tuesdays-Fridays at GCT.

GCT's Winter 2017 Session will be January 9th-February 24th, 2017 and will include the following courses that meet once a week. Mondays 6-7pm "Let It Go!" VOICE I for 4th-12th Grade. With instructor Michelle Rose Gorski, this class will focus on the acting aspect of song preparation, including presentation of the song as an actor. "Don't just sing...act as well." Tell the story of the song with your performance after careful character and lyric study. This voice class is great for the beginner as well as students who have lots of singing experience. On Tuesdays 6-7pm "Gonna Build A Mountain" ACTING I for 4th-12th Grade. With instructor Misty Coy Snyder, this class will use fun theatre games and warm ups that will help students learn to use their voices and bodies creating a solid foundation of what "tools" the actor needs to create memorable characters. This class is great for the beginning actor as well as students who have lots of acting experience. On Thursdays 6-7pm "My Favorite Things" CREATIVE DRAMATICS I for PreK (age 4)-3rd Grade. With instructor, Ann Walsh, students will explore their imaginations through creative dramatics utilizing fun hats and props, puppets, and musical instruments. Perfect for the beginner to be introduced to theatre arts.

Additionally, GCT will be offering two special one-time Saturday workshops on Shakespeare. January 28, 2017 2-4pm will be an Introduction to Shakespeare for Adults (minimum age 18). 'Tis time to explore the wit, comedy and muscular poetry of Shakespeare! Participants will workshop a monologue of their choice and rehearse a scene from Twelfth Night with a partner. Monologue options (provided on the day) are from the following plays: Hamlet, Midsummer Nights Dream, The Merchant of Venice, and As You Like It. Instructor: Anna Kurtz.

February 18, 2017 2-4pm will be Introduction to Shakespeare for Students (6th-12th grade.)

Students will look at Shakespeare's iambic pentameter, use of sound to create emotional intensity, and basic stage-craft of The Globe Theatre. They will rehearse a scene of their choice from Hamlet or Much Ado About Nothing in pairs of two. Parents are welcome to come for the last twenty minutes of the workshop when students will perform their scenes together. Instructor: Anna Kurtz.

Then GCT's Spring 2017 Session 1 will be held February 27th-April 14th, 2017 to include Mondays 6-7pm "I Won't Dance, Don't Ask Me" THEATRE DANCE I starting February 27th for 4th-12th Grade. With instructor, Michelle Rose Gorski, this class will work on the staging and choreography of songs from Broadway musicals. This class is perfect for the beginner performer, as well as those that have had dance training, but no dance experience is required to have fun in this song and dance class. Tuesdays 6-7pm "Any Dream Will Do" IMPROVISATION III/IV for 4th-12th Grade. With instructor, Karen Land, this intermediate level improv class will have Improvisational Acting students continue learning about short form comedy as they work as an ensemble to develop team building skills in this verbally and physically fast-paced class. This class is designed for the intermediate level student who has already taken at least two Improv courses here at GCT with this instructor. Improv I & II required as pre-requisite for this course. On Thursdays 6-7pm "Bon Voyage" CREATIVE DRAMATICS II for PreK (age 4)-3rd Grade. With instructor, Ann Walsh, students will explore the world around them and learn a few life lessons along the way as they hear and bring to life stories from around the globe. Perfect for the young actor who is has had at least one theatre arts class at GCT. Then on Saturdays 10am-Noon "Nice Work If You Can Get It" ACTING II for 4th-12th Grade. With instructor, Misty Coy Snyder, this class teaches techniques for communicating effectively onstage with a partner through script study and performance of scenes from plays. This class is designed for the beginning/intermediate actor as well as students who have lots of acting experience. Acting I or a previous theatre arts course at GCT is highly recommended as pre-requisite for this course.

GCT is thrilled to have new and returning professional faculty members for the theatre arts educational classes this year.

Misty Coy Snyder grew up on the West Coast and her childhood was colored with performing. She co-hosted a musical radio show on KGNW in Seattle, Washington called Heart Talk for Kids. That same year, she sang for Bill Gates at a private event and made her theatre debut as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the Seattle Performing Arts Center. She moved to Los Angeles in 1995 and professionally recorded two children' s self-esteem albums for Sue Ivy. She attended the Musical Theatre Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts (now, OCSA) and went on to earn an Acting degree at California State University, Fullerton. After singing in countries all over the world (Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Greece and Croatia to name just a few), Misty moved to New York City to further pursue Musical, Classical and Contemporary Theatre. She has worked with TheatreWorks USA, the Gramercy Players and the Milk Can Theatre Company.

Anna Kurtz grew up in Gettysburg, and is so pleased to be back for a spell. She recently graduated from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England with an MA in Professional Acting. Prior her degree, Anna performed across the USA and in two European countries. Past roles include Henry V, Gonzalo (The Tempest), and Hermione (A Winter's Tale). Her favorite performing memory is playing Justin Timberlake and Abraham Lincoln for a star-struck group of middle schoolers in Arizona--who were greatly disappointed to see her re-emerge as Eleanor Roosevelt. Anna loves all things Shakespeare, and is excited to share her passion with others.

Karen Land has been a theatre arts director and educator for 28 years. She received a B.A. In theatre arts from Goucher College in 1986 and earned a M.D.S. in criticism and literature from Johns Hopkins University in 2000. Throughout her teaching career, Karen has been actively involved in professional and community theaters. She has worked with new playwrights directing award winning productions. Karen has served on the board of several community theaters. As an Asst. Prof. In the Theatre Arts Dept. at Gettysburg College, 2001-2010, Karen offered a seminar on Improvisational Acting--The Zen of Improv: permission to play in class. This popular seminar established a life-long passion for the importance of play. Today, Karen teaches master classes in: directing, auditioning, acting, musical theatre, and Zenprov (improvisational acting with zen philosophies). Karen is currently directing The Diary Of Anne Frank at GCT and is also the Director of GCT's Improv Troupe.

Michelle Rose Gorski is a dedicated singer with more than twelve years of professional experience. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theatre from The New School University, as well as a teaching certificate from one of New York City's finest teaching programs at New York Vocal Coaching. She has performed in New York City for seven years. Michelle has worked with some of the best in the business: Emily Skinner, Evan Pappas, Phillip George, Justin Stoney, Tom Mills, Thomas Morrissey, and Susan Delano. Some of her theatre Credits include: A Christmas Carol, Come Dance With Me (Soloist), Laundry and Bourbon (Amy Lee), 1776 (Martha Jefferson), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Philia), Fiddler on the Roof (Grandma Tzeitel/Chorus), Annie Get Your Gun (Chorus), Working (Candy Cottingham).

Ann Walsh has been active in theatre and music for over 35 years. Favorite roles include leads in Oklahoma, Something's Afoot, Vanities and Dracula. She has written and directed children's theatre productions, traveling one-acts, and musical reviews. After the death of her 14 year old daughter, Ann became involved with The Compassionate Friends, a support group for families who have lost children. She is the Eastern PA TCF Regional Coordinator and presents at National conferences on using the arts as a way to move forward in the grief journey. Ann sings and plays guitar with a duo group, "The Storytellers", and is the co-director of The Penguin Project of GCT.

Students can register online at www.GettysburgCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 717-334-2692 with credit card, or by visiting the box office with cash, check or credit card during box office hours 2-7pm Tuesdays-Fridays at GCT. Tickets are on sale now for Man Of La Mancha, The Diary Of Anne Frank, and GCT's 9th Annual Gala "Hooray For Hollywood". Auditions for Senior Citizen singer/actors will be held at 6pm on January 9th and 10th at GCT for the musical Nunsense directed by Pamela Hurlbert. More information is available online.

GCT Mission Statement: To inspire creativity and confidence, provide cultural enrichment, and instill a love of the theatre arts in people of all ages and abilities through quality education, training and performance.

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