Summer Classes Now Available for Registration at DM Playhouse

Registrations are underway for the Des Moines Community Playhouse summer theatre classes for young people, pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Courses will be held weekly, June 3-Aug. 16. Descriptions of the nearly 50 classes being offered are available online at dmplayhouse.com. Brochures are available at the theatre and by request.

Classes for kindergarten through grade 2 utilize children's natural abilities to become the characters they hear about in the stories they love. Classes foster listening and cooperative skills, as well as individual expression. Seuss on the Loose welcomes children to the wacky world of Dr. Seuss, focusing on scene reenactment, role playing and reinforcing literary skills. Other classes available for this age group include Playhouse TV: My First Commerical, Getting to Know You, Kettlecorn Players, Neverland Adventures, Broadway Lullabies, and Fairy Tale Fever.

Classes for students in grades 3-8 use the activity of putting on a play or a series of scenes to explore performance. Experience the 1800s as they come to life with crafts, games, songs, and stories in An Iowa History Play, presented by The Playhouse and State Historical Museum. Extreme Theatre Games: The Amazing Race will teach strategy, mental endurance and games unique to theatre as students journey from the Mariana Trench to the peak of Mt. Everest. Additional classes available for this age group include A Play in Two Days, A Play in Three Days, Kids Acting Company, Playhouse TV: Nighttime, Broadway Stars, and Medieval Madness. Audition Workshops, for both plays and musicals, are also available in August.

Teens have the opportunity to sharpen their acting skills and explore character development and musical training. The popular Teen Acting class returns, this time with "Night of the Living Dead."Audition Workshops and Night at the Improv are offered in August. In addition to classes, teens can interview for The Playhouse's pre-intern program (PIP). PIPs will work backstage for the June production of "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly."

The Playhouse is also offering Improvisation for the Teen with Autism. This class develops socialization skills by using theatre games and role-playing. Student directed scenes promote conflict resolution and help with handling rejection and other stressful situations.

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information on the Des Moines Community Playhouse and its theatre education, contact Robin Spahr, education registrar, at 515-974-5365.

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