Hershey Area Playhouse Theatre Academy Announces Winter 2009 Acting Classes

Hershey Area Playhouse Theatre Academy is now taking registrations for its 2010 Winter Session acting classes. Cory Wilkerson continues as the director for the program, which is for designed for students currently in Kindergarten through twelfth grades.

"Our winter Theatre Academy schedule includes a brand new offering that is sure to be popular with our older students: improvisation and comedy. It will be similar to the zany fun featured on the TV show Whose Line Is It Anyway," according to Randall Cline, Director of Education for The Playhouse. "Our students love the games they play during classes, and this new session focuses on specific techniques for improvisation and comedy. It should be great fun."

The full line of classes follows a planned curriculum of skills aligned with state arts standards. Lead teacher Cory Wilkerson designs each course so that students rotate through a sequence of skill-building activities including working with voice, movement, improvisation, play-making and play production. The winter session builds on skill sets started in the fall and allows students to showcase these skills in a brief performance during the last class. During this session, the youngest class will be exploring creative dramatics and folktale plays, third and fourth grades will apply their skills in character work to famous stories, fifth and sixth grade will focus on voice and movement for the stage and seventh through twelfth grades will work with comedy and improvisation.

"I really put a lot of thought into the curriculum" says lead teacher Cory Wilkerson. "I want kids to leave my class truly learning exciting things about acting, so that even if they do not become professional actors, they leave me with a love of theatre, stories and performing arts. But ultimately, I want them to believe in themselves and explore their own creativity."

A detailed breakdown of the camp programs are as follows:
Creative Dramatics 9:00 am - 10:00 am Saturdays Grades K - 2

Focus on Play Performance - 10 Classes

$100 early bird $110 after 1.5.10

This class teaches play production through creative dramatics, exposing the children to their own creative and artistic possibilities - building communication, confidence and self-expression in a non-threatening atmosphere. The winter session builds on skills learned in the fall and culminates in an open house performance.

Winter Session: Saturdays 1.16.10 - 3.20.10

Acting It Up 10:00 am - 11:00 am Saturdays Grades 3 - 4

Focus on Play Performance - 10 Classes

$100 early bird $110 after 1.5.10

This fast paced mixture of theatre games, storytelling and creative movement teaches kids to learn and perform a role in a stage production by giving them the skills they need to create a character and stretch imaginations. Students will learn basic voice and movement skills in order to perform a role. The Winter Session builds on skills learned in the fall and culminates in an open house performance.

Winter Session: Saturdays 1.16.10 - 3.20.10

Theatre Arts Studio I Grades 5 - 6

11:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturdays

Focus on Play Performance - 10 Classes

$100 early bird $110 after 1.5.10

This class uses a combination of scripted and improvised material to teach acting with a focus on a final performance. Skills taught are specifically designed to teach middle school aged students skillful use of voice and movement for the stage. The Winter Session builds on skills learned in the fall and culminates in an open house performance.

Winter Session: Saturdays 1.16.10-3.20.10

Theatre Arts Studio II Improv & Comedy Grades 7 - 12

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Saturdays

Focus on Acting Skills and Improvisation ending in an Open House Presentation - 10 Classes

$140 early bird $155 after 1.5.10

For our oldest acting students - you asked for it and we listened! Our oldest students once more will be offered a series of repeatable skill building acting classes. Here is a chance to have fun with your friends and learn some serious acting skills while you are there. This class will focus on improvisation and comedy- teaching young actors to think on their feet and respond in the moment. A great way to expand your acting technique.

Winter Session: Saturdays 1.16.10-3.20.10

Classes will be held at Hershey Area Playhouse at Country Meadows, located on Sand Hill Road at Cherry Drive in Hershey, PA. Visit HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com for more information and to download a registration form. Contact Randall Cline, Director of Education at 717.497.2315 or TheatreAcademy@HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com if you have questions about the Winter 2010 Session acting classes.

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