NC Shakespeare Fest Launches Summer Youth Camps 7/13 - 7/24

With the creation of Spirit Center, its new central operations facility, The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival (The Festival) begins to fulfill one of its long-held dreams this summer - theatre camps for youth! Called the Apprentice Company in Training, or ACT, the summer youth camps will premiere this July in the beautiful, ample rehearsal halls located on The Festival's Spirit Center campus.

"Spirit Center is an inspiring place," says Pedro Silva, The Festival's Managing & Artistic Director. "Not just for what it means to our production process as a professional theatre, but even more for what it means to our mission of service to youth. So many children have an interest in theatre, yet lack viable outlets to explore their interest. This summer's ACT camps are a first, but firm step in making sure The Festival plays a leadership role helping kids and teens explore their creative potential and develop their talents as theatre artists."

ACT workshops will be headed by Martha Mendenhall, The Festival's Outreach Artistic Associate, with over twenty years of experience teaching students and educators and working with young people on Shakespeare productions.

ACT camps will provide training and performing experience for young people aged 8 to 18.
The program will run for two weeks, Monday through Friday, July 13 through 24, 2009. Each weekday will be divided into two sessions: mornings from 9am to 12pm for ages 8 to 12; and, afternoons from 1pm to 4pm for ages 13 to 18.

ACT camps will feature the two Shakespeare plays scheduled for performance during NCSF's 2009 MainStage season in the fall. Morning session participants will be cast in, rehearse, and perform a 30-minute production of A Midsummer Night's Dream; afternoon session participants will be cast in, rehearse, and perform a 30-minute production of Macbeth. "For both groups the emphasis will be on creating a performance experience that blows off the cobwebs and brings Shakespeare's plays into the 21st century," says Martha Mendenhall.

In addition to training and skills developed during rehearsals, students will work intensively with professional theatre artists in three master classes exploring topics such as stage combat, voice and text work, and clowning. The program concludes on Friday, July 24, with an evening presentation of the participants' performance work for family and invited guests. Participants will also receive complementary tickets to the MainStage productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Macbeth, including an exclusive ACT behind-the-scenes event.

Prospective ACT participants are required to apply for placement in the program. Along with application and participant statement of interest, payment in full is required by June 15, 2009. Full registration for the two week program is $225 per student, including a non-refundable $25 application fee. An Earlybird discount totaling $200 is available for full payments submitted by May 15, 2009. Limited scholarship and work-study options are available.

See applications posted at www.ncshakes.org or inquire for further information. Contact Martha Mendenhall, Outreach Artistic Associate, outreach@ncshakes.org or 336-841-2273, ext 227, with inquiries.

The Festival was founded in High Point in 1977 as a professional theatre company. Over the years it has become recognized statewide for the professional quality of its productions, for its particular focus on the greatest and most popular of all playwrights, Shakespeare, and for its statewide service to schools via its touring programs and popular 10:00 SchoolFest matinees.

Since 1977, it has produced over 150 major productions of plays by Shakespeare and other world class playwrights. Nearly 2 million seats have been filled at its home venue, The High Point Theatre, and at colleges, civic centers, public and private schools statewide. Through its school touring programs, the company has performed in every North Carolina County, visiting hundreds of middle and secondary schools, many on numerous occasions.

"The Festival takes pride in its service as a cultural and artistic resource," says Ken Hughes, Chairman of its Board of Trustees. "Our board views NCSF as more than a theatre company; we view it as an institution of civilization that enriches life, broadens citizens' sensibilities, preserves cultural and historical pathways and, overall, builds community. It's great entertainment, too, and employs citizens we've spent lots of money to educate and train as theatre artists and technicians at our colleges and universities."

The Festival's 2009 MainStage season will feature Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream performing at The High Point Theatre September 5 through October 4. Tickets go on sale July, 6; call The High Point Theatre Ticket Office 12:00-5:00, M-F at 336-887-3001 or visit: highpointtheatre.com.

 

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