FST Announces Fall 2013 Youth Education Programs

Florida Studio Theatre announces a new season of Youth and Teen performing arts workshops, created exclusively to nurture the individual creativity of young artists. FST School offers 35 sessions and workshops, varying in length and discipline, for creative development, advanced education and performing opportunities.

"The training our students receive builds confidence, enhances their artistic expression and develops their emotional intelligence," said Beth Duda, Director of Education. "Through participation in our program, students will gain an understanding of the theatre."

Education Director Beth Duda states, "Florida Studio Theatre's Youth Education offerings are designed to awaken and invigorate the emotional intelligence and creativity of every student. We believe that every student can create art; the skills learned in our classes will help prepare our students for success no matter their future career choice. Our staff of professional teaching artists are focused on nurturing and challenging each child to reach the next step in their artistic process. Our youngest students explore theatre arts and creativity in Little Theatre, our Combo classes give students a solid foundation in acting, movement, and improvisation, and our advanced classes such as Musical Theatre and Play Performance give our students increasing challenges to build skills, confidence, and give a true sense of accomplishment."

All classes are held in FST's professional rehearsal studios in the heart of downtown Sarasota at 1241 North Palm Avenue. Reservations can be made by contacting FST's Education department at 941.366.1350 or by visiting www.floridastudiotheatre.org.

The Education Program was developed by Kate Alexander, Associate Director of FST. The Florida Studio Theatre School teaches students that art is more than performance; it is an investigation of the human self. Ultimately, they understand that, as Edward Albee said, "Theatre teaches us what it means to be alive." From its modest beginnings of 11 students, the program now reaches close to 1,000 students each year. Training both children and adults in the language and thought of theatre, the FST School educates both the minds and the hearts of the theatergoers of today and tomorrow.

The adult teaching staff is comprised of a core of theatre professionals trained to teach free from personal dictates. FST School's methodology helps each person find his or her own "door" to creative achievement. The acting classes use a technique based on the Stanislavski method; the actor must learn to generate truth on stage.

SESSION I: September 16 - November 10
SESSION II: November 11 - January 26
SESSION III: January 27 - March 30
SESSION IV: March 31 - May 26

YOUTH BEGINNING

Little Theatre | Wednesdays 4:00pm - 5:30pm or Saturdays 9:00am - 10:30am

Ages 5-6: Enhance creativity, explore emotions through movement and song, and develop improvisational and storytelling skills. Kindergarten prerequisite. Recitals for Sessions II & IV.

Theatre Combo: (Acting, Dance & Improvisation) | Tuesdays or Thursdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Ages 7-12: Learn the building blocks of a professional acting technique through movement and dance while enhancing ensemble building skills. Improvisational games teach the students how to use their imaginations and become comfortable in front of an audience. Recitals for Sessions II & IV.

Acting I | Wednesdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Ages 7-12: Learn the building blocks of a professional acting technique, from being comfortable in front of an audience to utilizing your mind, voice and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Rehearse and perform short pieces and monologues. Recitals for Sessions II & IV.

YOUTH INTERMEDIATE

Theatre Combo: (Acting, Dance, & Improvisation) | Tuesdays or Thursdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Ages 7-12: Learn the building blocks of a professional acting technique through movement and dance while enhancing ensemble building skills. Improvisational games teach the students to use their imaginations and become comfortable in front of an audience. Recitals for Sessions II & IV.

Acting II | Saturdays 11:00am - 12:30pm

Ages 9-12: For the student ready to advance into Scene Work. Strengthen technique, utilizing skills in developing characters and relationships with scene partners. Rehearse and perform contemporary scenes. Recitals for Sessions II & IV.

Musical Theatre | Wednesdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm & Saturdays 10:30am - 12:00pm

Ages 8-13: Rehearse and perform an original one-act musical. Strengthen performance technique, utilizing acting, dancing and singing. Develop character and relationship with an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing your mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Acting I, Acting II, or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Culminates in a final performance.

Kids Komedy Club | Saturdays 9:00am - 12:00pm

Ages 9-17: Write, rehearse and perform sketch-comedy and improvisation games. KKC will perform in front of a live audience on selected Saturdays. Utilize acting, movement and singing skills in developing characters and relationships in an ensemble. Students will enhance their imaginations and physicality through improvisation. Kids' Classics or Staff Invitation prerequisite.

YOUTH ADVANCED

Monday Classics - Write & Perform | Mondays 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Ages 11-14: For the pre-teen and teen ready to advance in scene work, strengthen technique and improve writing skills. Students will develop, write, and perform scenes and short plays. Acting I, Acting II, or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Recitals after Session II & IV.

Play Performance, Classics | Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Ages 9-13: An intensive program for students with previous training from the FST School. Develop, rehearse, and perform an original one-act play. Acting I, Acting II or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Culminates in a final performance.

Musical Theatre | Wednesdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm & Saturdays 10:30am - 12:00pm

Ages 8-13: Rehearse and perform an original one-act musical. Strengthen performance technique, utilizing acting, dancing and singing. Develop character and relationship with an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing your mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Acting I, Acting II, or Staff Invitation prerequisite.

TEEN BEGINNING

Teen Acting I | Mondays 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Ages 13-17: Learn the building blocks of a solid acting technique, utilizing mind, voice and body to communicate emotion. Become comfortable in front of an audience and enhance imagination through improvisation. Recitals after Sessions II & IV.

Teen Improvisation | Thursdays 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Ages 12-17: Learn and reinforce improvisation skills in a lively and creative environment. Learn how to be present in the moment. This class encourages expression of individual creativity and authenticity through a variety of improvisation exercises. Culminates in a final performance.

Broadway Dance | Fridays 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Ages 12-17: Learn classical jazz technique with Broadway-style routines and music. Enhance balance, endurance, flexibility and technique while learning to perform for an audience. Recitals after Sessions II & IV.

TEEN INTERMEDIATE

Play Performance, Teen Classics | Tuesdays 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Ages 13-17: Rehearse and perform an original one-act play. Strengthen performance technique by utilizing acting skills; Developing character and relationship in an ensemble. Acting I, Teen Scene or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Culminates in a final performance.

Kids Komedy Club | Saturdays 9:00am - 12:00pm

Ages 9-17: Write, rehearse and perform sketch-comedy and improvisation games. KKC will perform in front of a live audience on selected Saturdays. Utilize acting, movement and singing skills in developing characters and relationships in an ensemble. Students will enhance their imaginations and physicality through improvisation. Kids' Classics or Staff Invitation prerequisite.

Teen Improvisation | Thursdays 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Ages 12-17: Learn and reinforce improvisation skills in a lively and creative environment. Learn how to be present in the moment. This class encourages expression of individual creativity and authenticity through a variety of improvisation exercises. Culminates in a final performance.

TEEN ADVANCED

Teen Acting, Advanced Scene Study | Tuesdays 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Ages 13-17: Rehearse and perform contemporary scenes. Strengthen performance technique by utilizing acting skills, developing character and relationship in an ensemble. Acting I, Acting II or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Culminates in a final performance.

Teen Musical Theatre | Wednesdays 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Ages 13-17: Rehearse and perform an original one-act musical. Strengthen performance technique, utilizing acting, dancing and singing. Develop character and relationship with an ensemble. Build self-image and self-esteem, enhancing mind, voice, imagination and body to communicate truthful emotion on stage. Acting I, Acting II, or Staff Invitation prerequisite. Culminates in a final performance.

Kids Komedy Club | Saturdays 9:00-12:00pm

Ages 9-17: Write, rehearse and perform sketch comedy and improvisation games. KKC will perform in front of a live audience on selected Saturdays. Utilize acting, movement and singing skills in developing characters and relationships in an ensemble. Students will enhance their imaginations and physicality through improvisation. Kids' Classics or Staff Invitation prerequisite.

Known as Sarasota's Contemporary Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre was founded in 1973 by Jon Spelman. Starting out as a small touring company, FST traveled to places such as migrant camps and prisons. The company eventually settled down into a permanent home, acquiring the former Woman's Club building - now renamed the Keating Theatre. In the years that followed, Florida Studio Theatre established itself as a major force in American theatre, presenting Contemporary Theatre in its four theatre venues: the Keating Theatre, the newly renovated Gompertz Theatre, the Goldstein Cabaret and the new John C. Court Cabaret.

Even with its growth, Florida Studio Theatre remains firmly committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience. Under Richard Hopkins, Artistic Director and CEO, FST develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving and dynamically changing world. As FST grows and expands, it continues to provide audiences with challenging, contemporary drama and innovative programs.

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