CLASSES

EARLY ACTING – Literature and Life Skills

Early Acting provides literature based exploratory classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and supportive environment. The process rather than the end product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate exercises and activities teach beginning terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skill such as taking turns, listening, self-confidence, being part of a team, cultivating actor/creators, innovators, and creative collaborators. This all takes place in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A sharing or demonstration for family and friends is held on the last day of each class.

Acting concepts over the full year of study include: stage directions, cheating out, staying in character, facial expressions, gestures, body language, audience behavior, learning lines, tableaux, character movement, character voice, environment, taking directions, blocking, focus, using creativity, projection, and diction.

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FUNDAMENTAL ACTING/Level 1 – Building Blocks for Young Actors

Fundamental Acting provides introductory exploration classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and supportive environment. The process rather than the end product is emphasized. Level I classes include developmentally appropriate curriculum with exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and personal responsibility Classes provide a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A class demonstration is held on the last day of each class.

Acting concepts over the full year of study include: character, relationship, objective, obstacles, share/pull/give focus, strong choices, taking risks, improvisation, storytelling, levels, stage directions, cheating out, staying in character, facial expressions, gestures, body language, audience behavior, learning lines, tableaux, character movement, character voice, environment, taking directions, blocking, using creativity, projection, and diction.

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INTERMEDIATE ACTING/Level II

Intermediate Acting classes build on students‚ previous development in acting skills and theatre terminology. Level II classes include further study in character development, acting methods and scene study. Students also expand valuable life skills such as ensemble building, self-confidence, problem solving, and personal responsibility. Increased emphasis is placed on developing student‚s capacities as actor/creators, innovators, and creative collaborators. Classes provide an atmosphere that encourages fun, commitment, and taking risks in a safe environment. A class demonstration is held on the last day of each class. We encourage year-round study.

Acting concepts over the full year of study include: incorporates Fundamental Acting concepts (link to that paragraph) plus scene study, character analysis, beats, pathways, pedestrian/abstract gestures, tactics, improvisation techniques, and subtext.

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FUNDAMENTAL MUSICAL THEATRE/Level I
Building Blocks for Young Triple-Threats

Intermediate Musical Theatre classes build on students‚ previous development in the areas of singing, dancing and acting for musical theatre. Class time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. Level II classes include further study in the areas of character development, vocal style, storytelling through song and movement, choreographic concepts, ensemble skills, and scene study. Increased emphasis is placed on developing student‚s capacities as actor/creators, innovators, and creative collaborators.The last day of the session includes a demonstration featuring the students‚ continuing knowledge and skills. All classes have a different theme each session. We encourage year-round study.

Musical Theatre concepts over the full year of study include: movement and dance – levels, pathways, rhythm, speed, energy, shapes, focus, swing, balance, lunge, grapevine, box step, pivot turn, ball change, ability to learn eight and 16 count combinations using vocalization. Singing – posture, breathing, support, projections, diction, facial expressions, blending, dynamics, and music reading fundamentals. Acting – see Fundamental Acting concepts.

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INTERMEDIATE MUSICAL THEATRE

Intermediate Musical Theatre classes build on students’ previous development in the areas of singing, dancing and acting for musical theatre. Class time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. Level II classes include further study in the areas of character development, vocal style, storytelling through song and movement, choreographic concepts, ensemble skills, and scene study. The last day of the session includes a demonstration featuring the students’ continuing knowledge and skills. All classes have a different theme each session. We encourage year-round study.

Musical Theatre concepts over the full year of study include: incorporates Fundamental Musical Theatre concepts (link to that paragraph) plus movement and dance – physicalizing character and story, plie, tondue, pencil turn, single turns, kick ball change, pas de bourre, chaines turn, and ability to learn 16 and 24 count combinations using vocalization. Singing – harmony, cutoffs, introduction to sight reading, music notation, and vocal style. Acting – see Intermediate Acting concepts,

Singing for Musical Theatre
A complete song-learning class, designed to help young intermediate and advanced performers learn more about singing and music. Areas covered include vocal technique, music theory, breath control, rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Students expand their vocal range, fine tune their ears, strengthen breathing, and learn new music, all in a small class of eight students maximum. (This class does not take the place of individual voice lessons, which should be taken privately, year-round for serious singers.)

Dance I-II (beginning/intermediate)
Dance I-II classes provide tools to increase flexibility and improve core strength. Students work on "need to know" theatre dance steps, fundamentals of turn and jumps, and a foundation for partner dances. Each class, students learn a new dance combination and explore acting, communicating character and story through dance, specificity of movement, dancing with strength, and selling a dance number.

Dance II-III (intermediate/advanced)
Dance II-III build on students’ previous dance training.

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ENSEMBLE INSTITUTE (Issaquah only)

By audition or invitation
Year Round Study Required

The Ensemble Institute is the first step toward the Village Theatre Institute which will be in full force in the 2011-2012 season. This season the Institute is open by audition for students in 6th-9th grade (younger by permission) who are ready to study, train and perform at an advanced level. The 26 week program will be taught and directed by some of the regions’ finest teaching artists, directors, choreographers, and music directors. Students interested in (or exploring) a vocation in performance and/or who want the experience of excelling in musical theatre to build life skills such as creativity, discipline, teamwork, and collaboration, should consider auditioning. The program goal is to build professional level musical theatre skills and important life skills through a progressive personalized continuum of coursework, rehearsal and performance. Students perform for the public and the emphasis is on the performer, not elaborate sets or costumes. Students will audition for the Institute and be evaluated at the end of the school year by a panel of performance educators along with Village Theatre artistic staff and guest teaching artists. Auditions and Evaluations will allow staff to customize each student’s program for continued growth.

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STEVE TOMKINS STUDIO (Issaquah 2010-2011)

By audition or invitation
Year round study required

The Studio bridges the gap between regular KIDSTAGE classes and the real world. The Studio focuses on acting at an advanced level including various acting methods and techniques which are explored via scene-work, duets, and dance. This advanced training program will be taught by some of the regions’ finest teaching artists. The Studio will also include master classes (such as stage combat, dialect coaching, callback skills, etc.) taught by special guests. Most importantly, each student will come closer to achieving the ultimate musical theatre goal: becoming a Triple Threat. Each session will culminate in a visit from Village Theatre’s Artistic Director, Steve Tomkins. Past studio students were selected into the casts of the Mainstage productions of Bye Bye Birdie, The Who’s Tommy!, Stunt Girl, Show Boat, and 42nd Street (among others.)

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VILLAGE THEATRE INSTITUTE

By audition or invitation

This customized school-year program helps students 4th grade up to 20 years old to reach their unique artistic and performance goals. Institute tracks may combine quarterly Institute or KIDSTAGE classes, and in certain cases, other approved lessons or classes. Institute students may perform in Showcases and Company Originals readings for the public where the emphasis is on the performer and the process (not elaborate sets and costumes). Institute students in the Musical Theatre Performance track will receive priority casting for the Spring KIDSTAGE production and special attention for Mainstage or Village Originals performance intern opportunities. This advanced program is taught and directed by some of the regions’ finest teaching artists, directors, choreographers, music directors, and musical theatre writers and composers.

The Institute is designed for students who are ready to study, train, and perform at an advanced level. Students exploring a vocation in performance or musical theatre writing, and/or who want the experience of professional level training to build life skills such as creativity, discipline, teamwork, and collaboration, should consider auditioning.

Institute Tracks:

• Performance: Musical Theatre Performance (Dance, Singing, Acting)
• Company Originals: Musical Theatre Writing (Book, Lyrics) and Composing

Performance Track (4th-8th grade and 9th grade -age 20):
Institute students in the performance track, perform showcases for the public and receive exclusive or priority casting in certain productions and readings. Students audition for the Institute Performance Track in September and are evaluated at various times throughout their term in the Institute by a panel of performance educators along with Village Theatre artistic staff and guest teaching artists. Auditions and evaluations will allow staff to customize each student’s program for continued growth.

Coursework for the Performance Track: All Performance Institute students must take the Monday Studio (4th-8th grade) or Steve Tomkins Studio (9th grade –age 20). Additional classes in Singing and Dancing are required to encourage complete study.

The Institute Showcase takes place in mid-February. While optional, the Showcase is only performed by Institute students. The Showcase will be customized to build student’s specific skills and selected students will be the actors for the Company Originals work as well.

Company Originals Track (9th grade-age 20)
Student writers and composers work with professional writers in the fall to create their own short musical. Those who would like to be considered for Company Originals as writers and composers must submit examples of their work and interview for the program. Visit the Company Originals program description for more details. (link to that page when available) Company Originals writers and composers are encouraged to take the Institute Performance track as well. Company Originals actors are chosen in January to perform in readings in mid-February.

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CAMPS

EARLY ACTING HALF-DAY CAMPS – Literature and Life Skills

Early Acting provides literature based exploratory camps that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and supportive environment. The process rather than the end product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate exercises and activities teach beginning terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skill such as taking turns, listening, self-confidence, being part of a team, cultivating actor/creators, innovators, and creative collaborators. This all takes place in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. A sharing or demonstration for family and friends is held on the last day of each camp.

ACTING HALF-DAY CAMPS

Fundamental Acting provides introductory exploration camps that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and supportive environment. The process rather than the end product is emphasized. Level I camps include developmentally appropriate curriculum with exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills in every camp. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and personal responsibility. Camps provide a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. A class demonstration is held on the last day of each camp.

MUSICAL THEATRE HALF-DAY CAMPS

Musical Theatre camps are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Camps are themed around specific Broadway show styles. Camp activities include learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. In the 1st-2nd grade level camps, the focus is on the process of developing skills, with a demonstration the last day of camp allowing students to exhibit their new knowledge and skills. The 3rd-5th grade level camps feature student collaboration in developing a musical showcase of material that is performed for family and friends at the end of camp.

MUSICAL THEATRE ALL-DAY CAMPS

All-Day Musical Theatre camps are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Camp activities include learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. Camps are themed around specific Broadway show styles and feature student collaboration in developing a musical showcase of material that is performed for family and friends at the end of camp.