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We’re delighted to introduce a new world of theater for young people at Northern Stage! To better serve the families of the Upper Valley, Northern Stage has developed an entirely new Theater Arts Education Program. We’ve placed new emphasis on scope and sequence, with a more natural progression from our experiential classes to our technique and performance classes, and finally to our most advanced group, the Ensemble. Whether you or your child wants to dip a toe in the exciting world of theater or pursue professional training, we have a class that’s just right for you!
Northern Stage now has three levels of adventure for the theater lover! Feel free to call us to find out which is best for your child!
Class Sessions
All classes meet for 8 weeks. No classes meet the week of Thanksgiving, or during the Winter or Spring school vacations (Feb 16 – 20 and April 20 – 24).
Fall Classes meet Oct. 6 – Dec. 6, 2008
Winter Classes meet Jan. 5- March 7, 2009
Spring Classes meet March 16-May 16, 2009
Experiential Classes: Introduce your child to the world of theater through these fun offerings that encourage self-confidence and individual creativity while fostering strong group interaction skills. We recommend that children, especially those under 10, take at least one experiential class before registering for a technique class.
Technique Classes: This next step teaches specific acting skills through theater games, vocal and physical expression, monologues and short scenes. Perfect for the youngster who wants to learn about acting from the inside out!
Performance Classes: Once a student masters the basics of technique, it’s time to put it all together! Students will collaborate to develop a theater performance for family and friends!
THE NORTHERN STAGE ENSEMBLE: Perhaps the most significant development in Northern Stage’s Education program in recent years has been the creation of the Northern Stage Ensemble, a premier professional training program for dedicated young theater artists. The group from throughout Vermont and New Hampshire meets weekly to study all aspects of theater, on-stage and backstage, working with highly trained theater professionals in a unique program that is free of charge to all participants. In addition, the Ensemble produces and performs in the new Northern Stage Family Series of plays at the Briggs Opera House. The ‘08-’09 season includes WINNIE THE POOH, TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING and BLACK BEAUTY: The Musical. The members are chosen at an annual open audition which will take place this year on September 27 from 11 a.m.—5 p.m., with callbacks the next day. These will be the only audition dates for the 2008-2009 season. We have 8 open slots available in the group, and new members will be selected for their talent, maturity, focus and discipline. The program is very intense and demands a major commitment of time and energy. However, for a child who wants to pursue theater professionally, there is no comparable program in the Upper Valley. In the past 10 months, 8 members have worked professionally with Equity theaters around New England, and one appeared on Broadway! Plus Ensemble Members worked in responsible technical positions backstage on such Northern Stage productions as THE FULL MONTY, THE ELEPHANT MAN and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. For more information, or call our Education Office at 802-291-7029.
Jody Davidson has the unique distinction of being the only person to ever found and lead three separate companies each named “Best New Children’s Theatre in the United States.” She has been featured in PEOPLE magazine for her work as a theater educator, and she is a published playwright and author. Most recently she was employed by Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, one of the foremost regional theaters in the Midwest. Throughout her career, Ms. Davidson has taught acting and creative drama to more than 50,000 individuals, from pre-school to college age.
Introduce your child to the world of theater through these fun offerings that encourage self-confidence and individual creativity while fostering strong group interaction skills. We recommend that children, especially those under 10, take at least one experiential class before registering for a technique class.
Creativity Crew
Ages 4-5 | Saturdays, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Limit: 8 students. Cost: $90
It’s a pretty exciting world out there, and the Creativity Crew will explore it all using their voices, bodies and, most importantly, their wild and wonderful imaginations. From role-playing jobs in the community to make-believing themselves on trips to faraway places, to becoming mythical creatures, the Creativity Crew imaginations will grow almost as quickly as they do. Parents are welcome at the last class to join in the creative process!
Play Me A Story!
Ages 4-6 | Fridays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Limited to 8 students. Cost: $170
Want a way to stretch your child’s creativity in a number of wonderful directions? Play me a story is a new adventure each week. Students read a story, then work on related arts and crafts activities, then act out their stories using costume pieces and props. On Jack and the Beanstalk day, they might build their own magic beanstalks, then paint the pots to carry them home in. After that, they might learn the song the magic harp sings, become the folks in Jack’s village, dancing on market day and then finally, climb the beanstalk, capturing the goose who lays the golden egg! This class encourages children to learn and experience using a wide range of learning modalities…which just means there’ll be fun for everyone!
Fantastical Friends
Ages 6-7 | Mondays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Limited to 10 students. Cost: $110
Playing theater games is a great way to meet friends, gain self-confidence, focus energies and imaginations, and have fun! Activities will encourage students to use their voices, minds and bodies to create and perform original stories. Students will also improvise from fantastic scenarios with help from the items in the “Tremendous Traveling Theater Trunk.” Parents are welcome at the last class to join in the creative process!
Imaginators
Ages 8-10 | Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. Limited to 10 students. Cost: $150
Through the magic of imagination, the Imaginators will travel to strange and wonderful worlds and to exciting adventures in the past and future. Using the actor’s tools of voice, mind and body, supported by a variety of props and costume pieces, students will role-play tales from beloved books and create exciting stories of their own. Parents are welcome at the last class to join in the creative process!
Play Builders
Ages 11-13 | Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Limited to 10 students. Cost: $150
Working with the actors’ tools of voice, mind and body, the Play Builders will not only engage in theater games and acting exercises, but will actually build their own play through improvisation and directed writing. This original work may come from a variety of sources – poetry, mythology, current events, popular or classic literature, or even from the imaginations of the students. Over the 8 weeks of class, the group will develop their
piece, presenting a staged reading for family and friends at the final class. Especially recommended for young people who have participated in our Project Playwright program, but previous experience is not required.
These classes are designed to develop specific acting skills in theater artists through theater games, vocal and physical expression, monologues and short scenes. Perfect for the those who want to learn about acting
from the inside out! These classes are for individuals who believe they would like to eventually perform for an audience at the academic, community or professional levels.
Acting Technique: Monologue
Ages 8-12 | Mondays, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Limited to 8 students. Cost: $175
Ages 13-18 | Tuesdays, 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Limited to 8 students. Cost: $175
An aspiring actor must first learn the skills required to bring a character to life. Using age-appropriate materials, students will be taught how to warm-up their bodies and voices, determine and sustain their characters’ objectives, and make conscious physical and vocal character decisions maintaining naturalism. Young actors will learn how to take blocking and direction. Each student will develop an appropriate monologue suitable for auditioning. At the end of each session, students will perform their monologues for an audience of family and friends.
Acting Technique: Scene Study
Ages 8-12 | Fridays, 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Limited to 12 students. Cost: $200
Ages 13-18 | Mondays, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Limited to 12 students. Cost: $200
Using the skills they have developed in the Monologue class, students will begin to learn the techniques for sustaining a character and specific objectives while working on stage with other performers. Students will learn how to be active listeners in the scene, receptive and reacting to what their fellow performers bring to the performance. Finally, they will continue to develop their vocal and physical skills, creating characters that are natural and believable. Elements of style and period will be introduced. At the end of each session, students will perform their scenes for an audience of family and friends.
Successful completion of the Northern Stage Monologue class or permission of instructor required for registration.
Performance Class
Ages 10-18 | Saturdays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Limited to 12 students. Cost: $225
Explore the mechanics of how a play is analyzed and developed in this class for more advanced students. Working with an age-appropriate script, students will learn how to break down the text to best understand and “flesh out” characters. They will discuss the playwright’s intentions within the arc of the script. Finally, they will participate in producing an abridged version of the script: casting, rehearsing, memorizing lines, blocking, and character development. At the end of the session, students will perform their production for an audience of family and friends.
Successful completion of the Northern Stage Scene Study class or permission of instructor required for registration.
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Adult Acting
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Heidi Fagan - Instructor) Limited to 10 students. Cost: $240
Wednesdays 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Richard Waterhouse - Instructor) Limited to 10 students. Cost: $240
Have you always thought you’d like to try acting but never had the nerve? Are you a community theater performer eager to enhance your existing skills? Or are you ready to make the move to the Big Apple and want to arrive with your skills sharp and ready for the professional acting world? With lots of individual attention in a nurturing environment, this class can meet all these needs. We will do various warm-ups, acting exercise and theater games, as well as monologue and scene work where appropriate. Each actor will leave with a monologue appropriate for auditioning. At the end of each session, students will perform their monologues and/or scenes for an audience of family and friends.
Next Stop: Broadway | Ages 10-18 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Cost: $365
If your child loves to sing and dance, this is the place to be! Students will work intensely each day in musical theater—dancing, singing and acting—working to perfect the skills they need to be true “triple threats.” Taught by experienced Broadway professionals, students will work on an interesting and challenging assortment of classic and contemporary musical numbers, which they will present on the final afternoon of class. Some previous experience is strongly recommended
Theater Alive | Ages 8-13 | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Cost: $340
This class gives students the chance to expand their creativity while exploring the many artistic elements involved in presenting theater. Students will spend the week creating their own play on a topic of their own choosing, then producing and acting in their piece— complete with musical number—which they will present on the final afternoon of class. The curriculum covers everything from acting, singing and dancing to technical theater, circus skills and stage make-up. This class is so much fun, your child will never realize how much he or she is learning!
Shakespearean Wild
Ages 12-18 | 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Cost: $350
For the young actor, what better way to advance your acting skills than with the Upper Valley’s own professional Equity theater company? Focusing on one of Shakespeare’s plays, students will work in depth to bring new relevance and understanding to the classic. This class works at an accelerated pace but still finds time for lots of one-on-one coaching and individual attention. This is one of our most popular programs, and early registration is highly recommended!
Jump, Jive & Jazz
Ages 10-18 | 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Cost: $170
Serious young dancers have the chance to learn some new moves and further perfect their dancing skills under the tutelage of noted Broadway professional dancers. This fast-paced class covers a variety of styles from jazz and modern to hip/hop and contemporary musical theater.
Pre-requisite: Students should be at least intermediate-level dancers. Call for details.
Behind The Scenes: Theatre Backstage
Ages 12 – 18 (Ages 10/11 with permission of instructor) | Thursdays, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Limited to 10 students. Cost: $175
It takes dozens of very talented, creative people to get produce a show and this class will offer you the opportunity to explore some of the varied arts that go into making a play happen including set design, stagecraft, costuming, props, stage management, marketing and lighting. Students will gain hands-on practical experience in all of these areas and more, build their design portfolios in the process. This is a great class for a young person who wants to be involved in theatre but doesn’t necessarily want to act or for the young actor who wants to more fully understand all areas of production
ALL PLAY TITLES ARE USED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.