Youth Acting ClassesEnjoy the Spirit of Shakespeare!
Shakespeare and Me!
For children ages 2-4 and their families
Tuesdays, March 20 - April 24, 2007
10:00am-11:15am
Fee: $60 per child, siblings under 2-years-old are free
Parents & Grandparents are welcome to play in our new class designed just for
families. This class, dreamed up by our own professional actor/moms, will foster
creativity and provide a place where parents and kids can be silly together.
Each class will focus on the sharing of a different children's story and include
a make & take!
Spring Classes 2007
 Whether your child loves to jump in the spotlight or surrenders to their imaginations, our youth classes are designed to ignite their creative souls. Using age-appropriate Shakespeare games, songs, monologues and scenes, students will have fun while learning the fundamentals of acting. Each class culminates in a final
presentation for family and friends.
"Sassy Shakespeare" performs King Henry V | The following 3 classes run from 9:30am-10:45am
on
Saturdays, March 24 - April 28, 2007Silly Shakespeare grades pre-K-1 Fee: $100
Sassy Shakespeare
grades 2-4 Fee: $100 Shakespeare Explosion grades 5-7 Fee: $100 | Shakespeare on the Edge
Saturdays, Mar. 24 - Apr. 28, 2007
Grades 8-12
Fee: $120
Time: 9:15am-10:45am
| 
|
TEENS - Try This!
|
Acting On Camera
Date: March 24 - April 28 Time:
11am-1pm
Instructor: John Didonna Fee: $175
Adults and teens can catch up with all the current trends on film
acting in this rigorous and insightful course. Instructor John Didonna
will help you lay the foundation for making the camera your partner
instead of your enemy. Previous experience on film in not required. | | | |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The BasicsQ: What is a typical class size?
A: Our classes typically range from 5-15 students depending on the time of the year. Silly Shakespeare, grades pre-K-1, has a cap of 16 students while the other classes have a cap of 20. Q: How many instructors per class?
A: We provide two professional acting instructors per class. Q: What happens in a typical six or eight week class?
A: On the first day, the instructors will meet the class and play several theater games to assess each student's level. The instructors then prepare scripts tailored to each student. Students spend the bulk of their classes working on the scripts and creating their own, unique characters. The instructors guide them on this journey by playing a variety of different theater games designed to teach the students the skills they need to create their characters. The final session is a workshop presentation for family and friends. 
A "Sassy Shakespeare" performer, Fall 2005.
|
Q: Tell me more about "theater games."
A: A theater game is an exercise, either physical or mental, designed to teach a skill that can be used on stage (and in real life, too!). There are countless different games that teach such skills as mental focus, ensemble, healthy vocal production, physical awareness, and emotional connection to your text (text is the Shakespeare word for your lines). But the key to theater games is the fact that they are so much fun. Students learn advanced concepts and overcome personal hurdles while laughing and creating. Q: Is there a final show?
A: Yes, with the exception of Family Shakespeare, all classes have a final "scene sharing" or workshop presentation. It is a celebration of the growth each student has made in their acting journey. We do not use costumes. Instead, we focus on the student and what they can communicate with their voices, bodies and emotions. On the second to the last day of class we will send your child home with a letter detailing the time of the presentation. Q: What type of clothing is recommended?
A: Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing and sturdy athletic shoes. Q: Can kids really do Shakespeare?
A: YES! Shakespeare wrote fantastic, exciting plays that encompass all human emotions and relationships. Kids already understand Shakespeare on an emotional level because they are less closed off (or in control) of their emotions than adults. Intellectually, we cut sections of the scripts to suit each child's reading and acting level. Teachers do not start the session with a pre-conceived play in mind, rather they choose the material based upon the skills and interests of their particular class. Q: May I watch the class?
A: We do not permit parents to watch acting classes. We have discovered that when parents are in the room the younger students who are labeled "shy" always cling to their parent. They do not focus on the instructor or on playing the games. Instead, they react strongly to their new environment and do not enjoy themselves. Most of the time, these same students thrive when there is not a parent in the room. Non "shy" students tend to try and perform for their parent's approval instead of focusing on the instructor. This limits their ability to fully participate. 
THE BIG QUESTION: What almost every parent asks.Q: Can my child be moved up a grade level?
A: Many parents, who know and love the sheer joy and brilliance of their children, would like for their child to be moved into a class with older students. They seem to think that this would give their child a more enriching opportunity for growth. While we respect this view, we simply do not move children up a grade level. There are several reasons for this choice. The practical reason is that over 50% of the parents who call to register request this move. You can see why this not only makes parents' hopes moot, but it would completely alter the classroom situation we are trying to provide. We put a great deal of energy and thought in the composition and curriculums of our classes and believe that we provide a quality experience for all children. Q: But what if my child reads far above her grade level?
A: If your child reads far above her grade level, then the pieces she will be given to work on will be chosen and cut to reflect her reading and interpretive ability. Acting is not a quantitative experience, rather it is a personal, emotional journey that each student takes with the respectful guidance of our professional instructors. Q: But what is my child feels comfortable with older kids?
A: Just because your first grader is comfortable with older students does not mean that the fourth graders in the upper class will be comfortable. We can not please everyone (no human ever has) so instead we will stick to our proven curriculums and methods. ODDS AND ENDS: Questions we have received over the years.Q: My son wants to act in movies and commercials, will this help him?
A: Our classes will help your son develop his own sense of self on stage. He will be encouraged to express emotions and actions with scripted lines. In short, he will receive acting coaching, but he will not be taught "camera techniques." Q: When can my child audition for your professional Shakespeare Festival productions?
A: Unless the Festival is doing a play that specifically calls for a child actor, such as when we presented Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, we do not consider students for our productions. The actors that appear on our stage range from recent college graduates to seasoned actors from around the country. We rehearse during the day, eight to twelve hours a day, six days a week. It is a full time job for adults. High school students are welcome to audition for our professionally directed, summer teen program, The Young Company.
To register call 407-447-1700 x254 with a credit card or print
out the following form and fax or mail it in to:
Education Department
Orlando-UCF Shakespeare Festival
812 E. Rollins St. Ste. 100
Orlando, FL 32803
FAX: 407-447-1701
Student's Name________________________ grade_____
Parent's Name _________________________________
Address________________________________________
City, State, Zip_______________________________
Day Phone _____________________________________
Evening Phone _________________________________
email _________________________________________
Class____________________ Fee _________________
Class____________________ Fee _________________
TOTAL____________________
_____Check_____Visa_____MC_____AmEx
Credit Card #___________________________________
Exp. Date ______________________________________ AUDITING: If you would like to audit a class, you may do so for a $10 fee. This fee will be deducted from the class fee if you decide to take the class.
Please note that you may only audit each class one time.
VISITING FRIENDS: Parents, your child is welcome to bring a friend to class. They will be considered an auditor and must pay the $10 auditing fee.
REFUNDS: For an 8 class session, an 80% refund will be issued after the first scheduled class only. For a 6 class session, a 70% refund will be issued after the first scheduled class only. You must call the Education Office (ext. 208) before the second scheduled class to drop and receive your 80% or 70% refund. There will be no refunds after the second class.
Call 407-447-1700 x 254 to register
|
