Registration Opens for PPT's Youth Theatre Academy

Piedmont Players Theatre (PPT) is excited to announce the 4th season of its Youth Theatre Academy. Directed by Director and Choreographer Gwen Matthews, the program is designed around students who have a passion for theatre and a desire to improve their skills and techniques. Matthews will guide students through a structured curriculum spanning 14 weeks, beginning next month. Students will continue to develop their craft and learn how to take their theater performance to the next level.

PPT's program is designed to be the most exciting extracurricular activity a young student can experience while building a foundation of confidence and poise that will serve the students into adulthood. The program will begin on October 3rd, with a break in December and resuming in January. This year's program will offer two new classes for 3rd-12th grade students.

2017-2018 CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Mondays - 6:45pm to 8:15pm

Tackling the One Act

Ages: 6th-12th grade students (younger students at Director's discretion)

1st Semester: 10/09/17 -11/20/17

2nd Semester: 01/08/18 - 02/19/18

Tuition: $300 (includes both semesters)

This class is designed to give the student a short, but intense experience in performing a One Act Play. The plays will give students the chance to develop a character, plot and story line in a single act. Students will have the opportunity to improve their memorization techniques. Additionally, some reader's theater will be used. Students will sharpen their acting skills in both genres of drama and comedy. The program will finish with a showcase performance for parents at the end of each semester.

Tuesdays - 6:45pm to 8:15pm

Shall We Dance?

Ages: 5th-12th grade students (younger students at Director's discretion)

1st Semester: 10/03/17 -11/21/17 (no class on Halloween)

2nd Semester: 01/09/18 - 02/20/18

Tuition: $300 (includes both semesters)

This class is designed to acquaint students with dance for musical theater auditions. The students will learn various theatrical dance styles with influences from West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Finnegan's Rainbow, Shrek, High School Musical 2 and others. Both newcomers to the stage and students with previous stage training will benefit from this focused curriculum. Dance or yoga shoes are highly recommended. Parents are welcome to the last class of each semester to observe a showcase of their child's talents.

With a limited number of spots available this fall, registration is available by calling 704-633-5471 or by stopping by the PPT Offices on the second floor of the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St. in Downtown Salisbury. Complete details about the program and to download a registration form visit PiedmontPlayers.com

Gwen Matthews (Director/Instructor) Gwen has long been one of the most popular instructors at PPT, having taught many youth theatre summer camps as well as our musical audition workshops. In addition to being an instructor in our educational program, she has also directed and choreographed some of PPT's most popular Youth Musicals including; Disney's The Jungle Book KIDS, Honk Jr., The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr., The Little Mermaid, High School Musical, Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark and Disney's Tarzan. This season she will be working on Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn and The Wizard of Oz.