Oddfellows Playhouse Now Enrolling For Spring Classes

Founded in 1975 by a small group of Wesleyan University students as a theater arts organization designed to include children from all backgrounds, Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater now annually serves approximately 2,000 young people, ages 2-20, in a broad spectrum of theater arts activities. The largest and most active year-round youth theater in Connecticut, the Playhouse is an independent, not-for-profit organization with an arts/social service mission. Oddfellows received an Award of Excellence in 1998 from the New England Theater Conference in recognition of its outstanding contributions to youth theater and education. In 1999, the Middlesex County NAACP gave the Playhouse its Community Service Award in recognition of its years of commitment to the young people of the county, particularly those whose growth and development are challenged by poverty.

Oddfellows Playhouse takes its name from one of its first homes, a building owned by the fraternal organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1994, after 19 years of rehearsing and performing in dozens of rented and borrowed Middletown locations, Oddfellows, with extensive community support, acquired and renovated the 10,000 sq. ft. historic building that is now its home.

The Playhouse strives to promote the growth of young people--in skills, knowledge, and self-confidence--through the performing arts. Its teaching artists are committed professionals with proven expertise in working with young people and producing the highest quality and most imaginative theater. Teamwork and cooperation are stressed, while skills--both life skills and specific theater skills such as acting, mime, clowning, movement, and music--are nurtured and refined. A generous financial aid policy offers scholarships to all children who need them. No child is ever turned away for financial reasons.

Oddfellows' core program consists of three 8-week terms from September to May of tuition-based performing arts classes and mainstage and mini-productions for ages 6-20. A Neighborhood Troupes program offers free after-school weekly performing arts classes throughout the school year for 175 at-risk youth from Middletown and Portland's lowest income areas. A 5-week summer Children's Circus teaches circus skills to over 200 Middletown youngsters, leading to a spectacular outdoor public performance. "Kids on the Block" is a disability awareness program for all 4th graders in Middletown and surrounding schools.

Central to the Playhouse program is addressing racial, ethnic, and cultural isolation. This is accomplished in two ways: 1) by combining students from a diverse, small city-Middletown-with students from suburban and rural towns throughout central Connecticut, and 2) through curricula drawn from the literature and artistic traditions of many cultures, with a special ongoing commitment to exploring non-Anglo heritage. About 60% of Playhouse students are Caucasian and 40% are African American, Latino, or Asian. While 64% of Playhouse students are from Middletown, the remaining 36% are from 24 separate school districts throughout central Connecticut. Approximately 10% of the youngsters have special needs.

In addition to an artistic roster of 60-70 contracted professional artists, the Playhouse employs full-time Artistic and Managing Directors, Program Manager, Technical Director, and Development Director/PR Coordinator. A full-time Director of Neighborhood Programs coordinates the Neighborhood Troupes program. Wesleyan University work-study students do clerical work and volunteer as teaching assistants.

Complete Actor 1 (ages 6-8)
Complete Actor 1 provides the basics of acting through games, skits, stories and exercises designed to develop the ability to embody characters, emotions, while building trust and
communication. This is a prerequisite for the Stage One advanced classes.

Mondays, April 5-May 24, 5:00-6:00pm Instructor: Missy Waryas
Tuition: $135
Limit: 15

Mini Pro: Aesop's Fables (ages 6-8)

Enter the world of Greek myth through the wonderful fables of Aesop! These stories have survived for centuries and spread throughout our world. Using masks, puppets, and imagination, we will bring these classic stories to life.

Tuesdays & Thursdays, April 6-May 27 4:30-5:45pm Performance: May 28, 6pm & May 29th, noon Director: Bobbye Knoll Tuition: $135
Limit: 20 Pre-requisite: Complete Actor 1

Complete Actor 2 (ages 9-11)
Get ready for the spring mini-production by taking this class.
Complete Actor 2 will develop your skills as an actor: vocal, physical and emotional. Young actors will use theater games and exercises, improvisation, mime and working with a script to take them to the next level as performers.

Tuesdays, April 6-May 25, 4:30-5:45pm Instructor: Kristen Palmer Tuition: $140
Limit: 15

Mini Pro: The Myth-ing Link (ages 9-11)
The heroes, heroines, gods and goddesses of Greek mythology are brought together to compete in a new hit reality TV show! Join the fun as these unusual contestants vie for the prize, and perhaps learn a little something along the way about what it really means to be "who you are".

Mondays & Wednesdays, April 5-May 26, 4:30-6:00pm Instructor: Jaimie Guite
Tuition: $165 Limit: 20

Stage Combat (ages 12-14)
Explore the exciting skill of stage combat! Learn how to (safely!) punch, kick, slap, fall, pull hair, and sword fight! Stage combat is the illusion of violence-we will also look at how stage combat can be used for humor (like the Three Stooges) and for drama (like Shakespeare). This introductory class is sure to be a "hit"!

Wednesdays, April 7-May 26, 5:00-6:30pm Instructor: Jeffery Allen Tuition: $145 Limit: 20

To Register:

1. Call Oddfellows Playhouse at 860-347-6143 to reserve your spot today. OR Register on-line here.

2. Confirm your registration with a $25 deposit (cash, check or credit card) within five business days.

3. You can request financial aid forms over the phone or fill one out online.

4. Full tuition payment is due before the beginning of the class.

Financial Aid Policy
Scholarships are available to qualified families on a need basis. Financial aid forms, which are available from the Oddfellows office and on-line, must be returned along with registration forms within one week of pre-registration. Full and partial scholarships are available. Its Oddfellows policy never to turn a child away for financial reasons. Call the Managing Director so that we can arrange an option that works for you.

General Operating & Scholarship Support

CT State Department of Education, CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, The Stare Fund, Pratt & Whitney - Middletown, Middletown Commission on the Arts, Aetna Foundation, Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Fund, the Irving Kohn Foundation

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