After School Classes Announced for January at Bay Street Theatre

Bay Street Theatre is pleased to announce the January lineup of after school classes. Theater Arts Class & Showcase will be held on Wednesdays, beginning January 16, 2013 from 4:15-5:45 pm for 8-12 year olds; and 6:15-7:45 pm for teenagers. Sing The Song! Vocal Performance and Live Concert will be held on Thursdays, beginning January 17, 2013 from 4:15-5:45 pm for 8-12 year olds; and 6:15-7:45 pm for teenagers. The cost is $275 per person, per class. Both classes are taught by professional actor/singer Susan Galardi.

Calling all budding actors and playwrights! Theater Arts Class & Showcase is an 8-week course (January 16, 23, 30; February 6, 13, 27 and March 6 and 13), in which students develop, rehearse and perform original works for the stage. In the workshop young actors, and students interested in creating/writing for theater, will collaborate to develop original work. The result is a fun, exciting and totally unique theater education experience.

"This workshop," says Galardi, "is for young actors who want to learn their craft through improv, rehearsal and performance -- as well as for students interested in creating original works for the stage. Students can focus on acting, developing new work, or both! The course culminates in a live, public performance of ORIGINAL theater, created and acted by the students."

The workshop includes acting & improv exercises, plus scene/dialogue/character study. From that classwork, ideas, stories and characters will be developed into a variety of short theater pieces. Students with a passion for writing are encouraged to bring their short plays, comedy skits, monologues, etc. into the workshop, where actors will bring them to life. Other components of this workshop include vocal & physical warm ups, acting exercises, improv games, scene study, and character development. In addition, writing improvs and exercises will be used to create dialogue, build character and develop the story. Accomplished writers/directors/actors will make surprise guest appearances!

The final class is a live performance at the Bay Street Theater of the unique works created throughout the course. It is open to friends, family and the public.

Sing The Song! Vocal Performance and Live Concert is an 8-week long performance class (January 17, 24; February 7, 14, 28 and March 7, 14, 21). Young singers at all levels work on songs of their choice with a professional vocal coach with live accompaniment by pianist Karen Hochstedler.

"Sing the Song! is for students who have a passion for singing, and a desire to work in a fun, supportive environment to improve their vocal performance," says Susan Galardi. "The goal is to take songs the kids love to the highest performance level."

The classes are tailored to each student -- whether their goal is to prepare a song for a school play, a professional audition, or a concert; they'll learn the basics of good singing and solid performing technique. All styles are encouraged including pop, rock, country, musical theater, classical and original songs.

The goal is for every student to sing in every class. The final class is a live concert at the Bay Street Theatre where students will perform songs they've worked on. It is open to friends, family and the public.

The course covers: vocal warm ups, basic singing exercises, how to choose the "right" songs, finding the ideal key for the song in their voice, and vocal technique (diction, phrasing, word coloring, breath control, dynamics). Performance techniques include: interpretation, understanding lyrics, song arrangements, working with an accompanist, and entrances and exits. Accomplished artists will also make surprise guest appearances!

Vocal coach Susan Galardi believes that students can learn to be excellent singers if they have a passion for singing, and a "connection" to the music and lyrics. With formal training in classical singing (Manhattan School of Music), as well as master classes and private lessons from accomplished singers and teachers from Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera, Susan has performed in musicals, operas, rock bands and cabaret. An accomplished songwriter whose work has been produced in New York and the Hamptons, she is experienced in all musical styles.

In addition to Galardi's musical background, she has written and performed a variety of original work, including writing the book/lyrics and music to a full length musical produced in New York, and a children's musical produced at CMEE. She wrote/performed a one-woman cabaret show directed by Betty Buckley in New York and the Hamptons. A graduate of Carnegie-Mellon and the Manhattan School of Music, Susan is an Equity actor with a passion for comedy. She appeared in countless skits on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Comedy Central, and wrote/performed sketch & improv comedy in NYC and throughout the Northeast. Recently, Susan played the role of Miss Maudie in Bay Street's Literature Live production of To Kill A Mockingbird.

Accompanist Karen Hochstedler earned her music performance degree in piano at OrAl Roberts University, and played professionally upon graduation. In the Hamptons, Karen has worked on Center Stage productions (Southampton Cultural Center) as a Musical Director, pianist and actor; performed with the Choral Society of the Hamptons (pianist/singer); and is musical director of many musicals at Pierson Middle School.

Classes fill up quickly and class size is limited. To reserve a spot, please call 631-725-0818. For more information about other programming at Bay Street Theatre, log on to www.baystreet.org.

Bay Street Theatre is a not-for-profit institution, dedicated to presenting new, classic and contemporary works of the highest quality, which challenge as well as entertain, speak to the diversity of the community and champion the human spirit. Bay Street's commitment extends to educational programs for all ages to foster the continued value of theatre as a vital art form for future generations.
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