The Theater Bug plans 'extreme theatre' program in May

Cori Laemmel has announced a new initiative for The Theater Bug, her educational and training program for younger people interested in pursuing the theater, called The Extreme Theatre Series: Theatre as an Extreme Sport, running April 30-May 1 and May 13-15.

The two-part program features a unique plan to give young thespians a chance to become involved on a variety of levels, according to Laemmel.

"First up is our Extreme Playwriting weekend, instructed by Vanderbilt professor Catherine McTamaney, and me," she explains. "In this day-long intensive writing lab, ten of Nashville's finest young writers ,ages 11-18 ,will come together to conceive, collaborate and compose the script for a play about - what else? - theater! The very next day, a group of Nashville's most promising youth actors will perform a table-read of the original script."

Two weeks after the playwrights' lab, The Theater Bug will host a weekend of extreme theatre, in which performers ages 7-18 will rehearse the original script n just two days, combining it with five musical numbers in preparation for a final performance before the weekend is over. This second component of The Extreme Theatre Series: Theatre as an Extreme Sport, will be led by Laemmel and Nashville actress Laura Thomas-Sonn.

For information on how to apply for Extreme Playwriting, or to register for Extreme Theatre, please email cori@thetheaterbug.org, or call (615) 423-4626. Cost is $50 for playwriting, and $60 for Theatre. Scholarships are available.