Berkely Rep Offers Summer Classes for All Ages

 

Classes at the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre's School of Theatre begin on July 6, and the summer session includes 12 classes for adults, three classes for students in elementary school, and a theatre intensive for teens. The first session, for students entering grades 6-8, takes place on weekdays from June 21 through July 16. The second session, for teens in grades 9-12, is held July 19 through August 13. Tuition is $1,050 for session 1 and $1,150 for session 2.  For more information visit http://www.berkeleyrep.org/school/summer_index.asp.

"Berkeley Rep's School of Theatre has activities for everyone - from beginners to professionals, from kindergartners to seniors," says Rachel Fink, the School's director. "Parents will definitely want to know about the Summer Theatre Intensive, a terrific theatre camp for teens right here in Berkeley. And adults will be particularly enthused by two of our new offerings: Character and Status through the Ages with Lisa Anne Porter and Shakespeare's Verse: Discovery and Action with Daniel Fish."

The summer session features the following classes, which meet weekly for two to three hours with instructors who are nationally recognized artists and teachers:

Students beginning grades K-1: Egyptian Exploration with Erica Blue introduces kids to fascinating history by way of silly and serious theatre games and culminates in a show for families and friends.

Students beginning grades 2-3: In Bollywood Jewels with Erica Blue, children dance, sing, act, make costumes, and more as they explore Indian culture and mythology.

Students entering grades 4-5: Nancy Gold's Performance Workshop encourages students to create vibrant characters using improvisation, masks, mime, movement, and more. Join the circus as part of this exciting ensemble!

Acting for adults: There's a class for every experience level - Beginning Acting with Michael Navarra, Intermediate Acting with Marvin Greene, and Advanced Acting with Andrew Hurteau.
Improv classes for adults: Explore spontaneity through Advanced Improvisation: Four Favorite Genres with Diane Rachel, the Art of Play: Two Points of View with Diane Rachel and Laura Derry, and Stand-Up with Julia Brothers.

Other classes for adults: Try something different by signing up for Acting Violence with Dave Maier (Level Two certification in broadsword), British Dialects with Deborah Eubanks, Character and Status through the Ages with Lisa Anne Porter, Clowning with Ben Johnson, Shakespeare's Verse: Discovery and Action with Daniel Fish, and the return of Gary Graves' popular Summer Playwriting Workshop.

There's something for teens as well: the Summer Theatre Intensive provides a fun-filled, enriching, affordable camp for teenagers - right here in Berkeley. Participants work with master teachers to learn basic theatrical techniques such as acting and improvisation, and they learn from Berkeley Rep's artisans about design disciplines such as costumes, lighting, props, and sound. They also select their own specialties with electives in topics such as directing, hip-hop, musical theatre, playwriting, and video. In a process that mirrors the professional method that Berkeley Rep applies to develop new plays, students use the skills they've learned to create their own original work. Those shows are performed for an invited audience of family and friends on one of the Theatre's renowned stages.

With different sessions for different ages, the Summer Theatre Intensive offers a rare opportunity for youth to open their imaginations. The only requirement is an active mind open to imagination, collaboration, hard work, and, of course, lots of fun.

The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is committed to working with local schools and community members to reinforce arts education as a community value and an integral part of the cultural fabric. By providing access and opportunities for participation in the arts, Berkeley Rep uses theatre as a means to challenge, thrill, and galvanize what is best in the human spirit.  For more informaiton visit berkeleyrep.org/school.

Kids get creative at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre.
Photo courtesy of Berkeley Repertory Theatre

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