Village Theatre KIDSTAGE Announces Winter Classes

Village Theatre Kidstage is proud to announce its winter line-up of exploratory and musical theatre classes for students of all ages, including but not limited to "Story Explorers" for children as young as Pre-K, a wide variety of dance classes, and a "Broadway Foundations" class focusing on the Art of Auditioning. The majority of classes begin on January 12, 2009. Classes range from $145-$250 and parents can receive a 10 percent discount when registering more than one student from the same family or when registering for more than one class. One discount per family. Each registered student will also receive one half-price single ticket to any Village Theatre Mainstage production. Registration forms are available online at www.villagetheatre.org or by calling Village Theatre's Youth Education office at (425) 392-1942 x148.

The following is a list of the programs:

Early Stages – Literature and Life Skills (Pre-K–Grade 2):

Early Stages are literature-based exploratory classes that foster confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate exercises and activities teach beginning terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as taking turns, listening, speaking up, and being part of a team — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A final class demonstration for family and friends is held on the last day of each class.

Story Explorers (Grade PreK-K)

Animal Crackers

Mondays, 2:30 PM–3:30 PM, January 12–March 9, 2009

Tuition: $145

Anansi the clever spider, George the barkless dog, and many other animal favorites will be featured in this creative approach to acting out popular literature as students bring to life both new and familiar "tails".

Fables and Fairytales (Grades K–1)

Cinderella and Knights in Shining Armor

Section A: Mondays, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, January 12–March 9, 2009

Section B: Thursdays, 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, January 15–March 12, 2009

Tuition: $145

Students explore movement, voice, and storytelling as well as arts and crafts in this class celebrating variations on the Cinderella story from around the world. Royalty, magic, and fairytales all become a part of every class day.

Creative Chronicles (Grades 1-2)

Amelia and Alexander
Thursdays, 5:15 PM–6:15 PM, January 15–March 12, 2009
Tuition: $145
Students will revel in creativity and word play as they delve into the lives of Amelia Bedelia, who dusts the furniture with talcum powder, and Alexander, who is having a no good, very bad day. Using craft projects, theatre games, and dress up, students will make each class day great.

Fundamental Stages – Building Blocks for Young Actors (Grades 3–12)

Fundamental Stages are introductory exploration classes that foster confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate curriculum includes exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and responsibility — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A class sharing or demonstration is held on the last day of each class.

Character Quests (Grades 3–5)

Willy Wonka

Mondays, 4:00 PM–5:30 PM, January 12–March 9, 2009

Tuition: $170

Students learn how to create characters from the ground up by using and developing their own unique vocal and physical skills. Basic theatre and acting terminology are woven throughout the class as students re-enact and reinvent Roald Dahl's wacky world of Willy Wonka and his magnificent chocolate factory.

Ensemble Elements (Grades 6–8)

That's My Line — Improv Games

Tuesdays (Mini Session), 4:00 PM–6:00 PM, February 24–March 24, 2009

Tuition: $185

Prerequisite: none, although Character Quests is highly recommended.

Learn what it takes to work from a book, poem, or short story to bring a tale to life through improvisation, dialogue, and movement in an ensemble environment. Students say yes to suggestions from scene partners, audience members, and themselves while working collaboratively to create spontaneous original scenes.

Pair with Broadway Foundations.

Acting 101 (Grades 9–12)

Teen Scene

Thursdays (Mini Session), 4:00 PM–6:00 PM, January 15–February 12, 2009

Tuition: $185

Prerequisites: none — although Ensemble Elements is highly recommended.

This is an intermediate course for the teen student to fine-tune acting techniques. Class will include character development, ensemble building, and monologue and/or scene-study from contemporary plays.

Pair with Musical Theatre 101.

Musical Theatre Classes (Grade 1–Age 20):

Musical Theatre Classes are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Class time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. In the introductory level classes (Musical Moves), the focus is on the process of developing skills. There is an open class the last day of the session that demonstrates the new abilities of the students. In the intermediate and advanced level classes, students collaborate in developing a musical showcase of material that is performed for family and friends at the end of the session. All classes have a different theme each session. Students are encouraged to study year-round.

Beginning Musical Theatre:

Musical Moves – Section A (Grades 1–2)

Hard Knock Life

Wednesdays, 4:00–5:00 PM, January 14–March 11, 2009

Tuition: $145

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.

Explore the joys of moving and singing in a fun group environment. Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits while increasing body, rhythm, and spatial awareness. Students also explore singing and acting through a wide range of musical styles inspired by plucky orphans such as Annie, Oliver, and many others.

Musical Moves – Section B (Grades 2–4)

Hard Knock Life

Wednesdays (Early Release), 2:30–3:30 PM, January 14–March 11, 2009

Tuition: $145

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.

Explore the joys of moving and singing in a fun group environment. Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits while increasing body, rhythm, and spatial awareness. Students also explore singing and acting through a wide range of musical styles inspired by plucky orphans such as Annie, Oliver, and many others.       

Musical Moves – Section C (Grades 3–5)

The Sound of Music

Wednesdays, 5:15–6:15 PM, January 14–March 11, 2009

Tuition: $145

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.

Explore the joys of moving and singing in a fun group environment. Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits while increasing body, rhythm, and spatial awareness. Students also explore singing and acting through a wide range of musical styles including those found in The Sound of Music and many other shows.

Pair with Character Quests.

Intermediate Musical Theatre:

Broadway Foundations – Section A (Grades 3–5)

Art of Auditioning

Tuesdays  (Mini Session), 4:00–6:00 PM, January 13–February 10, 2009

Tuition: $185

Broadway Foundations – Section B (Grades 6-8)

Art of Auditioning

Tuesdays (Mini Session), 4:00-6:00 PM, January 13–February 10, 2009

Tuition: $185

Prerequisite: Musical Theatre classes, previous Kidstage performance, or permission.

Celebrating each student's unique capability to create a memorable audition, participants will be introduced to techniques that will strengthen their auditioning skills: material selection, monologues, 32 bars of a song, reading sides, and learning choreography. Perfect preparation for upcoming Ensemble auditions or for students who just want to continue fine-tuning their singing, dancing, and acting skills. You can never take too many audition prep classes!

Musical Theatre 101 (Grades 9-12)

Season of Love

Wednesdays (Mini-Session), 4:00-6:00 PM, January 14–February 11, 2009

Tuition: $185

Prerequisites: None — although Broadway Foundations or Acting 101 is highly recommended.
This is an intermediate course for teen students to learn musical theatre techniques. Class will explore character development, ensemble building, singing and dancing through material from contemporary smash hit musicals such as Rent, Spring Awakening, and others.
Pair with Acting 101.

Singing for Musical Theatre – Intermediate (Grades 4-12)

Thursdays (Mini Session), 4:00–6:00 PM, January 15–February 12, 2009

Tuition: $185 

Prerequisites: None — although Broadway Foundations is highly recommended.

A complete song-learning class, designed to help performers learn more about singing and music. Areas covered include vocal technique, music theory, breath control, rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Students expand their vocal range, fine-tune their ears, strengthen breathing, and learn new music in a small class of eight students maximum. (This class does not take the place of individual voice lessons, which should be taken privately, year-round for serious singers.)

Saturday Morning Dancing (Grades 4–8)

Dance Call 101

Saturdays, 9:00 AM–10:30 AM, January 17–March 14, 2009

Tuition: $170* (Pair with Tap for a special discounted price)

Prerequisites: Musical Moves, Broadway Foundations, a Kidstage production, or permission.

Highly recommended for students planning to audition for Ensemble. Each week, students learn a new dance combination and explore acting through dance, specificity of movement, dancing with strength, and selling a dance number. The class fine tunes performance skills and prepares students for any future audition.

Pair with Broadway Foundations and Intermediate Singing.

Saturday Morning Dancing (Grades 4–8)

Tap (beginning/intermediate)

Saturdays 10:30-11:30AM, January 17–March 14, 2009

Tuition: $145* (Pair with Dance Call 101 or Kidstage Summer Show Prep for a special discounted price)
Tap is an essential skill for all musical theatre performers. Students develop fundamental technique, rhythm, flexibility, coordination, and style.
Pair with Broadway Foundations and Intermediate Singing.

*Tap and Dance Call 101 or Kidstage Summer Show Prep, if taken in combination, discounted price: $250.00

Advanced Musical Theatre:

Singing For Musical Theatre – Advanced (Grades 4-12)

Thursdays (Mini Session), 4:00–6:00 PM, February 26–March 26, 2009
Tuition: $185
Prerequisite: Broadway Foundations, previous Kidstage performance, or permission.
A complete song-learning class designed to help performers learn more about singing and music. Areas covered include vocal technique, music theory, breath control, rhythm, melody, and sight-reading. Students expand their vocal range, fine tune their ears, strengthen breathing, and learn new music in a small class of eight students maximum. (This class does not take the place of individual voice lessons, which should be taken privately, year-round for serious singers.)

Advanced Dance (Grade 7–Age 20)

Yoga Ballet

Mondays 5:15–6:15 PM, January 12–March 9, 2009

Tuition: $145

Take a peek at Ballet from a different point of view. Students will connect the breath to the flowing movements of yoga, ballet, and contemporary dance as they challenge the body, mind, and heart to find their inner dancer.

Saturday Morning Dancing (Grade 7–Age 20)

Kidstage Summer Show Prep

Saturdays 9:00 AM–10:30 AM, January 17–March 14, 2009

Tuition: $170* (Pair with Tap for a special discounted price)

Prerequisites: One year of dance training, or permission.

As we gear towards summer and some huge dance shows including West Side Story, this class is to give you some skills and techniques to lay the foundation for some challenging choreography. Explore the fundamentals of the unique styles that will be used for our summer productions with the choreographers of the summer shows. Class time will explore acting through dance, specificity of movement, dancing with strength, and selling a dance number. Fine tuNe Your technique, performance skills, and prepare you for summer auditions or any future musical theatre dance experience.

Pair with Advanced Singing and Broadway and Beyond.

Saturday Morning Dancing (Grade 7–Age 20)

Tap (intermediate/advanced)

Saturdays 10:30 AM–11:30 AM, January 17–March 14, 2009

Tuition: $145* (Pair with Dance Call 101 or Kidstage Summer Show Prep for a special discounted price)

Prerequisites: Two years of dance training, or permission.

Tap is an essential skill for all musical theatre performers. Students develop fundamental technique, rhythm, flexibility, coordination, and style.
Pair with Broadway Foundations and Intermediate Singing.

*Tap and Dance Call 101 or Kidstage Summer Dance Prep, if taken in combination, discounted price: $250.00

Broadway and Beyond (Grade 7–Age 20)
Broadway Bootcamp
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 3:45–6:15 PM, March 16–March 27, 2009
Tuition: $200
Students learn the skills and dedication it takes to be a professional actor, including audition and callback skills, how to research auditions and promote oneself as an actor, health and fitness regimes for performers, and rehearsing a role. This class is intended for students who are considering a career in the theatre.
Prerequisites: Kidstage performance or permission.

Steve Tomkins Performance Studio (Grade 9–Age 20)

By Audition or Invitation.

Mondays 6:30–9:00 PM, January 12–March 23, 2009

Tuition: $250**

For our most advanced students who want to train at a professional level. Focus is on fine-tuning each element of a triple threat performer. Guest artists will educate students on specific theatre skills such as: monologues, scene work, singing, dancing, stage combat, dialects, and auditioning. The session will culminate with a special visit from Village Theatre Artistic Director, Steve Tomkins.

** Steve Tomkins Studio $200.00 for TeenSelect or Company Members
 
Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem, and a life-long appreciation for live theatre,

Kidstage is a year-round performing arts training program in Issaquah and Everett for young people ages 3-20. Kidstage students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale Kidstage productions. All performances are by Kidstage students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.

Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. What began in 1979 with the vision of a small group of dedicated theatre artists has grown into one of the region's best-attended resident theatres, with over 18,000 subscribers to the current season and 165,000 projected total attendance, youth education programs serving over 54,000 young people, families, and schools annually, and a nationally recognized program that has enabled the development of over 80 new musicals. Serving an expanding and diverse community, Village Theatre has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years with the start of our contract as the resident performing and management company at the Everett Performing Arts Center in 1998.
 

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