Drama and movement classes help build confidence and other invaluable life skills. Theater education encourages one to be comfortable speaking in front of one’s peers, giving presentations, making decisive choices and putting forward strong and thoughtful ideas. Something as simple as learning lines exercises memory and recall abilities and sharpens quick thinking skills. Theater movement methods strengthen posture, stamina and body confidence. Voice training prevents vocal strain and fatigue and increases projection capacity, diction and cadence.
Drama classes, in general, help develop creativity, spatial awareness, presentation skills, critical thinking, and both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Theater arts aren’t just for the budding star, but for job applicants, public speakers, managers, teachers, parents, leaders and the community…for everyone!
Fairytale Theater, 6-9 yrs, Saturdays at PMEC, 9:15-10:15
This is a dual led class by Lucy Spencer and Frances Saxton in which children will learn the art of storytelling through theater. We will select a well-known fairytale and discover how to present it in unconventional ways, using a variety of performance techniques and theatrical tools to tell the story. Children will enjoy developing the script, exploring movement and creating music, etc. The course will culminate in a final showcase, to be performed at the end of the session!
Re-Imagined, 9-12 yrs, Saturdays at PMEC, 10:30-11:30am (NEW PROGRAM)
With guidance from Lucy Spencer and Frances Saxton, students will read, discuss and transform a short story or poem from classic literature into a group performance piece, using movement, voice and text. The course will culminate in a showcase presented on the 8th week of the session.
YES, AND…SCENE! 12-19 yrs, Wednesdays at SHS, 6:30-7:30
Are you familiar with “Who’s Line Is It Anyway”? That is exactly what this improvisation class, led by Lucy Spencer, is all about. It may seem like fun and games, but comedy is hard work. We will play a wide array of improvisation games and use them to examine what makes or breaks a performance. This class runs the gamut of acting dos and don’ts and is particularly useful for sharpening timing, strengthening ensemble collaboration and analyzing scene work. Plus, it is a ton of fun!