Shoreline Arts Alliance is excited to be bringing
back the newest component to its renowned
Shakespeare on the Shoreline program -
Rising Star Summer Theatre Experience. For the two weeks prior to the main stage
production of
King Lear, Shoreline
Arts Alliance will offer a theater performing arts program to children in the
community. Session 1,
Cinderella Shakesperience is July 21-
July 25 and Session 2,
King Lear
Shakesperience is July 28 – August 1, from 9am-3pm on the Guilford
Town
Green. Tents and rain location will be
provided. Rising Star is an outreach program for ages 7 – 17. Tuition
is $250.00 per week. Some need based scholarships will be available.
These one-week energy-filled,
fun, entertaining theater experiences will encourage creativity, reading
and
interpretation, and engagement in an artistic endeavor. Rising
Star embraces the theater arts and will speak to the child’s desire and
need to be recognized, to have their own voice and yet be nurtured as a
successful individual as well as a contributing member of a team. The
theater workshops will illustrate and
educate participants on the issues and values that shed light on the
human
condition and are relevant to today’s world.
Alongside the goals of promoting creativity, critical thinking,
cooperation, literacy enrichment, and self-confidence, this week-long
program
is designed to offer an educational experience for participants. All
participants will receive training from
professional instructors in script analysis, interpretation and
performance,
and will briefly touch on set design, sound and lighting, costume
design, and
stage management. Older participants
will also benefit from training in work/life skills (i.e. proper dress,
inter-personal development, work ethic, public speaking, communication,
etc.)
to develop and strengthen crucial skills aiding in admission to college
or
entrance into the work force. Shoreline
Arts Alliance is again working with Shakesperience
Productions, Inc. for the operation of Rising
Star summer theater experience.
A nonprofit, professional, educational theater for
youth founded in 1996 and headquartered in Waterbury,
Shakesperience Productions, Inc. serves Connecticut school systems
and those of neighboring states, reaching over seventy communities per
year. A recipient of “Arts Organization
of the Year” by Waterbury Neighborhood Council, Shakesperience’s programming
has proven successful among client schools, with 93% of these schools
rescheduling events with the company year after year. Currently, few theatre programs for this age
level are offered where there is direct involvement with the team of a major
production. These students will be
mentored and nurtured by cast and crew of
King Lear. Session 1 will explore
Cinderella Stories from around the world
– their similarities and differences as well as the cultural interpretations
from other countries. Session 2 explores
King Lear and the choices we make for
children and family as well as the overall welfare of children: physically, emotionally,
and educationally. Students will explore the essence of blindness, both
literally and figuratively, to their own actions, consequences and
blessings. Participants will take the
stage to present their own productions on Friday, July 25 and Friday, August
1. All participants are expected to be a
part of the final production team at levels appropriate for their age. Some of the group may also be invited to join
the chorus the following week for the main stage production of
King Lear.
Because of the location of the
Shakespeare on the Shoreline
program and the Rising Star theater
program on the historic Guilford Town Green, participants will also learn about
the significance of one of the oldest town greens in the country, its role as
the heart of the community, its evolution through history from a grazing spot
for cattle and horses, a market place, a burial ground, to its current
recreational and leisure uses.
Surrounding the Green are historic homes and buildings that will also be
part of the educational component of the camp. The use of the Town Green for
this summer’s theater intensive, as well as the summer production of
King Lear will be discussed as it
relates to the venues that Shakespeare chose for his public performances.
As one parent summed up her daughter’s experience
last summer, “She started off Monday feeling intimidated and overwhelmed at the
thought of learning lines that didn't even make sense to her and left today
exhausted but with a smile beaming from ear to ear that she accomplished her
goal. What a confidence builder. I'm
sure she will remember this summer camp for many years to come. Thank you to all of your staff for their hard
work and nurturing support.”
Tuition for the week-long Rising Star theatre experience is
$250.00 per week. Need based scholarships may be available. For
information or to register for the Shakespeare
on the Shoreline Rising Star program
visit
www.shorelinearts.org or call
203-453-3890.
