Orlando Shakes Gears Up for Winter Classes for Kids, Teens, and Adults

Nov. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is now accepting registrations for its Winter classes. These class sessions offer an enriching, creative learning environment for children and teens to embark on a journey of imagination and discovery. Adult classes range from play discussions with other theater enthusiasts to audition techniques for professional actors.

Orlando Shakes is dedicated to creating innovative educational experiences that build critical life skills in each participant and encourage creativity, collaboration, problem solving, concentration, public speaking, and a strong work ethic. Professional instructors guide students in the exploration and appreciation of the arts, with social and academic skills integrated into the process. All youth and teen sessions culminate in a presentation for friends and family on the last day.

Anne Hering, Director of Education, says, “In continuing the expansion of our Youth Classes, our Winter sessions focus on creative play, performing through dance and Shakespearean acting. There is truly something for all young performers longing to express themselves.”

WINTER YOUTH & TEEN CLASSES:  January 8 – February 26, 2011

Dress Up!  Act Up! (Pre-K – Grade 2)
Saturdays, January 8 – February 26 | Time:  9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Tuition:  $140
What would Cinderella have been without her glass slipper? Could Rapunzel have escaped her tower without her golden locks? Explore the importance of costumes in the theater and how much fun they are to work with! Use your new knowledge of costumes and movement techniques to tell your own story.

Dance Your Art Out! (Grades 3 – 5)
Saturdays, January 8 – February 26 | Time:  9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Tuition:  $140
Love Glee?  Get up on stage and learn choreography to today’s hits.  Each student will receive a DVD copy of the class’ final performance.

Shakespeare’s Scene Study 1 (Grades 6 – 8)  
Saturdays, January 8 – February 26 | Time:  9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Tuition:  $140
Meet the Bard of Avon!  Learn how to “speak the speech trippingly on the tongue” while practicing projection.  Students will work on scenes from Shakespeare’s comedies.

Shakespeare’s Scene Study 2 (Grades 9 – 12)
Saturdays, January 8 – February 26 | Time:  9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Tuition:  $140
Find out what makes Hamlet and Lady Macbeth act the way they do by digging deep with character analysis.

WINTER CLASSES FOR ADULTS:
Adult classes focus on topics from play analysis to deciphering Shakespeare and are available to anyone from professional actors or non-performing theater enthusiasts!

Play Group: Fences by August Wilson
Sundays, February 13 – March 6, 2011 | Time:  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fee:  $60
Do you love reading plays but don’t consider yourself an actor? Do you love discussing plays but don’t consider yourself a critic? Join other theater patrons who gather each week to read aloud and discuss the themes, symbols, historical context, social commentary, and cultural impact of Fences by August Wilson.  No acting experience necessary! Please bring your own copy of the script. 10% discount for members of the OST Guild, Associate Board, Friends of OST and UCF Students!

Shakespeare’s Character Clues
Saturdays, February 12 – March 19, 2011 | Time:  11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Fee:  $120
For experienced actors. Acting Shakespeare isn’t difficult if you follow the clues he has left for us. By examining punctuation and rhetorical devices such as alliteration, assonance, antithesis and parenthesis students will leave this class with a Shakespeare speech that is performance or audition ready.

Advanced Audition Technique for Professional Actors
Tuesdays, February 15 – March 8, 2011 |  Time:  7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fee:  $15 per class; pay as you go.
Anne Hering, Director of Education, will offer monologue and prepared scene coaching for theater auditions. Actors may bring material of their own choosing or request monologue suggestions.

Auditing: You may audit a class for a $10 fee, which will be deducted from the class fee if you wish to join.

CLASSES AT A GLANCE:
What: Youth, Teen, and Adult Winter Classes, Adult Play Group: Fences

Where: Orlando Shakespeare Theater at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center
812 East Rollins Street, Orlando, FL 32803

When:  

Youth & Teen Winter Classes: Saturdays, January 8 - February 26 from 9:00a.m. - 10:45a.m.

Adult Shakespeare Acting: Saturdays, February 12 - March 19, 2011 from 11:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.

Adult Fences Play Group: Sundays, February 13 – March 6, 2011 from 11:00a.m. – 1:00p.m.
      
Adult Audition Technique: Tuesdays, February 15 – March 8, 2011 from 7:00p.m. – 10:00p.m.
      
Class Refund Policy:  A full refund, minus a $15 registration fee, is available if you cancel more than 14 days from the start of class. An 80% refund will be issued after the first scheduled class ONLY. You must call the Education Department (ext. 208) before the second scheduled class to drop and receive your refund. There will be no refunds given after the second class.

To register, call the box office at (407) 447-1700 or register online at www.orlandoshakes.org. The box office hours are 12pm to show time, Tuesday-Saturday, and one hour prior to show time on Sundays for walk up sales. On non-performance days, the Box Office closes at 5pm. The Box Office is closed on Mondays.

For further information, call the Education Department at (407) 447-1700 ext. 208.

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About Orlando Shakespeare Theater
Now celebrating its 22nd season and with Shakespeare as its standard and inspiration, Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF has grown into one of the region’s most acclaimed Equity theatres producing bold professional theater in Central Florida. Through PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays, Orlando Shakespeare Theater is nationally recognized for it contribution to the development of new plays. Orlando Shakes also provides innovative educational experiences through its youth education programming, serving more than 25,000 young people, families, and schools annually.