K5-2ND GRADE STORY DRAMA

Superheroes with Jason Knop and Holly WilinskiWe will enter the world of superheroes that we all know and love. Using familiar characters like Spider-Man, Thor, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, and more we will ex-plore themes like teamwork, imagination, and problem solving. Excelsior!

Pirates and Mermaids with Jason Knop and Holly WilinskiAhoy there Matey! We will be sailing on the open seas in this class. We will be searching for buried treasure, speaking with mermaids, and hoping we don’t have to walk the plank. We will be exploring stories about adventures on the sea while creating our own pirate character.

Wonderland with Jason Knop and Holly WilinskiLet’s head down the rabbit hole in this class. Alice got to explore Wonderland, now

A Note from the Academy DIrectors

FYI...Discover, Imagine,and Explore in our

2013-14 season!Family Packages are now on sale! Save up to 50% at FirstStage.org or call (414) 267-2961 for info.

NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY • Volume 3 Issue 2 • Summer 2013 at OAC

...read more inside...

IN FOCUSis the newsletter of the

First Stage Theater Academy,published each session to

highlight the work of our staff and students.

Jennifer AdamsEditor

Patrick G.H. SchleyGraphic Design

Want to get moreinvolved at First Stage?Join the Green Room Society, our Parent & Volunteer Group! Con-tact Heather at (812) 201-4285 or parents@firststage.org for info!

Welcome to Summer Academy 2013! We are so excited and want to thank you for choosing First Stage as a place to spend your summer. Our professional, creative and energetic staff is incredibly excited to work with your children and provide them with an experience they will never forget. We emphasize our philosophy of teaching life skills through stage skills in every part of our programs. The Academy is a place where your children will learn new skills, make friends, grow in confidence, gain a sense of independence, receive the highest quality theater education and have FUN! We look forward to another incredible summer of transforming lives through theater. Thank you for being a part of it!

— Jennifer Adams and Katie Cummings

Top photo by Jennifer Mazza

InFOCUS

Young PerformerAuditions now

available!Young people ages 8-18may audition for our 2013-14 productions!Visit www.FirstStage.orgor call (414) 267-2963.

What’s going on in the classrooms?

proud Cornerstonemember of

FIRST STAGETHEATER ACADEMYLife Skills Through Stage Skills

it’s our turn. What weird things will we see when we explore that magical place? Will the Queen of Hearts be there? We will find out together as we travel to the magical world of Wonderland.

3RD-4TH GRADEMusical Theater with Allie Bonesho and Maggie CondonWe are very excited to discover, study, and learn about the history and power of musical theater. Throughout the class, we will work on proper vocal, breathing, and physical techniques while singing and dancing. Our discussions and activities will prepare students for auditions and further their knowledge and ability to work as an ensemble. We will discuss and explore musicals that fall into our theme of “Twisted Musicals”, well known stories that are told from a different perspective from the original, like WICKED and INTO THE WOODS. Each day, we will challenge ourselves to bring life to characters, practice proper technique, and actively call on our creative skills to present a full musical number. Scene Study with Nate Press and Bridgette WellOur goals for this class are to prepare the students to look for and identify the basic elements of dramatic

plot structure. Also, using age appropriate dramatic material, we will explore how to develop a believ-able character by learning what questions an actor must ask him/herself about their character and scene partners and also what it means to make strong “actor choices”.

Voice and Movement with Shannon Sloan Spice and Garrett KimThis session students will learn how to develop their voice and body as their instrument. The class will ex-plore diaphragmatic breathing, relaxed readiness, vo-cal warm up and development and singing. Students will create character to the backdrop of music. We will also examine how to embody actions and expressions which lend to the development of character and plot. We will discuss the archetypes of theater and how to physically express stock characters. Voice and move-ment aims to lay down the foundations for the rest of the work we do onstage. Be prepared to stretch and play so wear comfortable clothes every day!

5TH-12TH GRADE

Acting Theory with Raeleen McMillion and Sasha Sigel Students will explore the beginnings of Modern Real-ism as the primary source for contemporary acting

In Focus

page 2

Volume 3 Issue 2

page 3

What’s Going On in the Classrooms? (continued)theory while using a variety of approaches to move-ment and the physical nature of performance to gain an understanding of authentic storytelling and crea-tion of character. We will follow a five-step process designed as a structure for teaching acting at all levels, which incorporates multiple perspectives on the artistic process and craft of acting: 1. Observation, 2. Concentrations, 3. Imagination, 4. Make a Choice, 5. Take a Chance. Class activities include games, exer-cises, script work, and group discussion. Improvisation with Nate Press and Bridgette WellThrough the use of improvisational theatre games, students will learn to demonstrate spontaneity, ac-cept and add dramatic offers, give and take focus, and quickly develop believable theatrical relationships onstage. In a grander theatrical practice, the students will be able to apply lessons learned through impro-visational exercises to their scripted scene work, to create personalized, truthful characters onstage.

Musical Theater with Tina Brown and MaggieCondon We are very ex-cited to discover, study, and learn about the his-tory and power of musical theater. Throughout the class, we will work on proper vocal, breath-ing, and physi-cal techniques while singing and dancing. Our discussions and activities will prepare students for auditions and further their knowledge and ability to work as an ensemble. We will discuss and explore musicals that fall into our theme of “Broadway Conflicts”, shows that center around a battle and how it influences the music and motivation of the characters, like WEST SIDE STORY and NEWSIES. Each day, we will challenge ourselves to bring life to characters, practice proper technique, and actively call on our creative skills to present a full musical number.

Shakespeare with Tyne Turner and Garrett KimWhat’s so great about Shakespeare? The stories! No - wait - the cool language! No wait - the stories! Okay both ... Find out for yourself what’s so great about Shakespeare through his stories, his magic, his comedy and his poetry in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and THE TAMING OF THE SHREW.

Classical Company Class with Marcella Kearns and Grace DeWolff“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” (2 HENRY IV) Students will “get their history on” as they explore the Elizabethan world view and social strata via tack-ling texts focusing on Shakespeare’s English kings. How cultural consciousness comes into play in stag-ing court intrigue and battles for a crown will feed the rehearsal and production process.

Photo by Jennifer Mazza

Photo by Jennifer Mazza

Photo by Jennifer Mazza

Photo by Jennifer Mazza

In Focus Volume 3 Issue 2

page 4

Meet the Faculty & StaffVisit the new www.FirstStage.org to read more about all of our staff members!

Allie Bonesho Tina Brown Maggie Condon Grace DeWolff Marcella Kearns

Garrett Kim Jason Knop, Lead Teacher

RaeleenMcMillion

Nate Press Sasha Sigel ShannonSloan-Spice

Bridgette Well Holly Wilinski

Jennifer Adams, Academy Director

Katie Cummings, Academy Director

Tyne Turner,Headmaster

Patrick Schley,Academy

Services Mgr.

Malkia Stampley, CommunityPartnership Coordinator

Chris Warren,Office/Tech Asst.

Michael Warren, Headmaster

Erin Whitehead, Academy

Administrative Director

W W W. F I R S T S T A G E . O R G

FAMILY SERIES AT THE TODD WEHR THEATERShrek the MusicalOct. 11 – Nov. 17, 2013

The Best Christmas

Pageant EverNov. 29 – Dec. 29, 2013

A Midnight Cry

Jan. 10 – Feb. 9, 2014

AnatoleFeb. 21 – Mar. 16, 2014

Crash

Mar. 28 – Apr. 13, 2014

Nancy Drew and her Biggest Case EverMay 2 – June 1, 2014

FIRST STEPS SERIES

Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat

Jan. 25 – Mar. 2, 2014

YOUNG COMPANYMaul of the Dead

Dec. 6-8, 2013

Romeo & JulietMay 16-17, 2014

Save over 30% off regular ticket prices with a

First Stage Family Package!