K5-2ND GRADE STORY DRAMA

Dragon Training with Jason Knop and Holly WilinskiHiccup, Toothless and the rest of the gang are guiding us through the toughest skills yet. Training dragons can be exciting, but if done wrong it can be dangerous. Join the citizens of Berk and see what terrible plot Alvin the Treacherous has come up with next. Will Hiccup be able to defeat him yet again? Adventures in Neverland with Jason Knop and Holly WilinskiSecond star to the right, and straight on til morning. Join Peter Pan, Wendy and the Lost Boys as they explore and create their home in Neverland. Captain Hook is sure to make an appearance in this adventure to the place where children never grow up. Do we stay in Neverland? What would it be like to be a child forever?

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 3 • Summer 2013 at SLW

...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 Georgina McKee

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

3RD-4TH GRADE

Musical Theater with Alexandra Bonesho and Mag-gie 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 believable character by learning what questions an actor must ask him or herself about their character and scene partners and also what it means to make strong “actor choices.”

Voice and Movement with Kim Cieszykowski and Garrett KimOne of the key elements to being an actor is being brave to make strong character choices and listen-ing and following directions of a director. In Voice and Movement we will learn how to make choices and practice taking direction from instructor and peer directors. We will draw inspiration from Commedia dell’ arte, a form of Italian theater that is character-ized by specific characters and improvised scenework. We will use this as a springboard to create our own improvised scenes in which students will take on roles from Commedia. Students will then dive in further to explore effective communication and choice making as they become directors of those scenes.

5TH-12TH GRADE

Acting Theory 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 believable character by learning what questions an actor must ask him or herself about their character and scene partners and also what it means to make strong “actor choices.”

Improvisation with Beth Lewinski and Sasha Sigel“Yes, And!” An important attitude toward life and thea-tre, it’s also one of the key ideas of improvisation: the idea of positivity and possibility. Participating in a wide variety of exercises and games and learning varied skills—such as listening, reacting, character creation, sharing the scene, working with their environment, and much, much more—students will have the oppor-tunity to find and improve their existing strengths while gaining new skills, all in a fun, positive atmosphere

In Focus

page 2

Volume 3 Issue 3

page 3

What’s Going On in the Classrooms? (continued)that allows every student to contribute their unique gifts to the class. Through this improvisation training, students will learn about creating memorable char-acters and scenes without a script, while working on skills that they’ll need in acting, in public speaking, in school, and in life.

Musical Theater with Alexandra Bonesho and Mag-gie CondonWe are very excited to discover, study, and learn about the history and power of musical theatre. 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 “Broadway Conflicts”—shows that center around a battle and how it influences the music and motivation of the charac-ters—like WEST SIDE STORY and NEWSIES. Each day, we will challenge ourselves to bring life to char-acters, practice proper technique, and actively call on our creative skills to present a full musical number.

Shakespeare with Shannon Sloan-Spice and Gar-rett KimCome explore the wonderous world of William Shake-speare and his immortal characters. We will come to understand the “how” of classical acting, and also the “why,” because by the time we are finished, students will love the language and identify timeless themes. Developing the imaginal intelligence that speaks and responds through metaphor will be our task. Students will work with several scripts, including sonnets.

Musical Company Class with Katie Cummings and Brian MyersThis summer’s musical, THE WIZARD OF OZ, will take all of our students on a journey through creativity, cooperation and most importantly community. Over the course of our four weeks together, students will learn more about the auditioning process and engage in rehearsals and classes which will culminate in public performances. Students will learn techniques through singing, dance and acting that helps them create honest believable characters. By the end of their summer session, these students will be more confident in their abilities to problem solve, communi-cate with and in the world around them and expand their leadership skills.

Photo by Georgina McKee

Photo by Mark Frohna

In Focus Volume 3 Issue 3

page 4

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

Allie Bonesho Maggie Condon Garrett Kim Jason Knop, Lead Teacher

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!

Kim Cieszykowski, Education Assoc.

Beth Lewinsky Brian Myers