March 1, 2010

Philadelphia, PA - Arden Theatre Company announces its 2009/10 Drama School spring class schedule. Arden Drama School offers theatre classes and camps for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as a new class for pre-school children and their caregivers. Below, please find a listing of all spring classes.

Arden Drama School classes make a personalized, dynamic gift for children and grandchildren, from one-day workshops to multi-week classes. One Day workshops provide an opportunity for parents and caregivers to spend a day dining, shopping or exploring in the Arden’s historic Old City neighborhood while children enjoy a class taught by theatre professionals. Drama School classes also take place on during Spring Break to provide an active day for kids off from school while parents may still attend work as usual.

To register for classes, call 215-922-1122 or visit www.ardendramaschool.com.

Bookworms (NEW!) (ages 3-4 with their caregivers)
Join your very own book club to share with your pre-schooler. Take a full semester or just one class. Each class is themed around a different book, such as Where the Wild Things Are, If You Give A Mouse a Cookie, Frog and Toad are Friends. Read the stories together, share observations, and use boxes of costumes and props to bring each story to life.
Coffee available in the lobby afterwards for adults.
$90 for all six classes or drop in for a single class for $15
Wednesdays 4:00pm-4:45pm; April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12


AFTER-SCHOOL, 8 WEEKS
Treasure Trunk - Fairy Tales
Students in Kindergarten
Kindergarteners discover the power of creation by inventing their own stories. Boxes full of hats, baskets full of costumes, and trunks full of props inspire kids to new heights of creativity.
$160
Thursdays, 4pm – 5pm; April 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27

SATURDAY CLASSES, 8 WEEKS
Treasure Trunk - Fairy Tales
Students in Kindergarten
Kindergarteners discover the power of creation by inventing their own stories. Boxes full of hats, baskets full of costumes, and trunks full of props inspire kids to new heights of creativity.
$160
10 am – 11am; March 20, 27, April 3,10,17,24, May 1, 8

Storycrafters - Adventures
Grades 1 and 2
Star in your favorite book! Kids learn acting and storytelling by reading their favorite books and working together to act them out dramatically. Learn how to create a character and be a great storyteller! Every session, in fact, every class is unique! Take it once or six times; it’s always a new journey!
$160
10 am – 11:30am; March 20, 27, April 3,10,17,24, May 1, 8

Acting - Minds
Grades 3-5
Kids begin to learn the techniques that actors use on stage! They will use their bodies, voices and minds to create characters, play intentions and work together to create new pieces of theatre.
$160
10 am – 12:00noon; March 20, 27, April 3,10,17,24, May 1, 8

Play Practice – The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
Grade 5. Must have completed one semester of: Kids Crew Acting
A perfect place to use all that you have learned in acting class! Kids rehearse a scene from a play and perform it on the final day of class.
$160
11:30 – 1:30pm; March 20, 27, April 3,10,17,24, May 1, 8

ONE DAY WORKSHOPS
$30 a class
Saturdays, 1pm - 4pm
ACTING - Rehearse a scene from start to finish and get a taste of acting. March 13. Grades K-2
STORYTELLING - You’ll use your imagination, costumes, props, and teamwork to bring some of your favorite stories to life! March 27. Grade K-2
PUPPET MAKING – Bring your imagination and your crafting skills and leave with a puppet you create all your own! March 27. Grades 3-5.
MUSICAL THEATRE – Warm up, learn a song, stage the scene, add choreography, and perform a popular musical number with your class, all under the guidance a professional musical theatre artist. April 17. Grades 3-5


SHOW TIME WORKSHOPS
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Acting Class
Grades K-5 Taught by David Raphaely, actor playing the Boy at the Arden. Includes a backstage tour of the set.
$40
Monday, May 3
4:00 – 6:30pm

PLAY-IN-A-DAY, ONE-DAY
Grades 1-5
Kids work together to conceive, write and perform a play of their own creation! Parents and other guests can enjoy the fruits of their kids’ labor at the end of the day. Each Play in a Day is as unique as the group of children. Take it once or ten times, the story and characters are always new!
$50 a class, Sign up for three classes one time and get $25 off the third class.
10am - 3pm; March 13, April 10, May 8, May 15

SPRING BREAK CAMP
Grades K-5
An action packed theatre camp taught by theatre professionals. Kids will spend the week taking storytelling, acting, improv, music, dance and design classes, all while creating a theatre piece of their very own. Each group of campers, guided by their teachers, will create a world-premiere production that they present on Friday afternoon!
$300
Monday – Friday, 9am – 3pm, March 29 - April 2


AFTER-SCHOOL, SIX WEEKS
Acting 1 – Scripts
Students in Grades 6 -12
This six week class will cover fundamentals of acting and develop skills needed to perform dramatic texts. Students will learn how to read their scripts and find a variety of tactics to overcome obstacles and reach objectives and develop characters in preparation for one day performing.
$120
Mondays 4:30pm – 6:30pm; April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10

Acting 2 – Shakespeare Scripts
Students in Grades 6 -12; must have completed one semester of Acting
You learned the fundamentals last year, now get the in depth training of a seasoned actor. You will work with actor Evan Jonigkeit, playing Romeo in the Arden’s production of Romeo + Juliet, on perfecting your skills at speaking, interpreting and performing the language of Shakespeare.
$120
Mondays 4:30pm – 6:30pm; April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 3, 10

SATURDAY CLASSES, 5 WEEKS
Acting - Scripts
Students in Grades 6 -12
Read a scene and learn how to think like an actor. Discover new ways to play an intention, overcome obstacles, reach objectives, and develop characters, all drawing from the clues the playwright gives you.
$100
10 am – noon; April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1

Design – Lighting + Sound – Romeo + Juliet
Students in Grades 6 -12
There’s a lot more to theatre than acting. Designers tell a story with sets, lights, props, costumes and sound. If you are interested in designing any of these things, this is a perfect class for you. Students will examine the light and sound design for our production of Romeo + Juliet while learning the fundamentals of technical theatre. Backstage access to the Arden’s light and sound booth!
Includes 1 Romeo + Juliet teen ticket with the purchase of 1 adult ticket.
$100
10 am – noon; April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1

Design – Costumes – Romeo + Juliet
Students in Grades 6 -12
Get the in depth training of a seasoned designer. You will work with talented professionals and have backstage access at the Arden. You will even give a complete design presentation on the final day of class! Learn how a costume designer goes from the page to the stage. In this in depth costume course you will learn to sketch, watercolor, make rendering and sew!
Includes 1 Romeo + Juliet teen ticket with the purchase of 1 adult ticket.
$100
1pm – 3pm; April 3, 10, 17, 24, May 1

ONE DAY WORKSHOPS
Grades 6 - 12
$30 per class
Saturdays, 1 - 4pm
IMPROV - You’ll use your imagination and teamwork to create characters, skits, and stories. Hilarious and active. March 20. Beginners welcome.
SHAKESPEARE - Learn about the Bard and work on scenes from Hamlet and Comedy of Errors. April 3. Beginners welcome.
MUSICAL THEATRE - This fun one-day intensive workshop will have you singing and dancing. As a group you will put together a musical production number from Les Miserables. April 24. Beginners welcome.
ACTING - Rehearse a scene from start to finish and get a taste of acting. May 15. Beginners welcome.

SPRING BREAK ONE DAY WORKSHOP:
Romeo + Juliet
An intensive full day Shakespeare workshop that includes speaking and performing the text and a lesson in stage combat – all on our mainstage. The day culminates with the Arden performance of Romeo + Juliet at 2pm. Taught by Evan Jonigkeit (playing Romeo) and Shawn Fagan (playing Mercutio).
$80 includes theatre ticket.
Wednesday, March 31st 10am-6pm

All classes are held at Arden Theatre Company located at 40 N. 2nd Street in the heart of historic Old City, Philadelphia.

SUMMER CAMP 2010
Held at the Painted Bride Art Center in Old City, 230 Vine St
Action packed Kids’ Crew theatre camps are taught by theatre professionals. Take one session or all four, each experience will be unique and centered on a specific theme. Kids take classes in acting, storytelling, improvisation, dance, music, and design every day. On Friday, they will present a show for their families and friends to showcase all they have learned and created during the week.

Multi-week discounts available.

Session 1: Under the Sea
Grades 1 – 5 (must have completed Kindergarten)
Mon – Fri June 21 – 25
10am – 4pm $375 OR Extended services 9am – 5pm $425
Prices include camp t-shirt

Session 2: Around the World
Grades 1 – 5 (must have completed Kindergarten)
Mon – Fri July 19 - 23
10am – 4pm $375 OR Extended services 9am – 5pm $425
Prices include camp t-shirt

Session 3: Animal Life
Grades 1 – 5 (must have completed Kindergarten)
Mon – Fri Aug 2 - 6
10am – 4pm $375 OR Extended services 9am – 5pm $425
Prices include camp t-shirt

Session 4: Lands of Make Believe
Grades 1 – 5 (must have completed Kindergarten)
Mon – Fri Aug 9 - 13
10am – 4pm $375 OR Extended services 9am – 5pm $425
Prices include camp t-shirt

At the Teen Company Musical Theatre Camp, Philly’s finest musical theatre pros will teach teens how to sing, act, and dance, and they’ll teach them how to do it all at once! Teens will have a ball as they learn how to interpret a song, read music, sing harmony, and present a song. Learn group numbers that focus on collaboration, choreography, and harmony. Campers will work with a piano accompanist in every class. At the end of camp, parents, friends, and family will be invited to share a musical revue starring their teens!

MUSICAL THEATRE CAMP
Grades 6-12
Mon – Fri July 19 – Aug 6
9am – 3pm $815
Prices include camp t-shirt