Coming Attractions!
Ms. Christina is currently hard at work with local venues to secure dates and times to offer the following classes. Please let us know which you would be interested to explore with us with the links below.
This weekly 60-90min class encourages students to “play pretend.” So much of kids’ imaginative playtime has been overtaken by the need to achieve reading and math standards earlier and earlier. In each session, students would suggest or select a topic to “play.” We will then explore the characters, storytelling, problem solving, imaginative topics, and more that came out of this prompt for the remainder of the session. In the final 5-10min of each imaginative play session, students and the instructor will gather together to discuss their favorite parts, challenges encountered, and ideas for improvement to reinforce the learning that innately comes out of this type of play.
This class is not designed with a final presentation or performance in mind, and is perfect for students that wish to explore the fun and learning that comes with pretend play, but may not yet want to get on stage in front of others.
This 8–12 week creative adventure for students in grades 1–3 introduces the exciting world of musical theatre through play, imagination, and creative expression. Students will explore the fundamentals of musical theatre by learning age-appropriate scene work, practicing foundational musical theatre dance steps, and rehearsing a group number from the musical theatre genre. Along the way, they will build confidence, collaboration skills, stage presence, and storytelling abilities in a supportive environment designed to help every child shine.
The class will culminate in a showcase performance where students can share what they have learned with family and friends. At Play Based Learning young performers are invited to step into the spotlight and discover the joy of bringing stories to life onstage.
Is a weekly class that uses imagination, creativity, and collaborative role play to help students explore everyday challenges in a supportive and engaging environment. Through guided acting activities, students will work together to look at real-life problems from new perspectives and discover creative ways to respond. Challenges may include anything from academic concepts that benefit from visual or dramatic representation, such as math or classroom problem-solving, to social-emotional situations involving friendship, communication, confidence, or self-expression.
Each week, students will have the opportunity to contribute anonymous submissions describing questions, worries, or tricky situations they would like the group to explore. To help maintain privacy and create a sense of comfort and security, student submissions will be mixed with instructor-provided prompts that reflect common experiences and challenges. Together, the class will use role play, discussion, and creative problem-solving to work through as many scenarios as possible during class time.
Because this class is rooted in process rather than performance, there is no final presentation. Instead, students will build valuable life skills such as empathy, perspective-taking, communication, flexibility, collaboration, and confidence. At Play Based Learning, where imagination takes center stage, students are invited to use play and performance as powerful tools for understanding themselves, supporting others, and approaching challenges in new ways.
In this class participants will be given the opportunity to dive into the weekly study of a single play. In addition to reading through this literature together, we would discuss the characters, story elements, possible historical context or social commentary, how this play has been staged in the past or could be staged in the future, the technical elements that go into a production of this piece, and a multitude of other related topics.
This is a fantastic way to explore literature that is often overlooked in school curriculums as well as the variety of roles that go into theatrical production. (Actors, Dramaturgs, Lighting Designers, Sound Designers, Directors, etc.)
Possible Plays could include: Shakespeare, A Christmas Carol, The Little Prince, Charlotte’s Web, Antigone, The Crucible, The Glass Menagerie, The Misanthrope (selections will take into account participants’ age and developmental level)
The session will culminate in a final showcase in which each student selects a specific aspect of the play to present: A prepared scene or monologue, a scenic, lighting, or costume design, information about the plays social or historical context, and more.
So many of our students and young performers are taught that Shakespeare is hard or in another language. These statements are simply NOT true! In this class students will learn about the joy of Shakespearean acting. How to break down the verse, how to find the meaning of words/phrases that have gone out of style, how to use Shakespeare’s roadmap to make acting choices, and so much more!
This class will culminate with a showcase of monologues, scenes, and/or sonnets selected by the students with the assistance of the instructor.
Let’s explore the skills, games, and fun of improvisational acting! This class is great for anyone who loves theatre games, is a class clown, or is looking to build their skills of problem solving and thinking on their feet. All participants will begin by learning the foundational “yes and” skill in improv that creates an inclusive and creative environment for all.
This class will culminate with a family and friends Improv Night, where students will use the skills that they have learned to create theatre magic right before your eyes. You will bring your laughter, support, and suggestions, and your students will display their cleverness, storytelling, and creativity on the spot.
*Ms. Christina is also exploring the possibility of the forming of a junior improv troupe designed to perform within the community, for students showing exceptional talent and continued interest.
There are so many factors that go into auditioning for a theatrical show or season that it can feel like an impossible labyrinth. In this class we would learn what an audition is, how to select monologues, how to put together an acting resume, skills for successful cold reading, and more!
This session will culminate in a presentation of each student’s audition package to an invited guest audience. Although the instructor may make invitations to other performance-based organizations in the area, this will not be a professional agent showcase and is designed to prepare for first auditions and strengthen audition skills.
Oftentimes, the first experience that we have with rehearsals comes when we are cast in our first show. However, once that happens it is rare that anyone explains what is expected of you at rehearsal. This class would give students the information that they need to conduct themselves successfully and professionally in a theatre rehearsal setting. Possible topics would include how to read your schedule to know when to be at rehearsal, the basics of stage directions, how to write down blocking quickly and effectively, what performers should be doing when not on stage, techniques for line memorization, how to take notes/feedback, and how to balance making friends at rehearsal and being respectful of the work.
This would be a master class, meaning that each session offered would only meet once (likely a 1-2hr class) rather than on a weekly basis.