FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 17
MARIN THEATRE COMPANY’S
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES
SPRING CLASSES FOR ALL AGES
Running: January - June 2017
MILL VALLEY, CA—This Spring, Marin Theatre Company (MTC) offers a unique variety of educational classes for the curious-minded of all ages: from 4 to 104! Participating in theatre is a transformative experience, and we are excited to welcome students in grades Pre-K through 12, families and adults to explore the inner workings of theatre and connect with their creative side at MTC. Nothing else offers such an exciting combination of commitment, imagination, teamwork, discipline, creativity and passion, and we encourage students of all skill levels to register.
Our Spring classes include playwriting intensives with our playwright-in-residence, Lauren Gunderson—the most produced playwright in the country—family improvisation for all experience levels, youth classes focused on the fundamentals of acting, and a full student production of You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.
Over 10,000 students from over 40 Bay Area schools participate in MTC’s education programs each year, and the organization looks forward to strengthening these relationships throughout the Spring semester.
The Drama Conservatory Classes (Ages 4-18)
The Drama Conservatory provides the best classes, camps, workshops, and performance opportunities for Bay Area children and teens.
PRE-K TO SECOND GRADE CLASSES:
Acting Adventures (Grades 1-2)
January 23 - April 3 (10 weeks, no class 2/20)
Registration Deadline: January 16
Tuesdays, 4pm-5pm
Tuition: $225
Dive into a theatrical adventure! Students are given the opportunity to play with basic acting skills while working as a team to bring stories to life. Exploring the elements of a story through movement, characterization, and improvisation, students create an adapted performance of a children’s literature book. There will be a Shareformance at 4:45pm on the last day of class for friends and family.
Junior Acting Adventures (Grades PreK-Kinder):
Tuition: $120
Session A
March 3 - April 14 (6 weeks, no class 3/24)
Registration Deadline: February 26
Saturdays, 10am - 10:45am
Session B
March 3 - April 14 (6 weeks, no class 3/24)
Registration Deadline: February 26
Saturdays, 11am - 11:45am
Session C
May 5 - June 9 (6 weeks)
Registration Deadline: April 30
Saturdays, 11am - 11:45am
These classes allow students to explore popular stories and picture books through theatre, craft, song, and dance. Growing artistically and socially, students are encouraged to let their imaginations go wild and harness their creativity to collaborate with others. We’ll be using stories as inspiration to discover a world of creative play as students learn foundational performance skills. Each session focuses on different stories, so pick one or sign up for all three! There will be a Shareformance on the last day of each session for friends and family 15 minutes prior to the end of class.
“Stay-cation” Mini Camps:
Tuition: $135
March 12 - Captain Underpants (Grades 2-5)
Registration Deadline: March 5
Monday, 9am - 3pm
April 9 - Magic School Bus (Grades K-2)
Registration Deadline: April 2
Monday, 9am - 3pm
School is out in Mill Valley and we would like to invite you to join us at MTC! Mini camps offer exciting full-day theatre experiences based on children’s literature. Spend your day at the theatre as we use storytelling, creative drama, and theatre games to explore the theme for the day! There will be a Shareformance at 2:45pm on each day of camp for friends and family.
THIRD TO TWELFTH GRADE CLASSES:
Homeschool Studio Production: The Tin Cup (Grades 3-8)
January 22 - April 2 (10 weeks, no class on 2/19)
Registration Deadline: January 15
Mondays, 10am - 11:30am
Tuition: $350
Who says you need the stage lights to be in the spotlight? This studio production of The Tin Cup by Geoff Bamber will not include costumes, lights, or scenery- instead, it will focus solely on developing the acting skills of the participants. There will be a performance at 11:30am on the last day of class for friends and family.
About the show: When a museum takes delivery of an antique silver cup with a royal pedigree but with little else in its favor, there is no one to look after it for the weekend ahead of a visit from the Queen. A student, keen to secure a permanent job, undertakes the role of keeping the cup safe. Nothing can go wrong… famous last words! This quirky comedy is loads of fun and will keep the entire family entertained.
Musical Theatre Bootcamp (Grades 4+)
January 22 - April 2 (10 weeks, no class on 2/19)
Registration Deadline: January 15
Mondays, 4pm - 5:30pm
Tuition: $350
What does it take to be triple threat on Broadway? This class will focus on developing singing, dancing, and acting skills. Students will learn what it takes to be part of a musical through choreography and music. This class gives students a taste of different musical theatre styles and the difference between acting for a play and a musical. There will be a Shareformance at 5:15pm on the last day of class for friends and family.
Fundamentals of Acting: Building a Character (Grades 3-5)
January 24 - April 4 (10 weeks, no class on 2/21)
Registration Deadline: January 17
Wednesdays, 4pm - 5:30pm
Tuition: $350
Learn what it really takes to be an actor! Our Fundamentals of Acting series focuses on a different aspect of performing each semester. In Building a Character, students will study character development, voice and diction, objective and obstacles, and develop a working knowledge of basic acting theory and terminology. There will be a Shareformance at 5:15pm on the last day of class for friends and family.
Full Production: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Grades 3+)
January 30 - April 20 (no class 2/20, 2/23, 3/23, 4/10, & 4/13)
Registration Deadline: January 23
Tuesdays and Fridays, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Final Week of Rehearsals: Monday - Thursday, 4pm - 7pm
Performances: Friday, April 20 & Saturday, April 21 at 6pm
Tuition: $750
Join us for this full production class of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! In this class, students will be cast, rehearse, and perform with a professional director, choreographer, stage manager, and musical director. The production team at MTC will support this show with lights, costumes, and set design.
About the show: Charles Schulz’s beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesner’s classic musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Brief vignettes span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, as audience members follow the characters through their ups and downs of life. Whether you’re keen to fly with the Red Baron, or to find “Happiness”, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a crowd-pleasing classic!
“Stay-cation” Mini Camps:
Tuition: $135
March 12 - Captain Underpants (Grades 2-5)
Registration Deadline: March 5
Monday, 9am - 3pm
April 12 - Star Wars (Grades 3-6)
Registration Deadline: April 5
Monday, 9am - 3pm
April 13 - Harry Potter (Grades 3-6)
Registration Deadline: April 6
Monday, 9am - 3pm
School is out in Mill Valley and we would like to invite you to join us at MTC! Mini camps offer exciting full-day theatre experiences based on children’s literature. Spend your day at the theatre as we use storytelling, creative drama, and theatre games to explore the theme for the day! There will be a Shareformance at 2:45pm on each day of camp for friends and family.
Technical Theatre Training Academy (Grades 5+):
Tuition: $100
March 17 - Session A
Registration Deadline: March 9
Saturday, Noon - 4pm
April 14 - Session B
Registration Deadline: April 6
Saturday, Noon - 4pm
May 19 - Session C
Registration Deadline: May 11
Saturday, Noon - 4pm
Dive into the world of technical theatre through our Technical Theatre Training Academy! These short intensives provide a crash course into set design, lighting design, costume design, and more. Work with professionals as you explore what it takes to put on a show at MTC. Choose the date that works best for you, as all the classes will be covering the same material.
The Actor’s Toolbox: Acting Methodology (Grades 6+)
January 25 - April 5 (10 weeks, no class 2/22)
Registration Deadline: January 18
Thursdays, 4pm - 5:30pm
Every great actor has a toolbox full of tips and tricks to ensure a great performance. The Actor’s Toolbox series helps young performers assemble their own kit to hone their craft. In Acting Methodology, students will learn and use acting techniques from great acting teachers such as Stanislavski and Meisner to perform scenes and monologues. There will be a Shareformance at 5:15pm on the last day of class for friends and family.
Family and Adult Classes
Family Improvisation
May 1 - June 5 (6 weeks)
Registration Deadline: April 24
Tuesdays, 6pm - 7:30pm
Tuition: $325 (for 2), $135 for each additional family member
Start a new family tradition and join us in this course designed to bring families together in a fun, artistic endeavor where basic improvisational rules will be taught and skills developed in a friendly and creative atmosphere! Onstage and off, improvisation is a skill that will help you learn to think quickly on your feet and problem solve effectively… and often, humorously!
*This class is recommended for young people ages 10+ and their families.
Adult Improvisation
April 30 - June 4 (6 weeks)
Registration Deadline: April 23
Mondays, 7pm - 9pm
Tuition: $300
Experience the power of play and the fun of improvisational comedy in a fun and safe environment with MTC’s improv class. This class is an introduction for anyone interested in learning the basic tools, rules, and philosophy of improvisation through games, drills, and simple scenes. No experience necessary - the only prerequisite is a desire to have fun!
Playwriting Intensive with Lauren Gunderson: The Why of Theatre
February 3
Registration Deadline: January 26
Saturday, 11am - 3:30pm, with a 30-minute lunch
Tuition: $125
This is a class for experienced writers and beginners as well as theatre fans. We will delve into the essential heart of what makes theatre so distinct and powerful as a storytelling art form: Why is theatre so different from television or filmed storytelling, how can those distinctions help us create unforgettable drama, how do we turn the limitations of theatre into strengths, and why does live storytelling still matter in an age of screens and mobility? Dive into the why of theatre and come out with a sense of what to write next.
Playwriting Intensive with Lauren Gunderson: The How of Theatre
February 10
Registration Deadline: February 2
Saturday, 11am - 3:30pm, with a 30-minute lunch
Tuition: $125
This is a tactical class about dramatic structure, building characters, and crafting a powerful ending to your story. Beginners and experienced writers will get an overall picture of how dramatic storytelling works, how to push it to its limits, and how to make sure your audience walks away from your next play emotionally moved.
Adult Acting: The Works of Lauren Gunderson
January 22 - March 19 (8 weeks, no class 2/19)
Registration Deadline: January 15
Mondays, 7pm - 8:30pm
Tuition: $300
This course is a practical, enjoyable and confidence-building introduction to the craft of acting. Working with a professional actor and veteran of our stage—Joseph O’Malley—students will learn from the source about working with text. We will discuss characterization, relationships, and conflict using the works of Lauren Gunderson, our Playwright in Residence. This course is useful for those who wish to expand their general communication skills. No previous acting experience required - only a willingness to participate. A great start for the beginning actor!
CALENDAR LISTINGS
Education | Performing Arts
WHAT
Spring Education Classes
WHEN
Running (Various Lengths) January - June, 2018
WHERE
Marin Theatre Company | 397 Miller Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941
HOW TO REGISTER
To register for a class, please contact Ashleigh Worley, Director of Education
(415) 322-6049 | ashleighw@marintheatre.org
ACCESS
Regarding classroom accessibility: MTC provides handicap accessible classrooms and our teaching artists are experienced at working with a wide spectrum of differently abled students. For more information on how we might work to accommodate your specific needs, please contact our Director of Education, Ashleigh Worley, ashleighw@marintheatre.org.
Regarding student performances: For visually impaired patrons, Large Print playbills are available with one week’s advance notice. To request a Large Print playbill, call MTC’s Box Office, (415) 388-5208, or use the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711.” For hearing impaired patrons, amplified sound Assistive Listening Devices are available. Our system will also work with personal assistive hearing devices equipped with a T-coil.
ABOUT MTC
Marin Theatre Company is the Bay Area’s premier mid-sized theater and the leading professional theater in the North Bay. We produce a six-show season focused on new American plays. We are committed to the development and production of new plays, with a comprehensive New Play Program that includes productions of world premieres, two nationally recognized annual playwriting awards and readings and workshops by the nation’s best emerging and established playwrights. Our numerous education programs serve more than 10,000 students from over 40 Bay Area schools each year. MTC strives to create intimate, powerful and emotional experiences that engage audiences to discuss new ideas and adopt a broader point of view. We believe in taking risks and inspiring people to participate in live theater, regardless of personal means. MTC celebrates the intellectual curiosity of our community, and we believe that theater is an important tool to help build empathy. MTC was founded in 1966 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
PRESS CONTACT
Kate Robinson, Communications & Public Relations Associate
(415) 322-6029 | kater@marintheatre.org
EDUCATION CONTACT
Ashleigh Worley, Director of Education
(415) 322-6049 | ashleighw@marintheatre.org