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Ages 4 to 7 - Acting Adventures
Ages 8 to 12 - Musical Theatre, Acting Essentials, Performance Class
Ages 13 to 18 - Musical Theatre, Advanced Acting, Performance Class
The Henry Vandenberghe Memorial Fund Bursary Application - Deadline July 5, 2013
The Henry Vandenberghe Memorial Fund is available to students in financial need with a strong interest in the arts.
Melissa Thomas has an MFA in Directing graduate from the U of C and holds a BA in Drama from TRU. She is presently WCT's Education Coordinator. She is passionate about the development of confidence, courage, and compassion through the use of theatre. This will be Melissa’s third summer as an instructor for Stage One. She was an instructor and director for Alice in Wonderland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlotte’s Web. Also this summer Melissa will be directing Fantastic Mr. Fox and assistant directing You're a Good Man Charlie Brown for Project X Theatre Production. Selected directorial credits include James and the Giant Peach, Romeo and Juliet, Trojan Women, The Box (U of C), See Bob Run (TRU), Much Ado About Nothing & Adult Entertainment (Project X Theatre Productions).
Instructor for the Acting Adventures, Acting Essentials & Performance Classes Jennifer is excited to be back at Stage One for a fifth year. She enjoys working with the awesome staff and students. When she’s not teaching for School District 73, she runs a non-profit program for kids that focuses on healthy living through arts and physical activities.
Carling Ryan is excited for her first year teaching the Stage One Theatre School. Being a past student of the school, she is looking forward to seeing young students “catch the bug”. Carling is a recent graduate of the Thompson Rivers University Education program and is now a teacher on call within School District 73 and working as a Guest Services Director at Western Canada Theatre. She also is the director of Mini Rugby for the Kamloops Rugby Club. Carling is an avid supporter of local artists and theatre. Some of her favourite plays include WCT’s Where the Blood Mixes, Noises Off and Wit, in addition to the classic pieces of Macbeth and Twelfth Night.
A chance to introduce young children to the wonderful, imaginative world of theatre. The children will spend their time in active, directed play, embodying imagined characters and building worlds. Incorporating movement, visual arts, and music these classes engage your child's personality and physicality. Plus, it will be a ton of fun!!
Ages 4 to 7 July 29 to August 2 (M-F) 9:00am to 12:00pm and/or 12:30 to 3:30pm At The Pavilion Theatre (1025 Lorne Street) Instructor: Carling Ryan & Jennifer Jones
Are you a big fan of GLEE? Love to sing? Love to dance? Love to act? Then this is the class for you! The Musical Theatre Class is an enjoyable week of group games, songs and dance. It is a great way to build confidence and provides training in all aspects of musical theatre. Learn vocal technique, choreography and performance in this jam-packed week of musical fun.
Ages 10 to 15 July 29 to August 2 (M-F) 9:00am to 3:00pm At Nuance Dance Studio Instructor: Sheanna James
Get ready to have some fun and break out your creativity! This upbeat class will have you learning the fundamentals of the stage through improvisation, movement and plenty of theatre games! Children will explore character, storytelling, emotions and tons of group interaction while building their confidence and theatrical abilities.
Ages 8 to 12 August 6 to 9 (Tu-F) 9:00am to 3:00pm At The Pavilion Theatre (1025 Lorne Street) Instructors: Melissa Thomas & Jennifer Jones
Less than stellar in your last Youtube video? We can help! This week long course will enhance your skills as an actor. Through scene work, character breakdown and simple scriptwriting, you will further develop your drama fundamentals. This course will include solo and group work and will place an emphasis on preparing for performance.
Ages 13 to 18 August 6 to 9 (Tu-F) 8:30am to 3:30pm At The TRU Actors Workshop Theatre (Old Main, TRU Campus, 900 McGill Road) Instructors: TBA
Ages 8 - 18 August 13 to 24 (M-F) 8:30am - 3:30pm Performances: Friday, August 23 & Saturday, August 24 At The Pavilion Theatre (1025 Lorne Street) Instructor: Melissa Thomas
This two week Performance Class will give you an opportunity to showcase your skills on stage in a show produced for a public audience! Students will learn the rehearsal process, characterization and stage presence while having the fun, fantastic experience of bringing a script to life! *NOTE: Completion of a Stage One Theatre Class (or equivalent experience) is mandatory to take the Performance Class.
The training and development of young artists has been a priority for Western Canada Theatre since its inception in the 1960’s. Originally, as Western Canada Youth Theatre, founding artistic director, Tom Kerr, toured with students as far away as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In its current form, our goals have been a little closer to home, offering classes in a variety specific theatre disciplines based on the skills of visiting and/or resident artists. Classes can include introductory acting classes, advanced performance classes, and musical theatre classes for, primarily, children and youth aged 4 – 18. Over the past twenty years, the program has grown from weekly evening classes and occasional workshops to year round offerings including a production course where the students build, produce and perform a full production for a public audience! We have watched a generation of young people grow in confidence, creativity and expression as they experience the benefits of exposure to and involvement in the performing arts. Whether they develop into professional artists – and some do – or they simply develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them, the students benefit greatly from the classes. They will be the creative thinkers of the future. Because we live, work and play in a small city, WCT offers a tangible opportunity for young people, not only from Kamloops but from our region. We are recognized nationally for producing award-winning artists. The Stage One school is where it all begins…
For further information, please contact Melissa Thomas, Education Coordinator, at 250-372-3216 ext. 24 or melissa@wctlive.ca