PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: February 25, 2009

CONTACT:  Dan Berube, berube@merrimackrep.org        

PR CONTACT PHONE:  978.654.7595                           

BOX OFFICE:  978.654.4MRT (4678)

Merrimack Rep Announces

2009 Young Artists At Play Schedule

Summer Theatre Camps for Students Entering Grades 1-12

Lowell, MA – Merrimack Repertory Theatre is proud to announce the program schedule for the 12th season of Young Artists At Play (YAAP), a successful summer theatre program that includes theatre camps, performance seminars and musical theatre workshops. This summer between July 6 and August 14, YAAP will offer 6 theatre workshops ranging from one to four weeks for students entering grades 1-12. All programs are age appropriate and are led by professionals in the theater with strong education backgrounds. Workshops include Musical Theatre, Improvisational Theatre, Performance Seminars and The Young Company, a 4-week program for high school students culminating in a fully-staged production on MRT’s Liberty Hall stage. Tuition ranges from $350-$1000, and registration is limited to 20 students per class. For additional enrollment information, please call Linda Trudel, YAAP Registration Coordinator at 978.654.7550.

About YAAP:  Begun in 1998, the mission of YAAP is to utilize theatre to teach and reinforce the life skills of teamwork, problem solving, creativity, analysis, and critical thinking while promoting an understanding and appreciation of the theatrical art form.  Age-appropriate programs are designed to spark the child’s imagination, encourage their social and listening skills, and build self-confidence. Theatre professionals and guest artists teach the collaborative process of theatre that requires these diverse and important skills. Children broaden their knowledge of theatre through a number of assignments, including reading and analyzing scripts (including content and character development), and working with fellow actors, directors, and designers to produce a cohesive final project. A final presentation for invited guests culminates each workshop.

YAAP Scholarship Fund:  The progressive rise in tuition cost over the years led to the development of the YAAP Scholarship Fund for children from low- to moderate-income families in the Greater Boston, Southern New Hampshire and Merrimack Valley area. The YAAP Scholarship Fund encourages families who would otherwise be unable to afford to participate to enroll their children in these workshops. Scholarship award criteria include financial need, a demonstrable intent to participate and artistic potential.  Individuals or businesses may donate to the scholarship fund by contacting Jeff Prescott at 978.654.7552.

2009 YAAP SUMMER PROGRAMS

One-Week Theatre Camp

Students Entering Grades 1-3

August 3-7, 9:00am – 3:00pm

A one-week introduction to the wonderful world of theatre for young students. In this fun-filled program, theatre professionals pay close attention to the individual needs of each child, encouraging his or her sense of cooperation, listening skills, and self-esteem. Each day is filled with theatre games, creative play, storytelling, music, movement, and art projects. A Guest Artist will lead a participatory workshop mid-week. Family and friends are invited to an informal presentation of the students’ work at the end of the week on Friday, August 7th

Two-Week Performance Seminar

Students Entering Grades 4-5

July 6-17, 9:00am – 3:00pm

From the page to the stage in just two weeks! Working with a script, students focus on ensemble work, concentration, discipline, and the steps involved in putting on a play. Morning classes include script work, improvisation, theatre games, movement, music, and more. In the afternoon, students rehearse, design, and create the set and costumes for the Friday, July 17th production - to which everyone is invited!

Musical Theatre Week

Students Entering Grades 6-8

July 6-10, 9:00am – 3:00pm

One of our most exciting programs! Led by a professional choreographer and musical director, classes focus on learning the skills needed for musical theatre performance. This includes audition technique, warm-ups, cool downs, choosing material and working on solos and duets. Students will rehearse dynamic group numbers from popular musicals, which they will perform for family and friends on Friday, July 10th.

Improvisational Theatre Week

Students Entering Grades 6-8

July 13-17, 9:00am – 3:00pm

Thinking on your feet, making strong choices, and working as an ensemble: these are the rules of improvisation. Improvisational Theatre is a unique form of acting in which there are no scripts. Actors deal with a particular situation in the moment, without planning what will happen ahead of time. Once students learn the basics of improvisation, they can create funny, entertaining, and interesting pieces of theatre. Family and friends are invited to see the results in an informal improv show on Friday, July 17th.

Two-Week Performance Seminar

Students Entering Grades 6-8

July 20-July 31, 9:00am – 4:00pm

This is an intensive two-week program focusing on performance. Students will take classes in the morning, including voice/music, movement and acting. A guest artist will visit mid-week to offer a specialized theatre workshop. In the afternoon students will rehearse a play which will be performed for family and friends on July 31st.

The Young Company

Students Entering Grades 9-12

July 20-August 14, 9:00am – 4:00pm

This 4-week performance seminar is an intensive theatre arts training program, culminating in a fully-staged production on MRT’s stage. The Young Company (YoCo) actors take classes in the morning to develop and strengthen their acting skills and in the afternoon rehearse as an ensemble. Classes include acting, improvisation, musical theatre, script analysis, voice, and movement/dance. Guest Artists will visit the theatre each week to offer insight on auditioning, the “business of show business” and stage combat. Everyone is invited to YoCo’s production on Friday, August 14th!

For more information on YAAP, the YAAP Scholarship Fund, or for an application, please call Linda Trudel, YAAP Registration Coordinator, at 978.654.7550 or visit www.merrimackrep.org/education/yaap.aspx.

For MRT show times, tickets, season information, directions, or to request a brochure, please visit www.merrimackrep.org or call the Box Office at 978.654.4MRT (4678).

Merrimack Repertory Theatre is located in beautiful historic downtown Lowell at Liberty Hall, the Company’s 308-seat theatre, 50 E. Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852 (adjacent to Lowell Memorial Auditorium).  Each season, MRT presents an eclectic mix of six contemporary productions, engaging the best available actors, designers and directors in the country.  Now celebrating its 30th Anniversary, MRT’s mission is “To advance the cause of human understanding by creating theatrical productions at the highest level of artistic excellence and making them affordable to the broadest possible community.”  MRT’s unique artistic vision is shaped by a passion for excellence and a profound commitment to its community.  MRT strives to enhance the community’s life while contributing to its economic strength, measuring success by the depth of the Company’s artistic and social contribution to the region.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre's 2008-2009 Season
The Fantasticks book & lyrics by Tom Jones Music by Harvey Schmidt, October 16-November 9; Skylight by David Hare, November 20-December 14; A View of the Harbor by Richard Dresser, January 8 - February 1; Tranced by Bob Clyman, February 12-March 8; Bad Dates by Theresa Rebeck, March 19-April 12; A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O'Neill, April 18 - May 17.

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