PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 16, 2010
CONTACT: Dan Berube, berube@merrimackrep.org
PR CONTACT PHONE: 978.654.7595
BOX OFFICE: 978.654.4MRT (4678)
MERRIMACK REP ANNOUNCES
2010 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 its 13th season of Young Artists At Play (YAAP), a successful summer theatre program of theatre camps, performance seminars and musical theatre workshops. This summer between July 5 and August 13, 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 theatre professionals 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 original production on MRT’s Liberty Hall stage. Each class culminates with a performance by students for their parents and other invited guests. Tuition ranges from $360-$1000, and registration is limited to 20 students per class. For additional enrollment information, interested parents and students may 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: Merrimack Repertory Theatre offers 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.
2010 YAAP SUMMER PROGRAMS
One-Week Theatre Camp
Students Entering Grades 1-3
August 2-6, 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 6th
Two-Week Performance Seminar
Students Entering Grades 4-5
July 5-16, 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 16th production - to which everyone is invited!
Musical Theatre Week
Students Entering Grades 6-8
July 5-9, 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 9th.
Improvisational Theatre Week
Students Entering Grades 6-8
July 12-16, 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 16th.
Two-Week Performance Seminar
Students Entering Grades 6-8
July 19-July 30, 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 30st.
The Young Company
Students Entering Grades 9-12
July 19-August 13, 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, Merrimack Rep presents an eclectic mix of contemporary productions, engaging the best available actors, designers and directors in the country. Founded in 1979, Merrimack Rep’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.” Its unique artistic vision is shaped by a passion for excellence and a profound commitment to its community. Merrimack Rep strives to enhance the community’s quality of 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 2009-2010 Season
Flings & Eros by The Flying Karamazov Brothers, September 10 – October 4, 2009; The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, October 15 – November 8, 2009; Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras, adapted by Tom Stoppard, November 19 – December 13, 2009; Fabuloso, A Play by John Kolvenbach, January 7 – January 31, 2010; Black Pearl Sings! by Frank Higgins, February 11 – March 7, 2010; The Last Days of Mickey & Jean by Richard Dresser, March 18 – April 11, 2010; The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead by Robert Hewett, April 22 – May 16, 2010.
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