News from Long Wharf Theatre

Studio School Announces Spring Slate of Classes for Performers of All Ages

Classes begin on Sunday, March 19 and range in cost from $195 to $250.

The first class of the Studio School session allows high school students to learn how to engage William Shakespeare’s comedies in a kinetic manner that will make the text come alive. “Taking our Shakespeare Moves! class will be tremendously helpful to those interested in auditioning for Shake-It-Up Shakespeare’s teen production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream this coming summer,” said Director of Education Annie DiMartino. “The three parts of Shake-It-Up Shakespeare are the language, the music and heartbeat of the characters, and the physicality that allows that language and heartbeat to really come alive.”

Off the Cuff Improvisation, targeted for middle school students, allows kids to learn one of the fundamental precepts of good acting – listening and reacting truthfully under the given circumstances of a scene. “Learning to improvise allows actors to learn problem solving quickly and how to stay in touch with the story without having a full sense of where it all might go,” DiMartino said.

Finally, adults will have the chance to delve deeper into scene work and monologues, increasing their depth and range as an actors.

For more information, or to join a class contact Corey Morrison in the Education Department at 203-772-8262.

Spring Studio School Classes

Shakespeare Moves!

GRADE: High School

Mondays at 5:30pm-7:00pm

March 19 – April 16

COST: $195

Explore the fun and excitement of Shakespeare’s Comedies! Using a physical and active approach to text analysis and character exploration, we will make Shakespeare’s language both clear and entertaining. Focus will be given to comedic monologues as well as voice and body work. Shakespeare Moves! is a great opportunity for those interested in the Long Wharf’s Shake-It-Up Shakespeare to become comfortable with the Bard’s comedies in preparation for Midsummer Night’s Dream auditions!

Off the Cuff Improvisation

GRADE: Middle School

Saturdays at 12:30pm-2:00pm

March 24-April 21

COST: $195

Learn to listen, react and respond "off the cuff" using high energy, physical comedy and the simple art of telling a story. Through ensemble games in focus, listening, and problem solving will strengthen your student's ability to think creatively while building confidence.

Acting for Adults Level II

Saturdays at 10:00am-12:00pm

March 24-April 21

COST: $250

Take your craft to the next level in this advanced scene study acting class. Using the Meisner Technique participants will explore contemporary scenes and monologues. Learn to live truthfully in the moment of the scene by working spontaneously from your partners’ behavior as the catalyst into an honest response. Some acting experience is required.

Next Stage Productions for Yojng Audiences:

Long Wharf Theatre will present the family comedy The Mischief Makers, by Lowell Swortzell, directed by Kristianna Smith, as its annual Next Stage production for young audiences, slated for late March.

Performances for the general public will take place Saturday March 24^th at 10:30am and 2pm, Sunday March 25^th at 2pm, Saturday March 31^st at 2pm. School performances will take place March 27^th – Friday March 30^th with performances at 9:30am and 11:30am. Admission is free for school performances and a suggested donation of $5 for the public performances. The play is suitable for first through eighth graders.

The cast is comprised of Jenn Mello (New York City), Kenneth Murray (West Haven), Tim Stabers (Norwalk), and Aleta Staton (New Haven). In addition to Smith, a Bristol native, the creative team is comprised of Marissa Friedman (Assistant Director/Dramaturg, New Haven), Luke Reinwald (Set Design, Branford), Jason Pratt (Lighting Design, Atkinson, NH), Abbey Steere (Costume Design, Manchester, NH), Darlene Richardson (Sound Design, Baltimore, MD), Craig Harlow (Props, East Haven). The stage manager is Maria DiFabbio of Guilford. The technical director is Gordon Granger of Mamaroneck, NY.

Stuck forever together on their totem pole in a beautiful part of the woods, Anansi the Spider, Reynard the Fox, and the Raven can’t decide who among them is the most clever – in short, the trickiest of them all. With tricksters’ pride, the trio argues, reenacting their most fanciful and amazing exploits, learning in the meantime that laughter can indeed change the world. African, Native American and European folklore comes together to create a fun and fantastical evening of theatre for the whole family. “Kids will enjoy the elements of surprise. Just when they think they know what’s coming, when they think they know the characters, some different and exciting thing happens. The characters are larger than life,” said Director of Education Annie DiMartino.

Smith sees storytelling – a fundamental theme of this play – as a universal human activity, crossing all ethnic boundaries. “Telling stories is something that connects all of us. I hope that this play will show children the magic and the importance of passing down certain tales from generation to generation,” she said.

In addition, in an effort to improve accessibility, Long Wharf Theatre will be offering sign-language performance of this production on Saturday March 31^st at 2pm.

The Next Stage program is a program for early career theatre professionals. 

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre’s Education Department, visit www.longwharf.org or 203-787-4282.

Also in the news:

'I Am' project

Long Wharf Theatre’s Education Department is calling for submissions of student self portraits to be displayed in our Mainstage Lobby during the run of My Name is Asher Lev.  The guidelines for artwork are as follows: 

• Students, age kindergarten to 12th grade are eligible to submit.
• Students can choose any medium they like to create a self portrait that best captures one of the following:  Who they are now; who the world says they are supposed to be; what they secretly aspire to be; a triptych of their personal, public and dream self; a combination of any of the aforementioned.
• Art Work needs to have the words “I am” at the top of the page and their name clearly visible at the bottom.
• Portraits should be no larger than 11 x 17, and no smaller than 8 x 10. 
• Submission deadline is April 30^th, 2012 at 3:00PM
• Submissions can be mailed or delivered to Long Wharf Theatre, Attention Annie DiMartino, 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven, CT 06511

All questions should be emailed to Director of Education, Annie DiMartino at annie.dimartino@longwharf.org.