A Note from the Academy DIrectors

FYI...Now playing...

HOLESOne of the most popu-lar plays in First Stage history runs through February 14! Call (414) 267-2961 or visit www.FirstStage.org.

NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY • Volume 5 Issue 6 • Winter Academy 2016 at MYAC

IN FOCUSis the newsletter of the

First Stage Theater Academy,published each session to

highlight the work of our staff and students.

Jennifer AdamsEditor

Patrick G.H. SchleyGraphic Design

Want to get moreinvolved at First Stage?Join the Green Room Society, our Volunteer Group! Contact Heather at (812) 201-4285 or volunteer@firststage.org for info!

“Actors are agents of change. A film, a piece of theater, a piece of music, or a book can make a difference. It can change the world.” The idea behind these words spoken by the late Alan Rickman is often heard here at First Stage. We believe that the power of theater is great and reaches far beyond the footlights into our lives and everywhere we go. We are so happy you have joined us for this winter session! What better way to keep warm and active during the cold winter months than in a place that celebrates the creativity and individuality in each of us, while encour-aging teamwork, critical thinking, and community? Thank you for believing in the power of theater in the life of your family.

Our classes are designed through a philosophy of teaching life skills through stage skills, and we encourage young people to imagine, enact, and reflect upon scripted and unscripted situations. Through this process they come to understand theater, themselves, and the world around them. Our classes encourage students to have fun, make friends, become brave and joyous, and support each other. Our hope is that they learn a lot about theater while learning a lot more about themselves. We look forward to a fun filled winter session!

— Jennifer Adams and Katie Cummings

Top photo by Paul Ruffolo

InFOCUS

In our First Stepsseries: JUST A LITTLE

CRITTER MUSICALThis world premiere opens on February 13, especially for ages 3-6. Buy tickets today at www.FirstStage.org.

proud Cornerstonemember of

FIRST STAGETHEATER ACADEMYLife Skills Through Stage Skills

get excited...SUMMER ACADEMY

REGISTRATION OPENS FEBruary 1!

www.FirstStage.org/courses

SATURDAY CLASSES

First Steps with Brenna KempfFirst Steps is an exciting session of classes for ages 3-4 and an accompanying adult. Each week will bring us on a brand new adventure as we explore a new children’s story and the world it takes place in. This is a perfect opportunity to devote an hour a week with your child to developing important skills such as im-agination, small and large group play, creative problem solving, and stretching physical and vocal boundaries. Our work will connect play to literature, home, class, and back again, fostering an imaginative and personal experience that the two of you are sure to remember and cherish!

First Steps with Hayley CottonDuring our 8-weeks of First Steps we will focus on building the bond between adult and child while exploring the storylines of several children’s books. We will utilize structured creative play to work on teamwork, confidence, and problem-solving. At the same time we will be introducing students to the basic actor tools: voice, body, and imagination. We’ll explore farms, gardens, under the ocean, and anywhere else our imaginations take us!

Story Drama (K4-K5) with Amy ShuIn Story Drama, students will have their introduction into theater through the well-known stories of Little Critter. Using acting techniques and activities, stu-dents will explore who their fellow little critter is and

bring him off the pages and into our classroom. While understanding Little Critter’s thoughts, emotions, envi-ronments, and relationships, students will gain a better understanding of their own self and the world around them.

Story Drama (K4-K5) with Samantha MontgomeryIn story drama students will demonstrate their un-derstanding of story structure by explaining the ele-ments of story structure through their participation in role play and other activities. They will work together to tell Stanley’s story through their use of information acquired from the story Holes by Louis Sachar. Addi-tionally, they will used the four acting tools: body, face, voice, and imagination to develop and exhibit their as-signed character’s emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.

Story Drama (1st-2nd grade) with Amy BahrStudents in our LITTLE CRITTER story drama class will learn how to use their bodies, voices, and imagi-nations to explore favorite stories from Critterville! Together, we’ll read stories and learn to identify the characters, settings, conflict and action within them, and then recreate those elements through dramatic play. Students will gain a strong foundation in the imaginative skills necessary to portray a character on stage, and along the way will discuss and reflect upon the themes of kindness, sharing and acceptance as presented in the books.

Story Drama (1st-2nd grade) with Brenna KempfIt won’t be Just Another story drama class this ses-sion! Students in will explore the world and characters of Mercer Mayer’s well-loved Little Critter book collec-tion. Students will use voice, body, and imagination to embody the characters of Little Critter and Little Sister, seeing the world from their perspectives. Setting, plot, tableau, emotion, community, song, and puppetry will also be explored for full analysis of story structure.

Story Drama Dance (1st-2nd grade)with Ashley JordanLet’s get moving! We will use mostly our bodies, voices, and imagination to groove through two sto-ries throughout our time together. Our first story is all about tactics—THE NUTS: SING AND DANCE IN YOU POLKA DOT PANTS. Students will begin to understand the exposition chart as we tell the story along with dance moves, rhythm, and music. The

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What’s Going On in the Classrooms?remainder weeks we will use an adaptation of THE TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES by Rachel Isado-ra. The story is a bit more complex and will challenge our students to adapt everything we learned with the polka dots story. We will tell the story with African dance, waltz and, music.

Playmakers (1st-2nd grade) with Ashley JordanA curse at Camp Green Lake? Students will create and explore breaking the curse at Camp Green Lake! Each student will contribute their creativity to charac-ters, emotions, and the themes in HOLES. Students will create characters based off of HOLES and learn through the voice, body, and imagination the meaning of choices and decisions. These students will have a blast with transforming from young hole-diggers, to dangerous yellow spotted lizards, and what the stakes are if we the PLAYMAKERS do not break the curse!

Audition Prep (3rd-5th grade) with Elyse EdelmanWelcome to Audition Prep! In this class we’ll explore the process of preparing and following through with a grounded audition. Auditioning isn’t scary (really!) – it’s all about presenting authentically what already makes you awesome. We’ll start with how to choose good material and culminate in each student acquir-ing a monologue and song ‘package’ for any general audition. Then there’s everything in between! We’ll learn how to empower our performances with discov-ery, importance, humor, and other tools from Michael Shurtleff’s 12 Guideposts. That includes using “given circumstances” to activate text, the task of introduc-ing yourself, building a resume, and much more. I’m so looking forward to working with this great group of students!

Audition Prep (3rd-5th grade) with Liz FaragliaIn this session we will be walking through the steps to finding and preparing a monologue, solidifying an introduction and gaining the confidence to rock any audition in the future. Be prepared for a dance and vocal call so we can see what it’s like during Musical Theatre auditions. We will also be privileged to have a guest come and speak about how First Stage runs their auditions and offer the students advice and help-ful hints. The next 8 weeks are going to be filled to the brim with information, practice, and preparation- I can’t wait to see the wonderful work the students walk away with!

Improvisation (3rd-5th grade) with Brenna KempfThis session, our 3rd-5th grade improv class will be working on both long- and short-form styles of im-provised play. A series of small activities, games, and vocal/physical explorations will build our curriculum for the session. Focusing on root vocabulary words of “Yes and…”, Spontaneity, Choices, and Investment, each week will challenge us to become a better en-semble through listening and sharing.

Introduction to Acting (3rd-5th grade)with Samantha MontgomeryStudents will effectively express their characters emotions by identifying the ROOT of their character and using this information to build the character’s personality. They will demonstrate their ability to use the space appropriately by incorporating the blocking instructions and using their knowledge of day to day life and other activities to make decisions about move-ment and the character’s choices and behaviors. Ad-ditionally, students will work collaboratively with their scene partners by creating scene work that contains character’s emotions, thoughts, and message as they listen and respond appropriately to their scene partner by making choices that connect to what they are given

Photo by Paul Ruffolo

Photo by Paul Ruffolo

WEDNESDAY CLASSES

Acting with Ashley Jordan and Elsa ScardinoWe will explore the story of Holes. Each student will become a part of our ensemble/cast with their bodies, voices, and imaginations. Students will begin to un-derstand what it means to be an actor. Dramatization skills will be developed throughout the course of these 8 weeks. Students will build their skills by learning to be in the moment, character development, and creat-ing a memorized scene from the play HOLES.

Acting with Amy BahrIn 6th-8th grade Acting, we’ll be working together to rehearse and perform scenes from HOLES. Students will focus on using their imaginations to create truth-ful, interesting characters, and will gain a strong foundation in acting technique. We’ll use tools such

as the study of objectives and tactics, script analysis, and improvisation to learn how to bring the text to life!

Acting with Samantha Montgomery and Matt RothStudents will apply the principles from Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner to their scene work and the character development process. This will guide them in creating characters that reflect the es-sence of these theories. They will also identify their character’s relationships, objective and obstacles. Students will explore the various strategies that can be played to remove the obstacles that their char-acter in the world of the play struggle against. The students will work collaboratively with their scene partners to create characters that display authentic emotion, thoughts, and intent of their characters. The students will listen and respond appropriately to their scene partners by making choices that connect to what they are given from their scene partners and responding instinctively.

Acting with Brenna Kempf and Chris GilbertThe 3rd-5th grade students will focus on dramatic acting scenes from the play HOLES by Louis

Sachar. Students will continue in their curriculum from the Fall 2015 session, now concentrating on character development, staying in the moment, endowments, and the moment before. Applying these skills to the previously learned ROOTS explorations, students will begin to examine the larger pictures of their characters and scenes.

Acting with Joshua PohjaIn Acting we will be working on the structure of a Dramatic Scene. Students will develop a method of analysis to chart a character’s arc. We will be exca-vating subtext and diving deep into the psyche and stakes of the character’s objective. Students will learn that acting in a drama is the same as approaching a character in a comedy. These apprentice Script Detectives will harness their curiosity about story and character and learn to develop a more dynamic dramatic scene - working through each moment of the script from A-Z. Our motto: Imagination is our strong-est muscle. Curiosity our oxygen.

Acting with Marcella KearnsStudents will dive into details with scene study! By rehearsing dramatic scenes, they will explore finding clues about character, playing given circumstances (who, where, when…), and supporting their scene partners through rehearsal technique. Students will grow in confidence and teamwork while having a lot of fun!

Advanced Playmakerswith Brenna Kempf and Chris GilbertThis session, our Advanced Playmakers classroom will use the story of HOLES as inspiration for our hand-written play! We will examine the award-winning book by Louis Sachar and then devise our own script inspired by the themes that speak loudest to us. Our work will culminate in a one-of-a-kind play, which will have its debut on the final presentation day!

from their scene partners.

Musical Theater (3rd-5th grade) with Liza BassoStudents will work at improving the key elements of becoming a triple threat in Musical Theater: singing, dancing, and acting! We will dive into working with dif-ferent songs that tie into the class theme, The Joy of Friendship! Students will learn a brief background of each musical introduced, along with the selected song and dance. They will work together to bring the char-acters alive in each story!

Musical Theater (3rd-5th grade) with Paula TillenMusical Theatre class is a place where students can polish their singing, dancing and acting chops. Stu-dents will participate in learning several group songs, mostly from the world of American Musical Theatre, fully stage, and prepare them as if for performance. On the way we’ll absorb music literacy, vocal tech-nique, stage vocabulary, movement and dance skills, as well as life skills like risk taking, group cooperation, listening, taking direction, and working collaboratively. Not to mention having lots and lots of fun!

Making Movies (3rd-8th grade)with John Van SlykeIn Making Movies, students will study the main com-ponents of digital movie making (scripting, camera work, directing, acting) to create short movies for screening on the final day of class. Students will work in teams to improve their communication, storytelling, and performance skills.

Acting (6th-8th grade) with Samantha MontgomeryStudents will apply the principles from Stella Adler and Sanford Meisner to their scene work and the character development process. This will guide them in creating characters that reflect the essence of these theories. They will also identify their character’s relationships, objective and obstacles. Students will explore the various strategies that can be played to remove the obstacles that their character in the world of the play struggle against. The students will work collaboratively with their scene partners to create characters that display authentic emotion, thoughts, and intent of their characters. The students will listen and respond ap-propriately to their scene partners by making choices that connect to what they are given from their scene partners and responding instinctively.

Musical Theater (6th-8th grade) with Liza BassoCentered around our class theme of Social Justice, students will work to polish their skills in all areas of musical theater: singing, dancing, and acting! Stu-dents will learn a brief background of each musical, and then work together to tell various stories through song and dance. By exploring the time period and context, students will understand the importance of learning the various cultural elements in which their characters lived!

Acting (9th-12th grade) with Karl IglesiasThis winter, First Stage students will work on dramatic scenes! We will use excerpts from HOLES and other fun exercises to explore the craft of acting and being a good team player. Students will use the text to build a passion for discovery and collaboration. Let’s play!

Next Steps Acting (9th-12th grade)with Samantha MontgomeryThe students will demonstrate their ability to perform a 10 minute play. They will identify the relationships, objective and obstacles of their assigned character through the exploration of their scene work. They will work to acknowledge the beats of the scene by incorporating the beats in their performance with evidence of their character’s emotions, behaviors, and thoughts.

Semi-Private Voicewith Paula Tillen or Stephanie RodgersWelcome to Group Voice Lessons! Over the next 8 weeks we will work as a group to learn and review the tools every great singer pos-sess. We will focus on breathing techniques, helpful warm ups, posture for support, basic music theory, and singing as group through pop and musical theater selections. Every week we will work on new music so come ready to have some fun, practice lots of great singing techniques, and learn lots of fun music!

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What’s Going On in the Classrooms? (continued)

Photo by Paul Ruffolo

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Meet the Faculty & StaffVisit www.FirstStage.org to read more about all of our staff members!

Jennifer Adams, Academy Director

Ashley Jordan,Teaching Artist

Fellow

SamanthaMontgomery,

ResidentTeaching Artist

Keep up with First Stage news online atfirststagechildrenstheater.blogspot.com

Amy Bahr Shaqita Crockett,Family

Partnership

Katie Cummings, Academy Director

Matt Daniels

Elyse Edelman Marcella Kearns Brenna Kempf, Resident

Teaching Artist

John Maclay,YC Director

Amanda Satchell

Liza Basso Hayley Cotton

Liz Faraglia Christopher Gilbert

Karl Iglesias

Amy Shu,Teaching Artist

Fellow

Paula TillenPatrick Schley,Academy

Services Mgr.

Patrick Schmitz John Van Slyke

Joshua Pohja StephanieRodgers

Matt Roth Elsa Scardino

From the First Stage Blog: Young performer from 2004 production revisits “holes”by Erica Davis

Frank Dragotta played Stanley in the original production of First Stage’s HOLES. He recently attended the play and shared his thoughts with us.

How old were you when you played Stanley in Holes?I was 15 years old and a sophomore in high school when Holes pre-miered at First Stage.

What character resonated with you the most when you were 15? Stanley Yelnats will always resonate with me not only because I was lucky to play him but also because we share similar qualities. In the book he was described as a stocky kid and I was definitely built like that in high school, actually all my life. We both also try to make the best out of any situation, good or bad. Being optimistic makes life easier. Stanley is a nice guy too, even when people may not be so nice to him. For me that is something I try be, just nice to people - it goes a long way. I still feel very connected to his character after watching the show years later.

In what ways is the play different or the same than you remember? The set looks very similar to how it did in the original First Stage production, very similar. Although I don’t re-member the ropes that connect to the moveable rocks that cover the holes. I would’ve liked those. I believe we just slid the rocks with our hands! We also had to dig real holes with real dirt. (Just kidding on that last part!) The costumes were similar too, except for the Camp Green Lake badge on the orange jumpsuit sleeves – that was a cool new touch. It almost makes you want to visit the camp, almost.

The dedication in the playbill to Molly Glynn was very thoughtful. She was a great person when I met her during Holes and it was so sad to hear when she passed away, it made national news.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about this play?I want to mention are how hard the cast and crew worked to make the show so wonderful. It was fun to be in the audience watching it because I never got a chance to see the show years ago when the other cast did it. I don’t act anymore but I can see how much time and energy still goes into live theater, it really is awesome. I hope the young cast feels proud of what they accomplished. You involve yourself in this because you have a passion for it and even after a good amount of time passes you will look back and still feel proud of all that hard work you put in.

Frank Dragotta is a former First Stage Young Performer. He now works in special education at Capitol West Academy and also teaches for First Stage’s Next Steps program.

Frank Dragotta as Stanley Yelnats and Mark Metcalf as Mr. Sir in HOLES, 2004.

Frank Dragotta attends this season’s production of HOLES.

A dark, humorous tale of crime and punishment sure to capture your heart and imagination.

January 15—February 14, 2016F O R E V E R Y O N E A G E S 9 A N D U P .

Please note: This production includes some moments of violence.

Tickets start at just $15!

W W W . F I R S T S T A G E . O R G

By Louis SacharBased on the novel by Louis Sachar