SATURDAYS AT MYAC

First Steps with Brenna KempfFirst Steps is an exciting series 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 imagination, small and large group play, and stretching physical and vocal boundaries. Our work will con-nect 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! K4-K5 Story Drama with Jason KnopIn Story Drama this fall, we will be focusing on the world of SHREK. Using the

A Note from the Academy DIrectors

FYI...On Stage:

SHREK THE MUSICALLet your freak flag fly with this story of ad-venture, friendship, and ogre love! For tickets call (414) 267-2961 or visit www.FirstStage.org.

NEWS FROM THE ACADEMY • Volume 3 Issue 5 • Fall Academy 2013

...read more inside...

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!

Welcome to Fall Academy 2013! We have so many wonderful programs going on this fall that there is surely something for everyone at First Stage Theater Academy! Our new School Year Intensives, Advanced Musical Theater and the Word Play Ensemble, are ready to launch alongside our wildly popular Organized Chaos and Young Company. Our teachers and interns for classes on Saturdays and Wednes-days a bursting with creativity and energy, and our locations in Brookfield, Ocono-mowoc, and Milwaukee are ready with open arms for students to either begin or continue their journey of self-discovery and artistic fulfillment. We want to thank you for making the Academy a part of your family and we look forward to seeing and talking to each of you throughout the year!

— Jennifer Adams and Katie Cummings

Top photo byLindsey Abendschein

InFOCUS

School’s Out for the day? Come to First

Stage!Our Play in a Day classes are available throughout the year on MPS days off. Register at www.FirstStage.org!

What’s going on in the classrooms?

proud Cornerstonemember of

FIRST STAGETHEATER ACADEMYLife Skills Through Stage Skills

book, movie and musical as our guide through the sto-ry, we will be focusing on the characters in the stories, the environments they live in, and reenacting the situ-ations that some of the characters find themselves in.

1st-2nd Grade Story Drama with Lori Hartman-KeiserCalling all wannabe ogres! The SHREK Story Drama class will explore what it’s like to live in the swamp, breathe fire like a dragon, and dance like a donkey. We will enact the SHREK plot plus learn about frac-tured fairy tales through creative drama activities featuring the fairy tale characters from the movie and the First Stage production.

1st-2nd Grade Story Drama with Chasten GlezmanIt’s Shrek time at First Stage! During this session of Story Drama, actors will play alongside Shrek, Prin-cess Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, Puss in Boots, and many, many more as we discover the world of Far Far Away, and beyond! Each week students will focus on a main event in the stories of Shrek as well as cre-ate new characters and adventures for all to explore. It sure to be a great time that will make all your friends green with envy!

1st-2nd Grade Story Drama Dance with Ashlea WleklinskiIn Story Drama Dance, students will explore their vo-cal and bodily ranges to depict through movement the story Where the Wild Things Are. They will engage in and learn various forms of community dance. They will use dance as a storytelling device, incorporating mask work to help embody traits of different characters within the story.

2nd-3rd Grade Playmakers with Chasten GlezmanRemember that time when Cinderella went to the ball, ate a poison apple, danced with Rumpelstiltskin, and then the prince turned out to be Captain Hook? No? Well maybe that story just hasn’t been written yet! Welcome to Playmakers, this session we’ll be focus-ing on “fractured fairytales” while we write, direct, and perform stories of our very own. Students will have the chance to explore the worlds of many fairytales through creative drama as we pick and choose what stories and characters we want to bring into our new piece. This fast paced class will have students jump-ing from writer, to actor, to director while together we write a brand new fairytale to share and perform.

3rd-4th Grade Musical Theater with Amanda Satch-ellThe students will learn how to use their voice and body in singing, dancing, and acting with scenes from musical theater. We will work on using proper vocal techniques through warm-ups, breathing exercises, and songs. A variety of musical choices will be pro-vided for the students to choose from. The goal will be to create a comfortable and fun environment for the students to express themselves and take risks!

3rd-5th Grade Introduction to Acting with Ashlea WleklinskiIn Introduction to Acting, students will explore the ROOTS of a scene (relationship, objective, obstacle, tactics, and stakes) to create dynamic stage pic-tures. They will begin to explore beats and objectives through the preparation of contemporary monologues. Students will use and apply concepts of stage direc-tion to block short contemporary scenes.

In Focus

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Volume 3 Issue 5

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What’s Going On in the Classrooms? (continued)3rd-5th Grade Introduction to Acting with Saman-tha MontgomeryIn Introduction to Acting, students will explore the ROOTS of a scene (relationship, objective, obstacle, tactics, and stakes) to create dynamic stage pictures. Students will use and apply concepts of stage direc-tion to block short contemporary scenes.

4th-6th Grade Improvisation with Kris PuddicombeImprov this session will focus on building scenes and stories as a team. This will involve making bold char-acter choices, of course, but we will also focus on listening to our scene partners and sharing the story with others in the group, which is fundamental to the “yes, and” philosophy of improvisation. As the class goes on we hope to delve more into long form improvi-sation.

5th-8th Grade Acting with Marcy KearnsActing students will sharpen their senses and give their imagination a workout as they operate as a team to bring dramatic text to life. Students will learn to find the clues a playwright gives for action, circum-stances, and character within a script as they tackle mini-scenes, short scenes, and their own short story adaptation in performance. This class highlights life skills problem solving, critical analysis, and height-ened awareness of self and others.

5th-8th Grade Musical Theater with Amanda Satch-ellIn Musical Theater, we will work on using our voices properly and effectively for the stage. In addition, the students will learn choreography and blocking of scenes from a variety of musicals in a group setting. Individually, they will choose a short piece of music to sing for future auditions. The goal of this class is to help the students find their inner performer and try new things!

5th-8th Grade Performance Workshop with Jen-nifer AdamsStudents in this performance workshop will work from the play AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES by Y York. Sara-Kate is known as the meanest girl in school. But Hillary isn’t so sure she believes the rumors about her neighbor. If Sara-Kate is as awful as everyone says, how could she take such good care of the elf village in her backyard? Hillary and Sara-Kate spend entire afternoons fixing the tiny stick houses and miniature Ferris wheel for the elves. But the more time Hillary spends with Sara-Kate, the more mysteries there seem to be. How come they never go inside Sara-Kate’s house? And why hasn’t Hillary ever seen Sara-Kate’s mom? Students will delve deeply into character development and ensemble as they bring the script to life!

Photo by Lindsey Abendschein

Photo by Lindsey AbendscheinPhoto by Lindsey Abendschein

WEDNESDAYS AT MYAC

K4-K5 Story Drama with Brenna Kempf & Latrece BeetsSwing on down to Ye Old Ogre’s Swamp as we explore with Shrek and the gang! In this Story Drama class, we will focus on important plot points and themes that lead us to self discovery, acceptance, and celebra-tion of our true selves. Our bravery and teamwork will progress us through the land of Far, Far Away as we complete challenges using our voice, body, and imagi-nation. The journey may be bumpy, sticky, (and even maybe stinky), but it will lead us to our ultimate goal and destination: love for self and neighbor!

1st-2nd Grade Story Drama Dance with Ashlea Wleklinski & Karl IglesiasIn Story Drama Dance, students will explore their vo-cal and bodily ranges to depict through movement the story Where the Wild Things Are. They will engage in and learn various forms of community dance. They will use dance as a storytelling device, incorporating mask work to help embody traits of different characters within the story.

3rd-4th Grade Making Movies with Jennifer Adams & Mike BateStudents will learn about the subtlety and specific-ity required to act in film commercials as well as the articulation and vocal expressiveness required for

voiceovers in radio work. Each student will work with a variety of commercial scripts as well as games and exercises that will improve articulation, vocal produc-tion, and facial and physical expressiveness.

3rd-4th Grade Making Movies with Chasten Glez-man and Tommy NovakEver wonder what it’s like to sit in those fancy looking director chairs on a film set? What about being fanned by five interns while you wait for your scene? Well, we don’t have the chair or the interns but we do have a camera and the building has AC! During this session of movie making we’ll be picking apart the building blocks of a successful on camera scene. Actors will discover voice, movement, and the precision that both require for acting on film. Students will use scripted and new material to create a final showcase of devel-oped skills for acting on camera as well as compile samples of vocal work.

5th-8th Grade Acting with Marcy Kearns & Hayley CottonActing students will sharpen their senses and give their imagination a workout as they operate as a team to bring dramatic text to life. Students will learn to find the clues a playwright gives for action, circum-stances, and character within a script as they tackle mini-scenes, short scenes, and their own short story adaptation in performance. This class highlights life skills problem solving, critical analysis, and height-

In Focus

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Volume 3 Issue 5

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What’s Going On in the Classrooms? (continued)ened awareness of self and others.

SATURDAYS AT THEOCONOMOWOC ARTS CENTER

3rd-5th Grade Musical Theater with Allie BoneshoWe will be exploring the style and sound of classic Broadway! In this class, we will work on and develop our acting, singing, and dancing skills. We will also learn proper breathing techniques, articulation, and character development. Combining all these skills we will come together to present a group musical number!

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS AT THESHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER

FOR THE ARTS

K4-K5 Story Drama with Jason KnopIn Story Drama this fall, we will be focusing on the world of SHREK. Using the book, movie and musical as our guide through the story, we will be focusing on the characters in the stories, the environments they live in, and reenacting the situations that some of the characters find themselves in.

1st-2nd Grade Playmakers with Jason KnopPlaymakers is all about Fractured Fairy Tales this Fall. We will be looking at versions of fairy tales we all know and love and then looking at fractured versions of those fairy tales and comparing the two versions. We will be exploring story structure and what makes a good story. By the end of the session we will have some original fractured versions of fairy tales written by the class.

3rd-4th Grade Musical Theater with Jennifer Ad-amsEach week students will explore a variety of rhythm, vocal and physical activities to improve upon the skills that musical theater artists use every day. We will tackle at least one big group number as well as some shorter 16 bar solos and group numbers! We will focus on how to create and character and express that character through singing, dancing and movement. It’s going to be a busy session, so get your dancing shoes ready!

5th-8th Grade Acting with Bridgette WellIn Acting for grades 5-8, students will focus on obser-vation and script analysis by discussing and applying elements of story structure, character relationships, objectives, and tactics to existing scenes and mono-logues. We’ll practice active exploration of choices that serve storytelling, touch on auditioning and cold reads, and learn how to provide and incorporate feedback in scene work to successfully translate our knowledge to action. By the end of eight weeks students will feel comfortable working with a script to make creative and informed decisions about characters and their world, and will understand how to use vocabulary common in the rehearsal process to evaluate the extent to which objectives and tactics are played successfully.

Photo by Lindsey Abendschein

Photo by Lindsey Abendschein

Photo by Lindsey Abendschein

by Jennifer Adams

Ms. Jenn: “Hey Alex, why do you come to Schools Out Classes at First Stage?”

Alex: “Because there’s nowhere else to go…”Ms. Jenn: “That’s the only reason?”Alex: (grinning) “It’s a lot of fun too!”

The options for activities on a day off from school may be limited, but students love spending their day at First Stage!

“It’s way better than sitting around at home watching TV all day,” exclaims Jela, a 4th grade student. Anya, another 4th grade student, agrees, “I love learning more about acting, and you get to do that when you put on a play in just one day.”

And that is just what the students do. Through acting workshops, auditions, building costumes and props, and rehearsal, the students put together a presenta-tion of a story book utilizing scenes, improvisation, and usually a song or dance. It’s tons of fun and really action packed, as you can imagine. There is a lot to do to even put together a short play in only a few hours!

“You do a lot of fun stuff” explains Kathleen, a 4th grade student, “like games and art.” And kindergartner Phinlee loves having a goal for the day. “People should come because at the end of the day you get to

do a performance, and it’s fun.”

Each Play in a Day is themed off a storybook. Past themes include How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Lion King, Splat the Cat, and Hip and Hop Don’t Stop. Each day is a new adventure so students can learn something new every time they come.

Academy Director Jennifer Adams explains, “School’s Out days are really fun. It gives new students a taste of the culture of First Stage, and gives returning stu-dents some variety from our regular programming and an opportunity to try out new skills.” Lead Teacher Ja-son Knop agrees, “students learn about all elements of a play from creation, to rehearsal, to performance.” Jenn contines, “everything we do here is geared towards helping student feel more confidant and crea-tive, and even in just one day students can begin to see that side of themselves revealed a bit more.”

One of the best parts about the Play in a Day struc-ture is that working as a team isn’t optional. The stu-dents have to get a long and work well together or the play doesn’t happen. Samantha, a 1st grade student, describes the biggest thing she learns at First Stage as “you learn how important it is to work together as an ensemble.” Now THAT is a lesson you can take with you out into the world and really make a differ-ence!

In Focus

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Volume 3 Issue 5

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School’s Out! Play in a day - in review

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

Mike Bate

Marcella Kearns

Jason Knop, Lead Teacher

Bridgette Well

Jennifer Adams, Academy Director

Katie Cummings, Academy Director

Patrick Schley,Academy

Services Mgr.

Malkia Stampley, CommunityPartnership Coordinator

Nate Press

Allie BoneshoLatrece Beets Hayley Cotton Matt Daniels

ChastenGlezman

Samantha Goessner,

Admin. Intern

Rubi Gonzalez, Wednesday

Intern

LoriHartman-Keiser

Karl Iglesias Brenna Kempf

John Maclay,Associate

Artistic Director

Karl Miller SamanthaMontgomery

Brian Myers Tommy Novak

Kris Puddicombe Amanda Satchell Patrick Schmitz AshleaWleklinski

Join First Stage & Myso insupporting the Hunger Task Force!

We are collecting stuffing throughout Fall Academy! Collection bins are located outside the Academy

office and at the Todd Wehr Theater.

The Touring Companyis in Full Swing!

The First Stage Touring Company is a 30-minute show focusing on First Stage’s core values of accept-ance, understanding and community. This year’s company is comprised of 17 students in 5-9th grade. Songs include “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, a SHREK THE MUSICAL medley, “What It Means to be a Friend” from the musical 13, “Beautiful City” from GODSPELL and “Dance to the Music” as recorded by Sly and the Family Stone. First Stage is proud to be a Bully Free Zone and we’ve included a spoken word piece, Filling the Edges written by Jennifer Adams. Filling the Edges talks about the effects of bullying and offers tactics to help defeat this epidemic. This show will engage audiences young and old alike and is recommended for anyone ages 5 and up.

For more information,or to book a performance, contact

Katie Cummings(414) 267-2979

kcummings@firststage.org

Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William SteigBook and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire

Music by Jeanine TesoriOriginally produced on Broadway by

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street ProductionsTheatre for Young Audiences adaptation

Now through November 17

Media sponsors:

Performances at the Todd Wehr Theater in the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Sponsored by:

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