Theater Classes at Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center

Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center's next session of theater classes will begin March 10. There are two, six-week classes: One for children in grades 3-6, and one for those aged 16 and older. Registration for their summer camp, for grades 3-8, is also now available.

In "Acting for Kids," third through sixth graders will use theater games to develop confidence, increase performance skills through play practice, and undertake scenes and numbers from musical theater. The program culminates in a short show for parents and friends. The program runs 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays March 10-21!-- and --. It costs $100 a person.

People 16 and older can participate in "Adult Acting and Improv," developing skills and confidence through improv activities, scene study and monologue preparation. The program will cover topics such as character development, script analysis, and audition preparedness, all important skills. This program runs 7:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays March 11 through 22. It also costs $100 to register for this class.

In addition to these, this summer Dragonfly will hold a two-week summer theater camp. For those in grades 3-8, the camp will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday August 8-19. It will be planned, taught and supervised by Dragonfly's artistic director, Catherine LaMoreaux, an experienced educator with NJ certifications in theater, English and elementary education. Camp activities will include playing theatre games, doing improv, writing plays, filming movies, designing costumes and sets, and putting on a full production. It costs $500 a student.

There are multiple ways to register for the programs. It is possible to register with PayPal through, or register by mail with forms available on the Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center website. For at least the summer camp it is also possible to register by calling (908)930-3210.

For more information, contact DragonflyArtsNJ@gmail.com or call the previously listed number. Classes will be held at the Forum Theatre on 314 Main St, Metuchen; the summer camp at the Metuchen Reformed Church on 150 Lake Avenue, Metuchen.

Stage Combat Workshop at Holmdel Theatre Company

Learn how to stage unarmed combat, from slaps and punches to kicks, grappling and falls, with the Holmdel Theatre Company later this month.

The workshop, dealing with basic unarmed combat stage techniques, will be taught by New York fight director Dan O'Driscoll. O'Driscoll has assisted on 50 or more shows on and off-Broadway with such New York companies as the Atlantic Theatre Company, Roundabout, Playwrights Horizons, Lincoln Center Theatre 3, Signature, Soho Rep, Women's Project, Barrow Street, the Public Theater, Vineyard, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, the Flea Theater, MCC Theater, Theatre for a New Audience and Manhattan Theatre Club. He is a certified teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors and teaches stage combat at Montclair State University, and is the resident fight director at Luna Stage in West Orange.

The workshop will run from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. November 21. Spaces cost $30 each. Spaces may either be reserved via email or purchased online, although it should be noted that there is a $4 processing fee for the latter option.

For more information, or to reserve spaces through email, contact info@holmdeltheatrecompany.org; to buy spaces online click here.

Open Auditions for the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

Paper Mill Playhouse will hold open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir. 

The choir consists of 40 to 50 singers and dancers between ages 16 and 22. The choir performs frequently in and out of the community. 

Auditions are at 5 p.m. on Oct. 4 and 6 p.m. on Oct. 5 and 6. They are by appointment only. Please call (973) 315-1640 or email jzeitoun@papermill.org to arrange an appointment. For auditions, please prepare 32 bars of a pop/rock song or an upbeat musical theater piece that demonstrates your vocal range. Please bring sheet music in the correct key in a binder or single sheet. An accompanist ill be provided. You may not perform a capella or to an audio recording. You will be asked to learn a short dance, so please wear appropriate footwear.

The choir is directed by Shayne Austin Miller, with musical direction by Matt Lowy, dance direction by Joshua Schnetzer, vocal coaching by Viraj Lal, management by John Zeitoun, and musical consultation by Meg Zervoulis.

You can watch a former choir perform here.

Fall Classes for Various Ages at Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center

This fall, Dragonfly Multicultural Arts Center will offer acting classes for third through sixth graders, 12-16-year-olds, and those 16 or older.

The class for students in grades three through six, "Acting for Kids," will use theater games to develop confidence and play practice to improve other performance skills. They will work on scenes and numbers from musical theater and will eventually put on a short show for family and friends.  The class rwill un 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays Sept. 17-Oct. 22.

In "Teen and Preteen Acting," students 12-16 will have the opportunity to play theater games, work on scenes from plays, and practice acting for the camera. The program will culminate in a performance for family and friends, and will run 6:30-7:30 Fridays Sept. 18-Oct. 23.

Those 16 and older have the opportunity to partake in "Adult Improv, Monologues and Scenes," which seeks to help adults improve their acting skills through improvisation, scene study, and monologue preparation. Topics that the class will cover include character development, script analysis and audition preparation. The class will run 7:30-8:30 Fridays Sept. 18-Oct. 23.

Each class costs $100 a student; however, the first class of each session is always free. All classes are planned and taught by Catherine LaMoreaux, an NJ-certified teacher with experience teaching theater in middle and high schools. They will be held at the Forum Theatre.

Those interesting in registering may do so either with this form or through PenPal here, here, and here. The Forum Theatre is located at 314 Main Street, Metuchen. For more information, contact dragonflyartsnj@gmail.com.

Summer Program Registration at Cranford Dramatic Club

Looking for something for the kids to do as summer comes to an end? Apply for "Future Stars" at the Cranford Dramatic Club.

The program will run 1-4 p.m. August 10-14. The program is targeted at children aged 7-12.

The program costs $250 for one child and $200 for each additional child. This price includes two tickets to the Friday Showcase. To view the registration form, click here. The deadline for reservations is July 31. To make a reservation, return the form and payment to PO Box 511, Cranford, NJ. 07016.
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For more information, contact info@cdctheatre.org. The theater is located at 78 Winans Avenue, Cranford.

Fighting For Actors: A Masterclass in Stage Combat

Circle Players will hold a masterclass in stage combat, called "Fighting for Actors."

The class will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 14 at the theater. Registration is $25 per person.

Students will be exposed to and learn proper technique with physical actions that they have a high probability with encountering in stage work. This includes slaps, punches, knaps, falling, hair pulling, choking, and rolling. Actors will then be paired at the end of class and given a scenario and allowed to create a “fight” to showcase to the class and be critiqued. Students should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. If they have difficulty kneeling or have sensitive knees, knee pads are recommended.

The class will be instructed by Erik Hall, who has many years of experience staging fights at local theaters, as well as the New Jersey Renaissance Fair, where he was an actor, writer, and director for over 10 years. He has served as Fight Director for countless theatrical productions, including many at Circle Players.

Learn acting on Monday nights in E. Brunswick

Perhaps you are an experienced actor in local theatre. Maybe you took some acting classes or performed in some shows years ago, or it could be that you have never walked unto a stage and have always wondered what it would be like. It doesn't matter what your background. Now you can take an exciting step toward learning more about the art of acting.

For six consecutive Monday nights, beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 20, Playhouse Acting Academy will offer an adult acting class taught by actor-playwright Jared Kelner and academy Director Gerry Appel.

Each Monday night session will include improvisations, craft exercises as well as scene study or monologue preparation. But, most importantly, this is a safe place to explore your creativity. Kelner and Appel have developed lesson plans from techniques tailored to help actors with any level of experience.

“Jared and I come from two very diverse schools of thought concerning how to train an actor,” says Appel. “I am a Strasberg method actor, and Jared was first trained in the meisner technique. In my youth while awaiting NYC auditions, I witnessed (and sometimes participated) in shouting matches between actors who had dissimilar training. Meisner vs. Method was often an epic battle. But, now, I believe there is no 'wrong way' to develop your acting skills. Even the grandfather of modern acting techniques, Stanislavski said, 'Create your own method.' This class will give you a foundation of history and craft exercises to help you with that process.”

Registration is open to all. No audition is necessary for this class. Space is limited to only 12 actors, to allow individual attention.

Classes will take place at the East Brunswick Cultural Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road. Tuition is $160 for the six sessions. Each session is two hours, but may go later.

For more information, email Academy Director Gerry Appel at NJActingAcademy@gmail.com.

Masterclass: William Shakespeare's 'Richard III'

Circle Players will be holding a Masterclass focusing on Shakespeare's play "Richard III".

The class will feature four different parts, all taught by award winning director Jessica Damrow. During this four-week seminar, we will work through Shakespeare’s Richard III as an impromptu theatre company, exploring the imagery, meter and language of some of his most prolific characters.

The classes will be on September 6, 13, and 20 from 10 to 1 p.m. and September 28 from 5 - 8 p.m. The cost is $25 per class, or $90 to go to all four.

'Avenue Q' at Somerset Valley Players

Somerset Valley Players will be hosting the Allegra School of Music & Arts Premiere Summer Theatre Workshop's performance of "Avenue Q".

Performances are August 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. and August 16 and 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 if purchased online, or $15 at the door.

 Students in this program train for 3 weeks, learning proper vocal technique, acting methods, and choreography. The program concludes with a full length musical production to show off all their hard work.

For questions or more information please visit the Allegra School's website or call (908) 874-4351.

Reminder: Open Auditions for the Papermill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

 The Paper Mill Playhouse will be holding open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir.

The Broadway Show Choir is an audition based, exhibition Show Choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 40–50 singers and dancers between the ages of 16 and 22. Students selected to be a part of this talented group have the opportunity to fine tune their craft with free, intensive instruction that includes private voice training. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir act as ambassadors to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the last two seasons, the choir reached more than 100,000 people with performances at major venues througout the state.

Auditions for the choir are by appointment only on Aug. 24, 25, and 27 from 6 - 9 p.m. If you are not available during these times, the playhouse will be taking a wait list for the next available date. Call (973)315-1640 or email JZeitoun@PaperMill.org to schedule. Auditions will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse. Please prepare an upbeat pop or musical theater piece of approximately 32 bars that best demonstrates your vocal range. Bring sheet music, in the key you will sing it, in a binder or single sheet taped together that contains the full piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided. You may not perform a cappella or to an audio recording. Those auditioning will be taught a brief dance combination, so please bring suitable footwear. Callbacks will be held on Sept. 7.

The show choir staff features Shayne Austin Miller as the director, Meg Zervoulis as the music director, Jennifer Forziati as the choreographer, Viraj Lal as the vocal coach, Carrie Rubinoas the stylist and costumer, John Zeitounas the company manager, Mickey McNany as the theatre school director, and Lisa Cooney as the director of education.

Auditions for the Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

 The Paper Mill Playhouse will be holding open auditions for their Broadway Show Choir.

The Broadway Show Choir is an audition based, exhibition Show Choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 40–50 singers and dancers between the ages of 16 and 22. Students selected to be a part of this talented group have the opportunity to fine tune their craft with free, intensive instruction that includes private voice training. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir act as ambassadors to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the last two seasons, the choir reached more than 100,000 people with performances at major venues througout the state.

Auditions for the choir are by appointment only on Aug. 24, 25, and 27 from 6 - 9 p.m. If you are not available during these times, the playhouse will be taking a wait list for the next available date. Call (973)315-1640 or email JZeitoun@PaperMill.org to schedule. Auditions will take place at Paper Mill Playhouse. Please prepare an upbeat pop or musical theater piece of approximately 32 bars that best demonstrates your vocal range. Bring sheet music, in the key you will sing it, in a binder or single sheet taped together that contains the full piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided. You may not perform a cappella or to an audio recording. Those auditioning will be taught a brief dance combination, so please bring suitable footwear. Callbacks will be held on Sept. 7.

The show choir staff features Shayne Austin Miller as the director, Meg Zervoulis as the music director, Jennifer Forziati as the choreographer, Viraj Lal as the vocal coach, Carrie Rubinoas the stylist and costumer, John Zeitounas the company manager, Mickey McNany as the theatre school director, and Lisa Cooney as the director of education.

Summer Program Registration at Cranford Dramatic Club

Looking for something for the kids to do as summer comes to an end? Apply for "Future Stars" at the Cranford Dramatic Club!

The program will run 1:30-4:30 p.m. August 25-29. The program is targeted at children entering grades 3-5.

The program costs $250 per child, or $200 per sibling. This price includes two tickets to the Friday Showcase. To view the registration form, click here. The deadline for reservations is August 15. To make a reservation, contact advertising@cdctheatre.org.
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For more information, visit the Cranford Dramatic Club website. The theater is located at 78 Winans Avenue, Cranford.

Masterclass: Musical Theater Auditions

Circle Players will hold a class May 31 on how to audition successfully for musical theater.

The class starts at 10 a.m. and will run for a few hours. Registration is available online, and costs $20.

This class will help students learn more about the audition process and how to prepare, how to manage nerves, and what to expect after the audition is complete.

This workshop will begin with warm-ups, followed by an explanation of how to make an effective song selection, and then sample auditions from class participants. The class will also include audition critiques given by the instructor, with additional comments from classmates.

Participants should come prepared with sheet music for a song they want to work on during class. They should dress comfortably and bring a water bottle.

The class will be taught by John Watson, an experienced pianist and musical director.

Master Class: Improv 101

Circle Players will be holding an improv class early this April.

The class is at 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on April 5th. Registration costs $20 and must be done online.

Taught by Andrew Young,  this introduction to Basic Improv will give students the opportunity to learn how to find basic games in scenes. Students will learn how to use "yes-and," playing at the top of your intelligence, active listening and support to create comedic improvised scenes.

 Andrew Young has been practicing and performing improv since 2005. He studied both long-form and short-form improvization at Improv Jam where he was named a Summer League All-Star. From 2005-2007, he was a member of the Backstage Players Improv Thingy, a collegiate short-form group based in Edison, NJ. In 2007, he was an initial member of Quaint Little Coffee Shop (QLCS), a long-form improv group based out of New Brunswick, NJ. As a part of QLCS, Andrew performed at venues throughout the country. Andrew is currently a member of Death by Improv (DBI), a short-form improv group based in Sayreville, NJ. DBI has performed in festivals in Florida and Boston.

Masterclass: 'Improv 101'

Want to learn improv? Why not attend a class at Circle Players?

On Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Andrew Young will be teaching basic improv at Circle Players.

This introduction to Basic Improv will give students the opportunity to learn how to find basic games in scenes. Students will learn how to use "yes-and," playing at the top of your intelligence, active listening and support to create comedic improvised scenes.

Registration is $20 and is only available online.

Masterclass: 'Decoding Shakespeare'

Want to get better at acting in Shakespeare plays? Why not take a lesson at Circle Players.

On Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Circle Players will be holding a class taught by Jessica Sherman to become better at acting out Shakespeare. 

This three hour bootcamp will teach actors how to break down Shakespearean scenes and monologues, uncover meaning through language and imagery and maximize actors’ personal connection with classical text. Participants will explore Shakespeare’s words through improvisational games, voice/diction exercises and scenework. Time will also be spent on choosing the right classical monologues for your character type.

Registration is $20 and only available online. 

Circle offers stage fighting class

Ever wonder how other actors pull off convincing stage fights, or how you could learn to fight onstage safely? Now you can!

Veteran stage combatant Erik Hall will teach"Fighting for Actors" at Circle Players, from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 10. Students will learn proper technique to physical actions that they have a high probability of encountering in most stage work. Tickets cost $20, and are available only online.

Techniques to be covered include slaps: forehand and backhand; punches: cross, uppercut and jab; knaps: self or first person, secondary and third person; falling: front and rear; kicks, hair-pulling and choking; and rolling, if time allows.

Students will be paired at the end of class and given a scenario and allowed to create a “fight” to showcase to the class for critique.

Students should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers. If they have difficulty kneeling or sensitive knees, knee pads are recommended.

Erik Hall has many years of experience staging fights on the stages of local theaters, as well as the New Jersey Renaissance Fair, where he was an actor, writer, and director for over 10 years.

Summer camp at Allegra School of Music and Art

It's only January, but it's never too early to start thinking about summer activities and summer camps.

The Allegra School of Music and Arts, located on Route 206 in Hillsborough is offering a summer camp this year for children wanting to gain more experience and training in acting and theater. The camp includes two- and three-week workshops for a wide range of ages and talents.

Session I, "Performance Master Class" runs from June 24-28, and is open to high school students and  college freshmen. The week is intended to inform and prepare aspiring actors to work in the industry, with headshots by a professional photographer, seminars on film and TV acting, musical theater, straight acting, Shakespearean acting, arts management and commercial acting. No audition is required for Session I.

Session II, "Bang Bang You're Dead," runs from July 8-19, and is open to high school students and college freshmen only, due to mature subject matter. Session II involves staging a nonmusical theatrical production of this acclaimed play, set in the aftermath of a high school shooting, and exploring the very serious consequences of bullying and violence among teenagers. Audition dates for Session II are Feb. 1-3.

Session III, "Tech Week Camp," runs from July 22-Aug. 11, and is open to high school students and college freshmen. Participants will learn the basics of lighting design, sound design, set design and construction, as well as stage and house management. No audition is required for Session III. Call the school at (908) 874-4351 for more information.

Session IV, "Urinetown, The Musical," runs from July 22-Aug. 11, and is open to high school students and college freshmen. “Urinetown” is a musical satire of the legal system, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theater itself. "Urinteown" will be performed at Somerset Valley Players Theatre on Amwell Road in Neshanic. Auditions for Session IV will be held Feb. 1-3.

Session V, "Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr.," runs from Aug. 12-23, and is open to third- through eighth-graders. A high-spirited musical romp that has the country dancing the Charleston. It’s the zany 1920s musical that took Broadway by storm. Audition for Session V will be held Feb. 1-3.

Session VI, "Musical Theater Review Workshop," runs from Aug. 26-30, and is open to third- through eighth-graders. Learn the basics of lighting design, sound design, set design and construction, and stage management and house management. No audition is required for Session VI. Call the school at (908) 874-4351 for more information.

Registration and fees are available online. Call Allegra School of Music and Arts at (908) 874-435 for more information.

Summer Academy registration at George Street Playhouse

Registration is now open for summer academy classes at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick.

Summer academy will run four weeks, from July 8-Aug. 2. Classes and program descriptions are listed on the registration form, and may be viewed online. There is a $50 discount per class, per week, for families who enroll by March 15.

Also, a 25 percent discount is available for families who live or work in New Brunswick. The Local 25 discount is not available online, so call, email/mail or stop by to take advantage of this very special deal. Discounts cannot be combined.

Installment options are flexible and always available. Installment plans can be arranged through registrations over the phone, by e-mail, U.S. mail or in person. Online registration requires payment in full.

 

Call the theater at (732) 846-2895, ext. 117, for more information.