As the days grow longer and warmer, we head outside for morel mushrooms and cherry blossoms, sandy beaches and sunshine. We dip our toes into the still-too-cold waters and dream of the summer ahead. We feel the world around us open again. Like the buds and flowers, we, too, expand into springtime.
Soon we’ll trade our routine indoor lives for the wild and glorious outdoors of summer. Work schedules will lax and schools will let out, releasing a host of bustling children and teens into the throes of summer vacation. With the normalcy of school behind them, many of these youths will look to the arts for structure and inspiration.
In a world of digital distraction, it warms my heart to see our youth programming at the City Opera House fill up with eager children and teens whose days will be packed with face-to-face interaction and personal growth. Having studied extensively as a performing artist myself, I fondly recall those early days of summer intensives. Notebook in hand, I’d wonder, who will I become? What will I turn into?
For me, that’s what the performing arts are all about — becoming more than who we are now. When we engage our imaginations and our minds as performers, we open ourselves to the boundless possibilities in life and we free ourselves to think bigger and to feel more deeply than before. Undergoing this kind of training early on creates not only a better artist, but also a better member of society, equipped with the empathy and imagination needed to flourish and thrive.
Being the new Youth and Community Engagement Coordinator at City Opera House, I’m thrilled to announce our summer youth education series. Starting July 20, we’re offering three very unique and distinctive intensives ranging from devised theatre to music, dance and improv. Our educators will come in from Broadway, the heart of Brooklyn, and even our own back yard.
These world class instructors will bring with them a level of excellence that is sure to elevate, empower, and inspire each and every student. Our first summer intensive runs from July 20-23 and immerses participants into the world of devised theater, led by guest artists Hook & Eye Theater from Brooklyn, NY. Hook & Eye is an award-winning, innovative, ensemble-based company known for creating original performances from the ground up, using collaboration, movement, text, sound, and imagination rather than a traditional script. Devised theater invites students to become creators — building stories together through exploration and play — making this a rare and exciting creative opportunity not often available in our region.
The intensive will include two classes of 10 students each — one for rising 5–8th graders and one for rising 9–12th graders. Space is extremely limited, and the 5th-8th grade cohort is already sold out so early registration is strongly encouraged for the 9th-12th grade cohort! This intensive culminates in a public showcase at 6:30 p.m. July 24, so mark your calendars for a very special evening of devised theatre.
Next up, students will join professional Broadway teaching artists July 27-31 for a one-of-a-kind theatre experience in Take It From The Top! This week-long Broadway Intensive will explore “triple threat” disciplines of music, dance, and acting based on various musical theater styles and influences. This intensive includes in-depth theatre training through group musical numbers, individual song coaching, step-by-step choreography instruction, and acting technique through scene work and improvisation exercises. All skill levels are welcome.
The week will close with a grand public showcase on July 31 that allows participants to display their creative work and achievements in a live performance for friends and family on the City Opera House stage. All are welcome to join at 6 p.m. as Take It From The Top continues their mission to inspire young students to become the artists and creative-thinking humans of tomorrow. This program is already more than halfway filled, so we encourage any interested students to sign up before class spaces become unavailable.
Our season finale culminates with an improv comedy camp for middle school and high school students run by the very funny improv pros at Full Tilt Comedy. This intensive will include two classes of 8-15 students each: one for rising (going into) 6th–8th graders and one for rising 9th–12th graders. Separately and simultaneously, the cohorts will build improv skills under the instruction of Full Tilt Comedy core company members. They will utilize specific exercises and proven improv games in each class to guide the development of specific skills and prepare students for a full on-stage improv performance.
The work usually includes fun warmups, focused instruction on improv concepts, specific game reps, and improvised scenework. At Full Tilt, they believe that individuals and communities thrive with shared creativity, laughter, and friendship — and they expect this camp to deliver exactly that.
Throughout the intensive, students will be encouraged to get silly and to find the confidence and joy that comes from being spontaneous and laughing in a room together. The comedy camp just went on sale and will run from Aug. 24-26 with a public showcase 6:30 p.m. Aug. 26. For anyone looking to laugh their way through summer, this is not one to miss!
Need-based financial scholarships are available for each intensive, making our summer educational series accessible to all. If you have any interest in these programs or suggestions and ideas for future educational offerings at the City Opera House, please call, write, or stop by the box office — we’ll be here all summer.
See you at the theatre!