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Summer classes for theater teachers

  • 1.  Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-26-2015 17:07
    I know that dramatics does a feature on summer classes for theater teachers along with its summer classes for students section. However, I was hoping to get a jump start during this break on looking for a class to take in New York this summer. Any ideas where I could start looking?

    Kim Taylor

    Sent from my iPhone


  • 2.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-27-2015 14:19

    You might consider anything being offered at Shakespeare & Company in Lennox, MA. It's an easy trip from NYC, to the end of the (Harlem?) line, then they picked us up by van. I use much of what I learned there in acting classes regularly; not specific to Shakespeare at all: acting, diction, breath control, etc. I highly recommend a teacher named Dave Demke if he is still there.

    ------------------------------
    [Richard] [Carter]
    [Author/Director/Teacher]
    [Community Shakespeare]
    [Lopez Island] [WA]



  • 3.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-28-2015 09:13
    I would research the Educational Theater Department at NYU Steinhardt. They offer classes and programs on campus and abroad.

    Sent from Windows Mail






  • 4.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-28-2015 07:08

    I have attended a couple of really great PD sessions, aside from the EDTA Annual Teacher Conference which is amazing, here are a couple more you might be interested in. 

    BROADWAY TEACHER WORKSHOP: 

    I attended the Broadway Teachers Workshop in New York two summers ago and found it to be a great experience. 

    - BTW Home

    I also added the Technical Theatre Intensive Day as well. 

    Technical Theatre Intensive: Toured the Sally Ann Parsons Costume Shop and had a backdrop painting workshop.

    Regular Schedule; We saw Matilda, Pippin, Newsies & Cinderella and did talk backs with each of the casts; we had workshops on working with children from the casting and musical director of Matilda; We had a talk back with the director and set designer of Newsies; we had a choreography workshop with the choreographer of Cinderella; We had a writing workshop with the author of Almost Maine; A improv workshop with the woman who originated the role of Logan in Putnam County Spelling Bee; we had a directing workshop with the Tony Award Winning Director of Urinetown and had a College Application prep workshop with a college concierge. I didn't list all the names because it's a lot of making sure I spelled them all correctly. But suffice to say it was worth the $600.00-700.00 dollar tuition and you get to choose your own airfare and hotel, so you can go with something that is in your budget. 

    AMERICAN SHAKESPEARE CENTER TEACHER SEMINARS:

    Also, It's not in the summer but the American Shakespeare Center has some great workshops as well in Stanton, Virginia which I had the privilege of attending one year as well. 

    http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/template.php?id=33&sub_id=146

    I hope these are helpful!

    ------------------------------
    Kelly Duyn
    ENREACH EDUCATION DRAMA TEACHER
    CHENGDU CHINA



  • 5.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-28-2015 12:07

    For summer training for educators/artist-teachers, I recommend checking out the Centre for Playback Theatre in NY - see below.  Consider taking Core Training.  This is a wonderful technique that teaches empathic listening, storytelling, and theatre skills while giving your students a voice.  The "text" in Playback comes from the stories and personal experiences shared by audience members.  It's powerful and effective.  I'd be happy to share more information if anyone is interested.  

    Tim Reagan

    Upcoming Courses

    Playbackcentre remove preview
    Upcoming Courses
    The Centre for Playback Theatre offers comprehensive training in Playback Theatre, a form of personal improvisational theatre, valuing story, ritual, and community. Courses range from one day to three weeks and are sequential.
    View this on Playbackcentre >
    ------------------------------
    Tim Reagan, PhD
    Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC




  • 6.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-29-2015 11:07

    Marcus

    Have you considered a Masters degree?  Central Washington University in Ellensberg, WA (about an hour and a half east of Seattle) has a Summer Institute for Theatre Arts.  This is a 6 week intensive program designed for theatre teachers.  You can complete the needed coursework in 3 summers, without doing coursework during the school year (and lets face it, we are busy enough during the school year.)  Your thesis is a show at your school that your advisor comes to see.  Coursework covers the gamut: directing; dramaturgy; makeup; costumes; lighting; sound; set design; movement.  Most of the instructors are faculty at CWU, but guest lecturers are also brought in.  The classes are all designed to impact your teaching from the beginning, giving you the tools to change your curriculum and content.

    When I say that it is intensive, i mean intensive.  You have a class in the morning, a different class in the afternoon, and you spend multiple hours working through the evening.  You typically get 3 days off during the 5 and a half weeks of the institute.  However, you will be with a group of about 50 other theatre teachers.  People who are as passionate about theatre and teaching theatre as you are.  Fraternities brag that you will form lifelong friendships when you join.  I have a dozen friends I gained from those three summers.   They are resources for me, as I am for them.  Several have started coming to ITF in Lincoln, and we have a CWU reunion each year!

    Check out www.cwu.edu/theatre for more info.

    ------------------------------
    Richard Shultz
    Derby KS
    CWU class of 2010, MA in Theatre Productions



  • 7.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-30-2015 10:52

    Another MA option is the Fast Track program at Roosevelt University in Chicago. It's the same set up, classes all summer, thesis is a show in your home school, juried by your professors. Great education, professors are educators and local theatre professionals, you meet and form friendships with 40 or so other Theatre teachers from around the country. I was in the third graduating class, 1996 and I still keep in touch with and regularly visit many of my classmates. The education was fantastic, but the ongoing resource of having likeminded professionals just a phone call, email, text away to bounce ideas around, ask questions, etc. has been the lasting benefit. 

    ------------------------------
    Tina Tutt
    Middle School Theatre Teacher'
    Middle School Theatre Director
    Battle Ground Academy
    Franklin, TN



  • 8.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-30-2015 21:39

    I can second the CWU program. I have my MA in Theatre Production from Central, class of 2006. Comprehensive, intensive, summers only, no GRE required, in state tuition even for out of state attendees, dorms with colleagues for an excellent collaborative environment, and on and on.

    Check it out and compare.

    I know SOU offers something similar, as does Roosevelt University, and a number of other schools. CWU was the first.

    ------------------------------
    Jo Strom Lane
    Theatre Teacher and Director
    Portland Public Schools
    Portland OR



  • 9.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-31-2015 11:23

    Chiming in for CWU Summer Institute :) I believe you can just take course if you are not looking for a MA at this time. However, if you later decide you would like the degree you will be able to apply the completed course toward the degree. Excellent instructors, amazing contact and hard work will make the program a unique and memorable experience!

     

    ------------------------------
    Jeannie Brzovic
    Lake Forest Park WA



  • 10.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-30-2015 15:49

    The Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium offers a great tracing certificate in the Michael Chekhov acting technique.  It is a one-week intensive generally in the third week of June. You must attend three of these in order to become a Master Teacher.  Begun at Kent State, it is now held (starting this year) at Mount Union College.  Go to the website of GLMCC. It's a wonderful program led by professional from an impressive group of colleges and universities and the students are from around the world

    ------------------------------
    Molly Cornwell
    Shaker Heights OH



  • 11.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-31-2015 11:03

    Cobalt Studios in upstate New York offers a fabulous scenic painting class to high school theater teachers at their world renown studio. Best class I have ever taken as a high school teacher by far. You can fly into NYC, take a day or two to see some shows, then travel by bus to the studio. 

    ------------------------------
    Lindsay Shields
    Drama Specialist
    Flushing High School
    Brooklyn NY



  • 12.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-31-2015 11:11

    Hi, to add to the options for Summer MA and otherwise: I'm currently attending University of Houston for their Summer MA for Theatre Educators. Similar to those already mentioned in that it takes 3 summers to complete and each summer is an intensive. They cover: Teaching of Acting, Teaching of Voice, Dramaturgy, Scenic Design, Costume Design, Lighting Design, Historical Acting Styles, Directing, Technical Direction, Program Management, and Theatre History. This program does require some at home work during the school year but it is essentially documentation portfolios of how you are implementing what you've learned with your students. Ie, it is a documentation of what you should be doing already. It is not particularly difficult, it simply requires you to have some degree of time management and to reflect on yourself and your work in more concrete terms (on paper). I feel the biggest perk of this program and the reason I chose it over others I was accepted to (I applied to almost everything available the year I decided to give a Master's program a shot) is that if you are out of state and they accept you they will give you a tuition waiver so you are getting in-state rates. On top of that they will offer you a scholarship to help supplement your additional travel/ dormitory costs. Lastly, one week of class a year is spent at an alternate location where you take workshops with industry professionals. In my years I've gotten the opportunity to study at Lincoln Center in NYC, at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, and this summer at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Ultimately, this program ended up being the least expensive for me and offered me the most extensive opportunities. It feels pretty good putting "Puppeteering Workshop with Tom Lee (Master Puppeteer- War Horse) at Lincoln Center, NYC" on my CV. JUST SAYING.

    I can go on about the UH program quite a bit but will save it for now. If you want to know anything else please let me know. Another opportunity you may not be aware of is the Broadway Teacher's Workshop in NYC every summer, as well as teachers workshops at the Globe Theatre in London. Many American teachers who attend the Globe Theatre Workshops acquire funding from their local English Speaking Union. If this seems a little overwhelmingly far- look at the American Shakespeare Center in VA. They have some options too.

    Likewise, almost any acting school in the U.S. has small intensives during the summer (see previously mentioned Chekov option). NYC is riddled with them: Hagen, Meisner, etc. 

    Summer MA Programs I am aware of that you can look into:

    University of Houston*

    University of North Carolina- Greensboro*

    Roosevelt^

    Southern Oregon University*

    University of Northern Colorado*

    NYU - Steinhardt^

    Regent University (Online)

    Catholic University of America

    Columbus State University

    Central Washington University

    University of Florida (No longer exists- I think?)*

    *I applied here.

    ^Considered but did not apply.

    Hope this helps.

    ------------------------------
    Victoria Kesling Councill
    Chapter Director - VA EdTA/ Virginia Thespians
    Theatre Director- Fine & Performing Arts Department NKHS
    Artistic Director - NKHS Trojan Theatre
    Artistic Director - Kent England Exchange Production
    Virginia Commonwealth University BFA Theatre Education, BFA Art Education '08
    University of Houston - MA in Theatre Candidate '16

    "Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art." - Konstantin Stanislavski



  • 13.  RE: Summer classes for theater teachers

    Posted 12-31-2015 14:06

    The Utah Shakespeare Festival located in beautiful Cedar City, Utah offers terrific classes for Theatre Educators each summer.  See their link for information.  http://www.bard.org/camps-classes/?tag=Teachers

    ------------------------------
    Russell Saxton
    Drama Teacher
    Washington County School District
    St George UT