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OUR OBJECTIVE Our objective is to give young people the opportunity to
appreciate theatre arts by learning its skills, techniques and disciplines. The
theatre experience also prepares students for life by emphasizing team building,
self-discipline, responsibility and self-confidence.
Students ages 4, 5 and 6 receive instruction in:
- parts of the stage
- listening and learning skills
- performance skills within the framework of a class
presentation or short play
- diction and poetry recitation
- concentration
Students ages 7 to 17 receive instruction in:
- body language
- vocal projection and diction
- technical knowledge of theatre and its disciplines
- movement, including stage walks, sword fencing, stage
fights, stage falls, etc.
- dramatic interpretation and presentation of plays
- poetry and its rhythms
- preparation and performance of monologues
- preparation for auditions
MAIN QUALITIES A STUDENT
BRINGS TO CLASS:
Eagerness, perseverance, diligence, punctuality, and the
will to learn. Theatre With Children For Children will do the rest.
OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM
- The December production is a fully-staged musical.
- All students enrolled in regular classes may audition in
October (participation is not required).
- Cast members are selected from those who audition.
- Rehearsals begin October until
performance on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 7-9 pm and Sunday 2-5 pm.
Ten performances are presented to schools and the general public.
- All performances are in VCU’s Performing Arts
Center Concert Hall.
- Past December Productions include:
- The Newest Little Angel
(1998), book and lyrics by Una Harrison, music by Jolene Bush
- Dick Whittington and His Amazing Cat
(1996), book and lyrics by Una Harrison, music by G. Winters.
- Cinderella (1997), by Jack Perny and
Robert Porter, adapted and directed by Una Harrison
- Oliver with a Twist, music by Glen
Winters, adapted and directed by Una Harrison
- A Dickens of a Christmas, music by Glen
Winters, adapted and directed by Una Harrison
- A Magical Pied Piper, music by Glen
Winters, adapted and directed by Una Harrison
THEATRE TOURING COMPANY
'Aesop's Fables' is the Touring Production
for 2001-2002.
The Theatre Touring Company goes to public and private
schools throughout Richmond and its adjoining areas. The company is made up of two
complete casts; each performs once monthly.
Students who have been enrolled in regular classes for
at least one year are allowed to sign up for the company. The selection of students
to be in the company is made by the Director, Una Harrison. Those chosen are
notified in early summer. The touring students must attend a two-week camp to
prepare the production; the camp is always scheduled for the first two weeks in
August. The fee is $150. A form is given to the principal of each cast member’s school for him
or her to sign, granting permission for the young actor to be out of school for the Friday
tours.
The 1992-1993 touring production Don’t Talk
To Strangers was featured on WWBT television, Richmond’s NBC affiliate.
Other special performances by the Touring Company have included performances in London,
England; special out-of-state productions; television broadcasts; and annual command
performances for local civic groups. Touring cast members receive a plaque at the
Theatre Showcase in May.
Past Touring Productions include:
1995-1996 Peter and the Wolf, adapted by Una
Harrison
1996-1997 Beauty and the Beast, adapted by
Una Harrison
1997-1998 More of Aesop’s Fables,
adapted by Una Harrison
1998-1999 Peter and the Wolf, adapted by Una
Harrison
SCHOLARSHIPS
Students who have been enrolled for two consecutive years
may audition for a scholarship award to assist in covering VCU-CSPA tuition fees.
Auditions are November 18 and are judged by guest adjudicators in the performing arts
field. The students perform one serious and one comic monologue from memory, with
the combined time for both not to exceed five minutes. Winners have the amount of
the scholarship applied to their VCU-CSPA account.
ADULT
THEATRE
“Learn by Doing”
Two-Semester Course begins Oct. 4, 1999, 7pm-8pm, Mondays.
MAY THEATRE SHOWCASE
The school year ends in May with a Theatre Showcase.
Each class prepares a one-act play, some classes choose to create and write an original
play to perform. The showcase is the culminating activity of the year; participation
is mandatory for all students. This is the opportunity for students to apply all the
skills they have developed during the year. Students are presented with awards at
the showcase as follows:
- Diploma for participation in the program
- Certificate of attendance (for those with 100%
attendance without being tardy)
- Touring company cast members receive plaques bearing the
production title and year
- Statuette for students completing five years of study
FILM AND TELEVISION REFERRALS
Movie companies filming in Richmond often call Mrs.
Harrison for referrals of students to audition for principal and supporting roles.
Mrs. Harrison sends students based on their aptness for the characters needed and on
quality of work observed in regularly weekly classes.
JULY SUMMER SHAKESPEARE CAMP
Enrollment is open to the general public. Last
summer's presentation was The Spirit of Will Shakespeare (written by Una
Harrison).
Previous presentations included A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Spirit
of Will Shakespeare and The Tempest. |
