Theatre Educational

Programming Plan for the

FALL Opening &

Second Act Classes

New River Stage in Blacksburg, Virginia

Introduction – OPENING ACT

Opening Act is for students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Primary and Elementary age.

This class is an introduction to theater arts which includes a variety of age appropriate acting

technique lessons. Children will audition for parts in the show within the class and be responsible

for managing their script, learning lines and blocking. Every child in the class will have an

important role in the show, but some parts will be larger based on individual skill level.

OPENING ACT students learn all about the four elements of theatre: Face, Voice, Body and

Stage. They then apply those elements to a play that has been written with THEM in mind!

Everyone has an important role to play, and every student will be expected to learn lines, but

don’t worry, we’ll learn how to memorize lines and work together to create a show.

Must be able to read at grade level. Special techniques explored in the FALL 2016 semester will

include audition techniques, speaking with a variety of accents and acting as animals and fantasy

creatures. Students will also explore isolation of elements. (How do you act with just your face?

Or just your voice?) The fall show is an original work called “Cosmic Pets.” It is about a corgi

dog kidnapped by space pirates in need of being rescued. We meet at the Children Museum

Blacksburg in the First & Main Shopping Plaza Blacksburg on Monday nights from 6-7:30PM

starting August 8th. The show date is scheduled for Saturday, October 29th and 10:30AM. It will

be presented onstage at the Village Center 2387 Warm Hearth Dr. Blacksburg VA.

Introduction – SECOND ACT

Second Act is for students in middle and high school. SECOND ACT offers a more advanced

exposure to theater arts and includes a variety of age appropriate acting technique lessons. Are

you ready to take on a bigger challenge? Are you interested in auditioning for community shows

or getting ready for school play or your next stage of theatre education? When you have grown

beyond Opening Act techniques, SECOND ACT is for you!

SECOND ACT this season will present the play HIGH SCHOOL FOR DUMMIES their own 40

minute production. We’ll also explore outside works to delve deeper and broader into the

concepts embedded in your script material. You’ll also be asked to do some self-directing, critical

thinking, and peer work towards creating your own artistic portfolio and individual character.

Skits and monologues will also be used in student development.

We meet at the Children Museum Blacksburg in the First & Main Shopping Plaza Blacksburg on

Thursday nights from 6-8PM starting August 11th. The show date is scheduled for Saturday,

October 29th and 10:30AM. It will be presented onstage at the Village Center 2387 Warm Hearth

Dr. Blacksburg VA.

There will be a focus on students telling their own stories and developing their own skills to

reach their own goals, whether they are acting, technical, or within a business environment.

There will also be a focus on partnership with local schools and other community theatre

organizations to address all types of student needs. Opportunities will be offered to make

performing arts education affordable and effective and will be flexible enough to change and be

molded specifically to our community with a focus on high-quality educational programming that

meets Virginia SOL standards.

Why take a New River Stage Class?

Who is this for: Opening & Second Act is for New River Valley community members, students,

homeschoolers and more. We continually develop partnerships with local organizations such

as the Children’s Museum Blacksburg with a desire to remain inclusive to anyone who wishes

to participate in the classes and shows. We are also looking to develop a class for younger kids

in the preschool-K grades in 2017.

Why is theater important: Everyone needs an artistic outlet, especially a creative one that

may inspire more creative ideas. It would serve not only to improve life, school and workplace

skills – such as project leadership, collaboration, creative problem solving, writing, public

speaking and presentations – but also gives students and community members the

opportunity of being an actor, writer, or director and experience theatre in new light.

Leadership

AJ Moose

Owner of AJ ’ s Antiques & eBay Services in Chr istiansburg President of New R iver Stage

Over 36 years of experience in all aspects of community theater

Current President of New R iver Stage Experienced youth theater director Served as Choir Director of Salem Church of

Christ 2009 - 2012 Served as Yout h Minister, Choir Director,

Youth Theater Director for Graceway Church 2012 - 2014 .

Local business owner with deep roots in the community.

MBA Strayer University

Potential Partnerships

These educational programs have the potential not only to create theatre opportunities for

individual actors, and individuals in our community who may want to try and learn at writing,

acting or directing, but also for other established community theatre organizations who could

not otherwise be able to afford or find similar opportunities for more diverse, smaller, and

locally based works or their own intensive educational programs. These partners would also

have the overall benefit of being a part of an overarching organization where the majority of

students and players would live and work, allowing for their own outreach and partnering in

the New River Valley. Mentors will also be sought out from potential partners to make sure

educational program stays relevant and necessary in meeting the needs in our community.

Potential Arts Partners We Would Seek to Include in Future Programming: • Summer Musical Enterprise

• Showtimers Theatre

• Blacksburg Comedy Club

• Virginia Tech Theatre and Cinema and Student Performance Groups

• Radford University Theatre and Cinema and Student Performance Groups

• Hollins University Theatre and Cinema and Student Performance Groups

• New River Valley Public Schools Theatre Classes and Groups

Regional Educational Partners We Would Seek in Mentorship: • Barter Theatre (SWVA)

• Live Arts, Inc. (Central VA)

• Four County Players (SWVA)

• American Shakespeare Center (SWVA)

• SPARC (Central VA)

Opening & Second Act Class Material

• Acting for the stage

• Audition Techniques: Straight Plays

• Audition Techniques: Musical Theatre

• Costuming, Fashion Design and Cosplay

• Developing Character

• Improvisation and Comedy

• Introduction to Acting

• Make-Believe and Pretend

• Movement for the Stage

• Multicultural Touchstones: Greek, Russian, African, Asian, and Latin Theatre

• Musical Theatre

• Props and Puppetry

• Public Speaking, Making Speeches, Persuasive Debate, Poetry and Prose

• Reader’s Theatre

• Storybook Theatre

• Storytelling

• Technical Design

Schedule Fall 2016

FALL SHOW 2016 (12 Weeks)

Opening Act (Youth to Beginners Theatre):

“Cosmic Pets”

Second Act (Intermediate Theatre):

“High School For Dummies”

Type of Class TIME DAY START DATE LENGTH SHOW DATE

OPENING ACT 6-7:30PM MONDAY 08/08/2016 12 Weeks 10/29/2016

SECOND ACT 6-8PM THURSDAY 08/11/2016 12 Weeks 10/29/2016

Basic Semester Structure:

Each class will offer the same source material, but the depth may differentiate due to the

skill level of students attending in each class.

Class meets once a week. Additional tutoring or private lessons of students enrolled in

classes is available by request.

The end of class showcase will be staged at Warm Heath on the Village stage. The location

is 2387 Warm Hearth Drive. The sound system and space is well suited to our program and

it is much easier to find parking. Tech/dress rehearsals will be scheduled for the evenings of

10/27 and 10/28 the time to be announced. The show is scheduled for Saturday, October

29th at 10:30 AM. Call time for actors is 9:00 AM. Please make sure your child eats a good

breakfast and is well rested.

Classes will meet at the Blacksburg Children’s Museum located in the First & Main shopping

plaza. In case of inclement weather, a make-up class will be offered when possible. Weather

related cancellations will be posted to the New River Stage Facebook Page and sent out by

email.

Class Fee Structure

New River Stage is a 501( c )(3) Non-profit organization.

There will be reasonable fees associated with all courses and services provided. Prices

will remain competitive and affordable as the educational program seeks to optimize

community participation.

Class Pricing Fall 2016: • $150 per series of 12-week classes.

• $125 for students who are members of the Blacksburg Children’s Museum.

• $25 per child discount for families with multiple children participating in classes

• In cases of extreme need, scholarships and financial aid, or other service swap suggestions

will also be considered and negotiated, will be available to students who want to take a

class but may not be able to afford these suggested fees

Payment is due in full by/at the first class unless special arrangements have been made.

Classes run for 12 weeks with a class showcase scheduled on Saturday, October 29th

2016. Please email AJ Moose at newriverstageinfo@gmail.com to confirm with your

child's name and contact information so we can forward you the class packet. You can

also mail class payment checks to New River Stage, PO Box 6363, Christiansburg, VA

24068.

Snacks & Storage Requirements

Due to a variety or food allergies every student must bring their own drink and snack to

class. We will have a 10 minute snack/restroom break each class. Drinks must be in a

sealed cup or bottle with the child’s name. We politely requested that no food brought

into the room contains peanuts.

Students need to bring a box or bag to class with their name on it to keep all of their

papers, scripts, costume bits organized. It is their responsibility to come to class

prepared and ready to work.

Forms – Registration fall 2016

With every educational organization, paperwork is required to keep children safe, keep

students engaged in future programming, and to organize records. Here is the class

registration form for student information and emergency cards, and photography release

forms to be used in media and marketing.

Class Registration Form:

T-Shirt Size (Adult) (Child) – please circle one Small, Medium, Large, XL, 2XL

Photography Release Form:

In consideration of the engagement as a model of the minor named below, I hereby

grant the following rights and permissions to:

New River Stage Photographer, his/her legal representatives and assigns, those for

whom Photographer is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission.

They have the absolute right and permission to take, use, reuse, publish, and republish

photographic portraits or pictures of the minor or in which the minor may be included,

in whole or in part, or composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as

to changes or alterations from time to time, in conjunction with the minor's own or a

fictitious name, or reproductions of such photographs in color or otherwise, made

through any medium at Photographer's studios or elsewhere, and in any and all media

now or hereafter known, including the internet, for art, advertising, trade, or any other

purpose whatsoever. I also consent to the use of any published matter in conjunction

with such photographs. I specifically consent to the digital compositing or distortion of

the portraits or pictures, including without restriction any changes or alterations as to

color, size, shape, perspective, context, foreground or background. I waive any right

that I or the minor may have to inspect or approve any finished product or products or

the advertising copy or printed matter that may be used in connection with such

photographs or the use to which it may be applied.

I understand that the images of the minor may be used in media, press, marketing or advertisements to promote the Opening & Second Act programs and New River Stage in print and online. I release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless and defend

Photographer, his/her legal representatives or assigns, and all persons acting under

his/her permission or authority or those for whom he/she is acting, from any liability by

virtue of any reason in connection with the making and use of such photographs,

including blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form,

whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said

picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication of them,

including without limitation any claims for libel or violation of any right of publicity or

privacy. I hereby warrant that I am a legal competent adult and a parent or legally

appointed guardian of the minor, and that I have every right to contract for the minor in

the above regard. I state further that I have read the above authorization, release, and

agreement, prior to its execution, and that I am fully familiar with the contents of it.

This release shall be binding upon the minor and me, and our respective heirs, legal

representatives, and assigns.

Parent (Guardian) Signature: ______________________________________

Date: _________________________________________

Contact Information:

New River Stage

Website: newriverstage.org

Website: newriverstage.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewRiverStage

AJ Moose Contact Information: Harmony Faye Tripp Kaiser Contact

Information:

newriverstageinfo@gmail.com harmonytripp@yahoo.com

New River Stage

PO Box 6363

Christiansburg, VA 24068

540-239-2283