Berkeley Rep Offers Summer Classes For School Of Theater, Session Begins 7/6

Wondering how to gain a competitive edge in today's economy? Want to put your child "ahead of the curve"? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, consider expanding your summer with a course in creativity at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre. Classes for the School's summer session, which begins on July 6, were announced today.

"Effective communications skills are vital in our society," explains Rachel Fink, the School's director. "Our students explore different modes of artistic expression - yet at a basic level, it's about learning to use your face, voice, and body to communicate more effectively. The classes are lots of fun... and the tools you'll acquire are invaluable."

The summer session includes 12 classes for adults, three classes for students in kindergarten through fifth grades, and a summer intensive for middle-school and high-school students. The following classes meet weekly for two to three hours with instructors who are nationally recognized artists and teachers:

Students beginning grades K-1: Make ‘em Laugh, Make ‘em Cry with Nancy Gold shows kids how to "find the funny" through comic timing, improvisation, masks, and movement.

Students beginning grades 2-4: Make Mask Magic with Nancy Gold introduces kids to the principles of makeup, light and shadow, and costuming.
Students entering grades 5 and up: Dueling Duos with Gendell Hernandez is a private stage-combat class that teaches pairs of youth to create realistic, exciting - and safe - fights.
Acting for Adults: Get into character in classes such as Beginning Acting with Michael Navarra, Intermediate Acting with Marvin Greene, Advanced Acting with Andrew Hurteau, and Audition Lab with Andy Murray.
Movement classes for adults: Shake things up in Acting Violence with Dave Maier (offering certification in unarmed stage combat), Beginning Clowning with Ben Johnson, Ensemble Physical Theatre for Actors and Directors with Ben Yalom, and private stage combat instruction with Michael Storm.
Improv classes for adults: Explore spontaneity through Advanced Improvisation with Diane Rachel and the Art of Play with Rebecca Stockley and Diane Rachel.
Other classes for adults: Push your boundaries through classes such as British Dialects with Deborah Eubanks, Voice for Emerging and Working Actors with Lisa Anne Porter, and the return of Gary Graves' popular Summer Playwriting Workshop.

The Summer Theatre Intensive immerses middle-school and high-school students in the craft and artistry of theatre. Participants enjoy courses in six core storytelling disciplines, classes in production design, and electives in theatrical topics such as directing, hip-hop, musical theatre, and playwriting. Students use the skills learned in these classes to create their own plays, which receive a public performance at Berkeley Rep at the conclusion of the program. The first session, for students entering grades 6-8, takes place on weekdays from June 22 through July 17. The second session, for teens in grades 9-12, is held July 20 through August 14. Tuition is $1,050 for session 1 and $1,150 for session 2; a limited number of financial-aid scholarships are available.

The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre provides a wide array of programming for individuals of all ages. In addition to classes for youth and adults, the School offers the Family Series, a free monthly class for all ages; Target® Story Builders, a drama workshop for elementary-school classrooms; the Student Matinee Series for middle- and high-school students; the Playmaking Project for high-school students and incarcerated youth; in-school residencies; teacher training; and a variety of outreach activities that encourage lifelong learning. The School also hosts the Teen Council, which allows youth to participate in all aspects of the dramatic process: on stage, backstage, and in front of the stage. Housed in the Nevo Education Center, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is supported by the Mosse Foundation for Arts and Education. For complete details - including schedules, faculty bios, course descriptions, and registration information - call (510) 647-2972 or visit berkeleyrep.org/school.