Press Releases

This Year's Summer Stage To Offer Performing Arts Students Multiple Talents

MANASQUAN, N.J. (June 17, 2013) - Enrollment remains open for Algonquin Arts Theatre's Summer Stage program, an extension of the theatre's popular Performing Arts Academy that continues throughout the summer and begins July 1.

Summer Stage offers students a chance to explore their artistic abilities in all areas of the performing arts through a workshop format. The courses offered in the summer of 2013 are: Acting and Improvisation, Shore Dance, Musical Theatre, Algonquin Glee Singers, Comedy Improvisation & Stage Combat and Acting for TV & Commercials.

Most sessions meet weekdays between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for one or two weeks and provide a safe and fun environment where students can develop their creative and dramatic skills with experienced artists. Each session culminates in a final public performance on stage at the Algonquin Arts Theatre.

The age appropriateness of each session varies, but programming is offered for children and teens between the ages of 6 to 17. In classes with a variety of ages, students will be broken into groups based on age and ability.

July 1 kicks off the season with a session on Acting & Improvisation, which teaches the basics of acting, improvisation, movement, vocal clarity, stage presence, character role-play and story development. Groups will collectively create their own play and perform it on the last day of the course. Musical Theatre I & II will teach the essentials of being in a musical cast through vocal, dance and acting techniques. Each group will learn scenes, songs and choreography from a popular Broadway musical.

In Comedy Improvisation & Stage Combat, students will exercise a form of self-expression through their own thoughts, experiences and observations about life and blend them with a unique sense of humor to produce stand-up comedy. Further, they will learn the basics of acting, improvisation, movement, stunts and chorography through the lessons of stage combat.

The Algonquin Glee Singers course will emphasize a complete artistic expression on stage that involves singing, dancing, and acting. Glee performers will learn to sing and perform rhythmically to many popular songs of today. In Acting for TV & Commercials, students will learn the principles of acting on camera and behind the camera. Students will then create their own projects and develop a completed film from concept to completion.

Shore Dance will end the Summer Stage activities in August. This course (a week-long residency with professional dancers) will be a celebration of the golden age of Hollywood movie musicals and Broadway shows in our 'Broadway Meets Hollywood' dance intensive. Individual classes and workshops will focus on hit titles including Singing in the Rain, Billy Elliot, White Christmas, Sweet Charity, Chicago, An American In Paris and additional beloved musical titles that have made it to the silver screen.

A full schedule is available online at algonquinarts.org and parents can register online, by phone or in person. Visit algonquinarts.org or call 732-528-9211 for a complete listing of courses include dates, instructors, cost and ages.