We'd like to announce our Winter Theater Workshops! In these four-week, Saturday morning workshops, we focus on acting ability, building confidence on stage and having fun. This is a condensed version of our summer camp program, and we will have a free performance for family and friends on the last day of the workshop.
We currently have our Boonton camp scheduled in January, and we are looking forward to Mountain Lakes, Hanover, Montville and Denville joining our program in the weeks to come. We'd also like to announce that Mt. Arlington will be joining our summer theater camp program!
Check back often to see what new programs we're running! Join one of our Theater Workshops today to help your teenager build self-confidence and learn theater in a creative way!
Thank you to all the people who helped make our latest play come to life. Thank you to all the cast who put in much time and effort.
But now that the play has been performed, it's time to start thinking about new ideas for our next play. I am always looking for ideas, so if you have one, please respond to this post and we'll see what we can do!
There may be no better way to build confidence than through theater and acting. I've been writing and directing for a long time, and seen a lot of kids in the ten years I've been doing this. I've seen how involvement in theater and acting can change kids.
I'll tell you a story. There was a student years ago in 7th grade who was very shy and introverted, and her parents contacted me about getting her involved in the play I was writing. She was so shy that she didn't want to even audition. She had an interest in acting, but lacked the confidence you need to get up on stage.
When she auditioned, she did well enough to get an understudy role. Her parents were glad that she was at least involved.
Then one day as I was walking down the hall of our school, I heard someone playing the piano. As I got closer, I looked in the music room and saw the same girl playing this beautiful music, I mean unbelievable. I asked her where she learned to play like that, and she said shyly that she'd been taking piano lessons since she was four years old. I immediately decided to write a part especially for her where she could showcase her talent. I wrote a new scene that night, included her as a new character where she could play the piano, and we included it in the play.
Everyone saw a change in her. She was no longer the shy little girl who was too scared to speak loudly on stage. Her parents called me in shock later that week and thanked me up and down. They said she officially broke out of her shell, and they were so happy how she had grown.
The great thing about what we do is that it's all original. I often change plays and scenes and characters on the fly as we're rehearsing, and I revise constantly. This can't be done in a copyrighted play.
Okay, so what happened to that girl? She's 23 now and in NYU acting school. Somebody told me she's auditioning for Broadway shows, and won't stop until she gets there.
Think about your funniest friend. That friend that makes you laugh almost every time you see them. Now think about WHY that person is funny.
Is it his laugh, or her facial expressions, or the way he does impressions, or the way she comes up with hilarious sarcastic comments. Why is that person so funny? They are entertaining to talk to, to watch, to listen to. In a sense, that person is on stage each time you see them. They've gotten good at acting. They're the only actor in their own private play, and when you see them, you're the audience.
Think about how many times you are asked by your parents "How was your day?" Most people just give a one word answer: "Good." What if you decided to entertain your parents for that moment? What if that question came up, and you took it as your cue to perform?
You are always on stage. When you talk to your friends, your family, your class- you're always on stage. But we don't realize it enough.
We watch TV because it's entertaining. Actors entertain us all the time. People can be funny, interesting, captivating...even thrilling. Take your chance to entertain more, because what you gain in return is confidence.
Use your acting skills to entertain.
Look at your audience. Use facial expressions and voice inflection. Use your arms and body to tell a story. Entertain them.
You're always on stage.
RSS Feed