Enroll In Summer Dell’Arte Youth Academy
The Dell’Arte Youth Academy presents its summer workshops July 26 to Aug. 6.
Morning sessions are from 9 a.m. to noon, Afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. Classes held at Arcata Elementary School (formerly Sunset School) 2400 Baldwin St.
For 7 to 9 year olds
Legendary Play Making (9 a.m. to noon) – Using games, improvisation, brainstorming and a cadre of costumes, children dive into their imaginations to create their own play inspired by their favorite legend or fairytale. Anything they can imagine becomes part of the show: fl amingo cats, rock ’n’ roll ogres, mighty hamsters and hip hop vampires…
Clowning for Kids (9 a.m. to noon) – Young performers will learn how to develop a clown character and perform clown routines and sketches. Exercises will include movement improv, finding and playing with attitudes, creating a gag. Young performers must be ready to play, have a sense of humor and a very big funny bone!
Green Theatre (1 to 4 p.m.) – The unique environment of the North Coast is the spring board to explore our relationship to this place. This class will focus on a dynamic, physical, fun exploration of the animals and the elements that are part of our ecosystem. Through improv, and games, students will create comedy sketches about the natural world around us.
Circus Circus (1 to 4 p.m.) – A high-energy class where kids will learn juggling, object manipulation, slapstick, stilt walking and tumbling. Students will explore different circus characters, such as clowns, ringmaster, even circus animals, as they put together acts and routines for a one-ring circus.
For 10 to 12 year olds
Vaudeville (9 a.m. to noon) – Vaudeville defined an entertainment era in the USA. Each evening’s bill of performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts including musicians, dancers, comedians, trained animals, magicians, acrobats, one-act plays or scenes from plays, athletes, lecturing celebrities. Students will immerse themselves in one of the most popular forms of entertainment in American history and perform a vaudeville “bill” for the public.
Commedia dell’arte (9 a.m. to noon) – Commedia dell’arte is a high-energy, fast paced outrageous form that uses masks and stock characters to allow the actors immense freedom creating improvised comic scenarios. There are characters for everyone; acrobatic clowns, melodramatic youngsters, ornery old cranks and cowardly captains!
Fantasy Adventure (1 to 4 p.m.) – Students will explore character, masks and their own imagination while creating and performing adventurous stories using a physical theatre approach. The class will study acting, improvisation and ensemble creation as participants generate a fantasy adventure to perform for a live audience.
Serious Comedy (1 to 4 p.m.) – An exciting study of the skills behind clowning and comedic acting. Kids will learn, from the classic slapstick routines, gag structure and comedic timing as well as how to develop characters and write their own comedy acts. Learn the art and science of physical comedy and how to make people laugh.
For 13 to 18 year olds
Stand-up and Sketch Comedy (1 to 4 p.m.) – Students will explore the art of stand-up comedy as well as the art of sketch comedy as seen on Saturday Night Live and in contemporary cabarets. Comic writing, the structure of the joke, timing and audience play will be worked on. Solo routines and group sketches that include character development will also be explored. Students will generate their own material and perform it for a live audience.
If a student enrolls for a full day (both sessions) a supervised lunch period and daycare from 4 to 5:15 p.m. is provided. These are provided only if the student is enrolled for the full day. For half-day sessions, supervised lunch care is available for an additional $40.
Faculty and staff
All Summer Youth Academy staff and faculty are graduates of the Dell’Arte School.
All have worked professionally as teachers and performers and have extensive experience working with youth theatre workshops.
