Registration open for Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers Workshop and Tyro Acting Summer Programs

Centenary Stage Company continues their tradition of nurturing young artists this summer by offering the Young Performers Workshop Musical Theatre Intensive for ages 8 – 18 and the TYRO Acting Program for ages 6 - 11.
Now accepting new and returning applicants, The Young Performers Workshop Summer Musical Theatre Intensive runs July 15 through August 18 and culminates with the YPW Summer Festival of Shows. Registration for the YPW Musical Theatre Intensive is $995 and the registration deadline is July 1, 2019. No experience necessary. All new applicants must complete an interview with the program director before registering. Contact the Centenary Stage Company box office directly at (908) 979 - 0900 to schedule an interview.
The TYRO Acting Program, also accepting new and returning applicants, runs July 8 through July 19. The program is divided into two sessions TYRO I for ages 6 – 8 and TYRO II for ages 9 – 11. Registration for the TYRO Acting Program is $225 per student and limited to 10 students per session. The registration deadline is June 21, 2019. No experience necessary.
The critically acclaimed Young Performers Workshop is a 5 – week musical theatre training program running July 15 through August 18. The program is designed to meet the needs of beginning, intermediate and advanced performers interested in working in the theatre. The hands – on program is one of the few in the nation to utilize both a classroom curriculum and the “production process” to train young theatre artists. The program includes the production of musicals, one-act plays and a published play. Once registered, students are guaranteed a part in at least one production and, depending on ability, experience, desire and commitment level, could feasibly appear in more than on production.
Classes are broken up by age, ability and are held Monday through Friday during the session from 9:00am – 4:30pm. All instructors are industry professionals currently working in the performing arts industry. The classroom curriculum gives students approximately 15 hours of study in acting, singing and dance each week. In addition to the core curriculum students are offered a wide variety of elective courses including but not limited to radio and television production, stage combat, theatrical make-up and technical theatre.
The production process, held after classes are released, allows students approximately 3 to 6 hours of rehearsal daily. The rehearsals are under the guidance and direction of theatre professionals, and culminates in full-scale musical productions as well as one-act plays and the production of a published play. These performances are presented to the general public during the Summer Festival of Shows, which takes place the final week of the program.
The program is under the direction of Broadway, film and television veteran, Michael Blevins. An alumni of the University of North Carolina and NY University, Blevins has appeared in several Broadway productions including Bring Back Birdie, Little me, and The Tap Dance Kid in which he originated the role of Winslow Alexander. He has appeared on the Tony Awards Show as well as in many feature films and television commercials and is widely known for his portrayal of Mark in the film A Chorus Line. He has worked with many noted directors, including Danny Daniels, Bob Fosse, Woody Allen, Vivian Matalon, Joe Layton, Lynn Taylor Corbett among many others.
The TYRO Acting Program, designed specifically for young thespians ages 6 - 11 years of age utilizes structured theatre activities which focus on expression, confidence building and fun. Young thespians will learn acting games and demonstrate improvisations inspired by popular fairy, folk tales and beloved literary pieces. The two week TYRO Acting Program summer session runs July 8 through July 19. Tuition for the Summer Session is $225.00 per student and the deadline for registration is June 21, 2019. The program is divided into two sessions TYRO I for ages 6 – 8 and TYRO II for ages 9 – 11. The session meets Monday through Friday with TYRO I meeting from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm and TYRO II meeting from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Each session is limited to 10 students.
The TYRO Acting Program is led by Alycia Kunkle, the CSC Education Director. Kunkle loves sharing her enthusiasm for acting and theatre with students of all ages. She has taught Shakespeare to children in Vermont (Northern Stage), led camps (DeSales University’s Summer Theatre Institute Jr.), taught classes and directed multiple productions (CSC’s Young Performers Workshop), and taught and coached undergraduate students (Ohio University). Ms. Kunkle is also a NYC – based actor with a BA in Theatre from DeSales University and an MFA in Acting from Ohio University.
For more information or to register visit centenarystageco.org or call the Centenary Stage Company box office at (908) 979 – 0900. To schedule an interview for the Young Performers Workshop Musical Theatre Intensive please call the box office directly at (908) 979 – 0900. The box office is located in the Lackland Performing Arts Center on the campus of Centenary University at 715 Grand Ave. Hackettstown, NJ and is open Monday through Friday from 1 – 5PM. Centenary Stage Company can also be found across social media platforms; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Like and follow to receive the latest in Centenary Stage Company news and special offers.
The 2018-2019 season of performing arts events at the Centenary Stage Company is made possible through the generous support of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the NJ State Council on the Arts, the Shubert Foundation, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, the Sandra Kupperman Foundation, and CSC corporate sponsors, including Premier Season Sponsor Heath Village Retirement Community, The House of the Good Shepherd, Silver Sponsors Hackettstown Medical Center, Home Instead Senior Care (Washington), Fulton Bank of New Jersey, and Centenary Stage Company members and supporters.