SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS DOUBLE AT THE BERKELEY REP SCHOOL OF THEATRE 27 winter classes include a new cabaret course with Brundibar’s Billy Philadelphia BERKELEY CA, NOVEMBER 15, 2005 Today Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced that it has doubled funding for scholarships at its School of Theatre. It also released the School’s winter schedule, with classes for youth and adults starting January 9. Among the 27 courses offered to the public is a new performance workshop on cabaret led by Billy Philadelphia, the choir director for Maurice Sendak and Tony Kushner’s Brundibar, now playing at Berkeley Rep. ”This new class focuses on the intimate and personal art form known as cabaret,” said Philadelphia, a musician, singer, composer and actor who has recorded three CDs; performs regularly with his wife, Meg Mackay; and was on the faculty of the first Cabaret Conference at Yale University. “I’ll work with—and accompany—students as they practice, perform and perfect songs of their choice. Our emphasis will be on presentational style and emotional subtext, rather than just vocal technique—because cabaret is all about great songs and the great tales they tell.” The full winter session offers something for students of all ages and all levels, from beginners to professionals. All classes meet weekly for two to three hours with instructors who are nationally recognized teaching artists and theatre professionals. Activities at the School are held in the Nevo Education Center, right next door to Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, at 2071 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley. Here are some other highlights from the winter session: • New classes for youth include a performance workshop for grades 3–5 entitled Stories from Around the World, as well as a Teen Performance Lab focused on texts by and about Oscar Wilde. Participants in each of these classes create a performance piece, which is presented at Berkeley Rep for their friends and families at the end of the ten-week session. • Acting professionals—and aspiring professionals—won’t want to miss the annual Audition Preparation workshop for the Theatre Bay Area (TBA) general auditions. There’s also a new performance workshop focused on A Streetcar Named Desire. In this class, advanced students use the famed Stanislavski-based, Stella Adler technique in an intense rehearsal process for and bare-bones, in-studio production of Tennessee Williams’ masterpiece. The instructor, Roni Dengel, is a master teacher at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the Actors Centre in London’s West End. • The School of Theatre also offers valuable training for non-theatre professionals, such as Voice for Business Professionals or the new Presentation Skills Intensive for Attorneys and Business Leaders. Scholarships are available to students under 18 years of age, and are distributed based on need. For an application, contact Jessica Modrall at 510.647.2978 or school@berkeleyrep.org. “In recent years, many local schools have faced drastic cuts in the arts,” remarked Rachel Fink, the school’s director. “Our children need the arts to grow into healthy, well-rounded adults. At the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, we hope to make theatre available to every young artist—no matter what his or her financial situation. I am extremely proud that we have doubled the funding for our scholarship program, so that interested students from all socioeconomic backgrounds can enjoy and explore the magic of theatre.” The full list of classes for the winter session is as follows: • Classes for adults include Acting (beginning through advanced), Acting Chekhov, Acting Shakespeare, Audition Prep for the Theatre Bay Area Generals, Cabaret Performance, Character Lab and Scene Study, Full-Body Performance 1: Rehearsal and Creation, Full-Body Performance 2: The Show, Performance Workshop: A Streetcar Named Desire, Playwriting, Presentation Skills Intensive for Attorneys and Business Leaders, Stage Combat, Voice for the Performing Artist and Voice for Business Professionals. • Classes for youth (grades K–8) include Clown Club, Dance Lab, Musical Theatre, Performance Workshop: Stories from Around the World, Play Creation and Stage Combat. • Classes for teens include Acting Shakespeare, Audition Seminar, Directing Seminar, Stage Combat and a Teen Performance Lab focused on texts by and about Oscar Wilde. The School of Theatre also schedules one-on-one audition coaches for adults and private voice teachers for children and teens. 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 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 www.berkeleyrep.org/school. ATTENTION CALENDAR EDITORS WHO: Theatre lovers of all ages and all levels WHAT: Winter classes at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre WHERE: Berkeley Rep School of Theatre / Nevo Education Center / 2071 Addison Street at Shattuck / Berkeley, CA 94704 WHEN: Starting January 9, 2006 HOW MUCH: Varies by class; scholarships available for youth INFO: 510.647.2972 or www.berkeleyrep.org/school For photos, interviews, etc. contact: Terence Keane, Director of Public Relations 510.647.2917, tkeane@berkeleyrep.org BACK TO TOP