School of Theatre > Summer Intensive
Summer Theatre Intensive
Fill this summer with imagination and creativity
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre’s Summer Theatre Intensive offers a fun-filled, enriching, affordable camp experience for middle school and high school students—right here in Berkeley! It is an opportunity to become fully immersed in every facet of the world of theatre. Our only requirement is an active mind open to imagination, collaboration, hard work and, of course, lots of fun. We hope to see you here.
Create your own play
Experience the thrill of collaboration through the guidance and inspiration of a playwright and a Play Creation teacher. Each student group creates a vibrant and unique theatrical piece from stories that already exist. Through the process of adaptation, students realize their own voice and vision while preserving the integrity of the source material. These Play Creation projects challenge students to take imaginative risks and to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the session.
Study with master teaching artists
Learn from Berkeley Rep’s nationally-recognized teaching faculty. These theatre professionals and teaching artists are committed to training the next generation of theatre artists through their respective areas of expertise.
Delve into performance
Spend each week studying acting, improvisation, voice and speech, Shakespeare, stage combat and various forms of physical theatre such as Laban and clowning.
Explore all facets of theatre
Choose from daily electives including musical theatre, directing, playwriting, hip hop dance and video. Weekly seminars such as directing, improv and disciplines of design and production such as costumes, sound, lighting and props taught by Berkeley Rep’s production staff provide a chance to see what happens behind the scenes.
Perform onstage at Berkeley Rep
At the end of each four-week session, students have the opportunity to perform their original work on either the Thrust or Roda Stages to an invited audience of family and friends.
dates
Session 1
- Students entering grades 6–8
- June 18–July 13, 2012 / Monday–Friday; 9am–3pm
Session 2
- Students entering grades 9–12
- July 17–August 10, 2012 / Monday–Friday; 9am–4pm
tuition
Session 1
- Due with application—$365
- Due April 1, 2012—$385
- Due June 1, 2012—$400
- Session 1 Total—$1,150
Session 2
- Due with application—$365
- Due April 1, 2012—$420
- Due June 1, 2012—$465
- Session 2 Total—$1,250
Financial aid
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Download our application form (PDF) or call 510 647–2972 for more information.
enrollment process
Register online now!
Or you can download the registration form (PDF) and mail or fax it along with payment to Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704.
$365 is due with the application. A second payment will be due April 1. The remaining balance will be due June 1. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration process will continue until both sessions are filled. If you cancel before April 1, 2012, we will refund tuition less a $150 fee. If you cancel after April 1, we will refund tuition less a $365 fee.
faculty
Over the past nine years, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre has developed a nationally recognized teaching faculty at the Summer Theatre Intensive. These theatre professionals and teaching artists are committed to training the next generation of theatre artists through their respective areas of expertise.
the classes
Students are divided into groups according to grade level. Each group will rotate through a variety of classes taught by a different professional theatre artist.
Session 1 classes may include
(for students entering grades 6–8)
Play Creation
- Become a part of a creative ensemble! Students use improvisation, musical inspiration, poetry and art, and creative and collaborative writing to explore and expand their imaginations as they write and design a play through the art of adaptation. Class culminates in an original theatrical performance on one of the main stages at Berkeley Rep.
Acting
- Learn the skills required to bring a scene to life! Students focus on the fundamentals of acting technique through character development, script analysis and scene work.
Improvisation
- Discover spontaneity through improvisation! As an ensemble, students explore technique, theory, games, tricks and pranks that help them open up to the kind of spontaneity that breeds better comic timing on stage, stronger reactions in rehearsals, laughter at parties and a lot more fun at family functions.
Movement
- Throw yourself into the moment! Students learn tools, techniques and tricks to develop their abilities to create unique movement and outrageous characters.
Stage Combat
- En garde! Students explore classic stage combat techniques combining tai chi, boxing and improvisational theatre. Emphasis will be on safety, character building, telling the story of the fight and acting the violence. Students will learn unarmed (slaps, punches, kicks, rolls) and basic broadsword techniques.
Voice
- Be heard on stage and speak out to groups with confidence and charisma! Discover vocal agility, full projection and secrets to building and maintaining vocal strength and clarity. Apply techniques learned to news items, tongue twisters, raps, sonnets and songs.
Electives
- Students may choose from the following possible electives: Musical Theatre, Clowning/Commedia dell’arte, Hip Hop/Salsa Dance and hands-on classes with Berkeley Rep’s production staff in costuming, lighting, sound and prop design held at Berkeley Rep’s technical shops.
Session 2 classes may include
(for students entering grades 9–12)
Advanced Play Creation
- Give voice to inspiration. Mirroring Berkeley Rep’s new play development process, students participate in the entire cycle of adapting and developing a play from concept to performance. They’ll gain an advanced understanding of theatrical concepts such as ensemble, dramatic conflict, dramatic structure, rhythm, characterization, staging and performance, before collectively creating a theatrical performance piece to be performed on one of the main stages at Berkeley Rep.
Acting
- Bring a scene to life. Through rigorous class exercises, monologues and scene work, students study character development, given circumstances, tactics, objective and actions, and learn how to work as an ensemble.
Shakespeare
- Discover the art of acting Shakespeare. Class covers verse/scansion, figures of speech and literal meaning which students will then put into practice by working on scenes.
Movement
- Find yourself in the moment. Learn tools, techniques and tricks to develop students’ abilities to create unique movement and outrageous characters.
Voice
- Ensure your voice is heard. Students study vocal agility, full projection and secrets to building and maintaining vocal strength and clarity. Apply techniques learned to news items, tongue twisters, raps, sonnets and songs.
Improvisation
- Discover spontaneity through improvisation. As an ensemble, students explore technique, theory, games, tricks and pranks that will help them open up to the kind of spontaneity that breeds better comic timing on stage, stronger reactions in rehearsals, laughter at parties and a lot more fun at family functions.
Stage Combat
- En garde! Students discover classic stage combat techniques combining tai chi, boxing and improvisational theatre. Emphasis will be on safety, character building, telling the story of the fight and acting the violence. Students will learn unarmed (slaps, punches, kicks, rolls) and basic broadsword techniques.
Electives
- Students may choose from the following possible electives: Playwriting, Directing, Audition, Dance, Hip-Hop Theatre Techniques, Musical Theatre, Clowning/Commedia dell’arte and hands-on classes with Berkeley Rep’s production staff in costuming, lighting, sound and prop design held at Berkeley Rep’s technical shops.
Programming subject to change.
new for 2012!
Teen Actors Studio
A two-week summer program for experienced high school actors.
Click here for more information.
financial aid
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is pleased to be able to offer financial aid for students enrolling in our youth and teen classes. Scholarships will be granted to students attending classes who demonstrate a strong financial need. Financial aid will be disbursed on a sliding scale—eligible families generally receive scholarships covering between 30%–100% of tuition.
Families applying for financial aid must submit a minimum $25 deposit per student at the time of registration. This amount secures the student’s place in the program while their financial aid application is under consideration. This deposit is refundable if the registration is cancelled by the end of the first week of class.
Download our application form or call the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre at 510 647–2972.
(You must have Adobe Acrobat to view this PDF. Download a free Adobe Acrobat reader.)
school of theatre
major sponsors
The S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation / The Mosse Foundation for Education and the Arts / The Woodlawn Foundation
