STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy has our first set of theatre classes posted!  We have a fine array of children’s theatre classes.  Classes for actors in grades 1 through 12. 

We’ll be offering a musical theatre course for kids in grades 7 through 12.  We’ll have a children’s theatre improvisation class for kids in grades 1 through 4, entitled Exploring Theatre – Let’s Make it Up! That is the first of three classes for these wonderful kids.  The second term we’ll focus on pantomime and the third will be musical theatre.   Students in grades 5 – 12 will be delving into acting in the first of three terms of acting classes.  All of these classes will be taught by instructors who have a great deal of skill in their particular performing area and/or have taught for many years. 

We are confident that the young people of Washington County in Oregon will receive an excellent education in theatre and performing.

Come sing, dance, laugh and act with us!

You can get information by going to www.stagesyouth.org. 

STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy is going to be an excellent program for kids and young adults.  There is no question about that.  None whatsoever!  We’re starting rather conservatively with the classes that will be offered, but as soon as people see that we have an excellent program taught by professional and caring instructors parents will want their children to be part of our academy.  Kids will want to be part of the academy.

We’ll also be producing excellent quality productions no doubt.  Our plays and musicals will highlight the wonderful creativity and talents of young people while teaching them all that is involved in producing a show.

STAGES will not only be a place where excellent theatre is taught and produced, but it will be a place where children will be valued.  It will be a place where they will feel safe.  It will be a place of joy and laughter. 

But, before all that we need to get the word out about our program.  Here is what we’re doing so far:

• We have our troop of performers called Stage Troupers who are performing a 30-minute musical at areas fairs, markets and other venues.  Our plan is to go into the schools to perform as well.
• The Artistic/Education Director is making presentations to groups such as the downtown business association and Rotary. 
• There will be an article in the local newspaper about STAGES.
• We are active on Facebook.
• We are twittering – though we have very few followers.  How do we increase the number of people following us?

My question to you good people, is what else should we be doing?  Any suggestions?

Last week I completed my 25^th year in YAST and first under the auspices of STAGES.  Thanks to the wonderful Hillsboro School District and Greg Timmons, the principal at Poynter Middle School I was able to hold the classes there at no cost to us.  I can’t express how grateful I am to the district and Mr. Timmons. 

Poynter is where I taught for the last 13 years.  It’s where I built the theatre program that I am very proud of.  And it’s where my career as a public school teacher ended.  In my last blog I mentioned how much I enjoyed working in the middle school, and especially creating and directing theatre.  As I completed the arduous task of moving out, I certainly I had mixed emotions.  On the one hand I am very excited to be starting this new “career” as the Artistic/Education Director of STAGES, but on the other developing and implementing a theatre program at the middle school is a rewarding experience that I feel will not be able to be duplicated.

You see, at Poynter any kid can become involved in the theatre program.  Kids who would never have even thought of acting, except for the fact that there was this program just for them, and if I may be a little bold, developed by a teacher who was extremely kid-friendly.  Many young people were turned on to theatre by my program.  It didn’t matter their economic status.  Some kids gave it a try and decided not to continue beyond middle school.  That’s perfect okay.  They enjoyed it and moved on from there.  I had jocks who experienced a little acting because of what I developed, and they liked my personality.  I would’ve loved to see them continue in theatre, but knowing full well they never would.  Too busy with their sports.  I had kids who continued on into college with theatre, getting the bug from Poynter.  (I like to think!)  I’ve also had many parents surprised that their kid got turned on to theatre.  Parents didn’t know their kid could act or sing!

Even though I am extremely excited with what we are creating at STAGES and the potential it has, I will truly miss that part of teaching theatre at the public school.  Working with kids who would otherwise not exposed themselves to theatre.  Their parents certainly would not have pushed them into theatre.  (Another good topic for a future blog.)  Then there is the economic issue.  Many of the kids I worked with at Poynter will not be able to afford the tuition for theatre classes. 

At STAGES we’re going to have kids who already know they are interested in theatre take our classes.  Yes that’s wonderful, but I’m going to miss not working with the other kids as well. 

As far as the economic issue, it’s extremely important to me that we develop a strong scholarship program so not having the funds to pay for tuition will not be a factor in determining whether a kid can take the classes.  I want anyone who is interested in theatre be able to be a part of the magic we are going to create!

Yes, I will miss a lot of wonderful things about teaching in the public school system, but all good things must come to an end.  One door has closed, but another has opened.  It’s up to me to walk through that door and take the good things from the other “room” with me!!!!

My teaching career in public education has come to an end.  I’ve had 32 wonderful years teaching in Hillsboro.  I often refer to my 19 years as an elementary teacher as my “golden years” of teaching.  There are many reasons for that, but in this blog I want to write about the 13 years I spent as a middle school teacher.

Why write about that considering what I stated about my elementary years?  It’s because of the theatre program I built in middle school.  I shall explain.

Middle school is not like high school.  Theatre isn’t a given.  I suppose theatre’s not a given in many high schools either, however it’s even more so for middle school.  If a theatre program exists at all, well-meaning teachers who really don’t have the skills to teach it properly often are called upon to do just that.  Watching kids perform on stage can be a painful experience.  They often don’t know their lines, characters are under developed or not at all, breaking character is the norm, stage direction doesn’t exist, etc.  Then there’s the whole aspect of theatre etiquette.  That is almost never taught.  It’s not easy teaching kids the art of theatre. 

Certainly there are many middle schools that have wonderful staff that know how to teach theatre, but most do not.

Well, I worked hard at teaching my students the fine art of performing.  Through my creativity and with help of my wonderful colleagues, we produced productions that were just as good as some of the best high schools and better than many.  Our students performed with gusto!

It makes me feel bad that middle school kids aren’t given the opportunity to perform in quality productions.  I am proud to say that I proved that they are more than capable.  They relish the fact that they can achieve success on stage. I certainly shed many more than one tear of joy watching those delightful young people perform.   It was a joyful experience watching the kids take their productions seriously from performing to making sure everything ran smoothly backstage as well.     

Now as I moved on to my ‘new’ career as the Artistic and Education Director of STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy I plan on continuing making sure kids are given excellent opportunities to be involved in quality productions and learn about theatre and performing through rigorous classes taught by qualified and compassionate teachers.  I’m excited, but saddened and frustrated as well.

In my next blog I will explain the reason for that sadness and frustration.

The magnificent cast of ARF!

I have the honor and privilege of working with 11 wonderful young people ranging in age from 9 to 17.  These kids make up STAGES promotional troupe called Stage Troupers.  For about two months they have been rehearsing a 35-minute musical entitled, ARF that will be performed in area markets, fairs, schools, celebrations, etc.

I have been working with children in theatre for more than 30 years and I am constantly amazed at the dedication and creativity of young people.  As we work to perfect our mini-musical the kids of Stage Troupers are willing to take constructive criticism and rehearse a song, dance or acting bit until it is perfect.  Never do I hear a complaint or grumble.  (I imagine the parents get an ear full at home!) 

I am also delighted by how well the students treat each other.  Though many of these kids have worked with each other, they come from different neighborhoods and don’t interact other than when we come together.  It’s fun to see them enjoying each other’s company, compliment each other, work together as a team and generally support one another.  The older kids act as role models for the younger ones and take that responsibility seriously and the young kids show the older ones just what their capable of, thus earning respect. Young people are capable of much more than we give them credit for.

This is just the tip of a very big iceberg that STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy will become.  We want to multiply those 11 kids by many more, thus giving scores of children and young adults the opportunity to experience what the wonderful Stage Trouper kids are and much more!