TOWNSHEND — The Leland and Gray Players offer a Summer Performing Arts Exploration (SPAE) for young people entering grades 5-8.
The program opens with a family potluck on Sunday, July 22, and runs Monday through Friday, July 23, to Aug. 3 with culminating performances the evening of Aug. 3 and the afternoon of Aug. 4. A few spaces remain.
Typical days will include theater games, production work and workshops in acting, music, scene design, movement and dance, lighting, costumes, and prop-making. These skill-building activities will culminate in a final performance of The Adventures of Robin Hood with original script and music by Leland and Gray alumni and SPAE founders, Karlie Kauffeld, Claire Zukas, and Johnny Pozzi.
The program will take place in the Dutton Gymnasium and the Roland Gould wing of Leland & Gray.
“In 2008, Karlie and Claire, then rising seniors, introduced a gratifyingly successful performing arts program for area kids,” said Leland & Gray theater director Ann Landenberger, managing director of SPAE.
“The interest has been so high since SPAE's inception that this year we're offering even more to area youth who want to grow and learn through the performing arts.”
A beneficiary of Leland and Gray's 21st Century grant, SPAE 2012 offers bus transportation to and from camp during the first week (July 23-28) and free breakfast and lunch to all participants for both weeks of the program. In addition, the 2012 program offers SPAE After-Hours, additional workshops - one per afternoon - in monologue writing, music composition, acting, visual arts, voice, and poetry-out-loud from 3:30 to 5 p.m. each day.
“Two Players initiated this and now it serves not only younger kids in the West River Valley, but also high school students who want to work with those kids,” said Landenberger.
The cost for SPAE is $200 per student for the two weeks and $10 per SPAE After Hours workshop. Scholarships for SPAE After Hours are also available through the 21st Century grant. For registration and for information about bus transportation, SPAE After Hours scholarships, and free meals, write Landenberger at [email protected] or call 802-348-7156.