Theatre Horizon Offers Youth Educational Classes

Theatre Horizon, located at 401 Dekalb St. in Norristown, is offering three drama classes this spring, each designed to address the developmental needs of youth:

Intro to Acting –

• An eight-week class — Saturdays, March 9 – April 27, from 9 – 11 a.m.

• The class is open to youth ages 7-12 years old, where students learn basic techniques of stage actors, using their bodies, minds and voices to create characters, while being introduced to the fundamentals of acting. No experience is necessary. Cost: $160

Sensational Storytelling –

• A one-day workshop for 5-7 year old children — March 16, from 2 – 5 p.m.

• This class invites children to use imagination, costumes, props and teamwork to bring their favorite stories to life. The class introduces theatrical concepts, including character development, story arc and performance. Cost: $50

Audition Tehnique Workshop –

• A one-day audition workshop for teens ages 13-18 — April 20, from 2 – 5 p.m.

• This workshop features Theatre Horizon’s Casting Director and Assistant Broadway Director, who will help more experienced drama students make a good impression during an audition. The workshop is for students interested in majoring in theatre in college. Workshops will include tips on monologue selection, performance, working with sides and cold readings, and making bold choices. Students are asked to come with a monologue, less than to minutes in length. Cost: $50

According to Leigh Malonee, Theatre Horizon Education director, all spring classes are currently open for registration.

She added that upon opening Theatre Horizon’s new 125-seat theater in October, she is expecting to grow the theater’s classes, workshops and camps. The theater also offers an extensive summer camp, classes for youth with autism, an after-school drama club, and other courses.

“We want to expand our educational offerings to make Theatre Horizon a hub of creativity and community engagement,” Malonee said.

Malonee said while the acting classes are new at Theatre Horizon, the theater’s on education is not, as cultural and personal development education is part of its mission.

As an educator, Malonee said that theater provides numerous developmental benefits for youth, including:

1) Self-Confidence - In addition to building social and communication skills overall, involvement in drama and performance can help youth and teens recognize their potential for success and improve their confidence. Taking risks in class and performing for an audience teaches students to trust their ideas and abilities.

2) Imagination - Making creative choices, thinking of new ideas, and interpreting familiar material (all of which we do in Intro to Acting and Sensational Storytelling!) are a core component of drama classes.

3) Cooperation and how to accept others' ideas - Students learn to work in pairs, groups, and as a whole-class ensemble to present their work or communicate their activity/improv game effectively. Many improvization games follow the rule of "Yes, and!" - accepting an idea that someone else has put forth and adding to it.

4) Communication Skills - Drama enhances verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas. This includes voice projection and articulation, but it's more than that. It helps students who have difficulty expressing themselves or understanding their feelings to convey them in a way that can be understood. Listening and observation skills are also developed by many of our improv games.

5) Problem-solving - Students learn how to communicate the who, what, where, and why to an audience - often as an ensemble. Improvisation encourages quick-thinking and adaptability.

6) Reading comprehension - The performance of a story contributes to a student's understanding of it. In Sensational Storytelling, students use their imaginations to bring some of their favorite stories to life.

7) Art appreciation - Viewing and participating in theatre raises students' appreciation for the art form. Theatre Horizon is dedicated to educating the next generation of theatre goers and theatre makers.

Discounts are also available for the classes:

• Sibling Discount – where siblings for the same session receive 10-percent off total tuition upon registration.

• Audition Technique Discount – students that register by March 9 will receive a 15-percent discount.

For more information, visit www.theatrehorizon.org