Class Descriptions

BUILDING CHARACTER ONSTAGE…AND IN THE CLASSROOM!

Town Hall Theatre prides itself on being a place where each child can build self esteem, confidence and character. This being our Character Counts season we felt that it was appropriate to make sure that our class curriculum selection reflected those ideals and offered participants a place to learn about the performing arts in a positive, student-centric environment.

Children may be introduced to theatre in one of our beginning classes or grow as an actor in our three-tiered acting series. Others may have fun performing in a group-written play or singing their heart out in a voice class! We also offer private acting and voice lessons for a more concentrated, one-on-one experience.

No matter what age or experience level you are, there's sure to be a class for you! For more information on our program, please feel free to contact the theatre.

We Offer Dance and Arts Classes, Too!

For a complete listing of classes offered by the Washington Township Recreation Center, log on to: http://www.washingtontwp.org/rec or call 433-0130.

Group Workshops

For information on how we can provide your group or organization with a specialty acting or voice workshop tailored to meet your needs, please contact the theatre.

Intro to Acting

Ages 4 - 7

Make new friends, become comfortable speaking in front of a group and feel successful about putting on your own mini-play! Your favorite stories will come to life, with a few twists of course! Each class may begin by reading a story or picking out a costume. Students will then use their ideas as a jumping off point for creating their own mini-play. Family members are invited to see the show during the last five minutes of each class!

Acting Level One

Grades 2 - 7

Work with monologues and short scenes to strengthen your skills in script work. This course is a prerequisite for being cast in a production at Town Hall Theatre. The curriculum concentrates on the craft and process of acting. Each student will understand theatre terminology and the process of going through technical rehearsal into a performance. Completion of this class is dependent on accruing less than two absences and receiving a passing grade on the theatre terms quiz.

Acting Level Two

GRADES 2 - 8

Learn about dramatic interpretation and how to use an actor's most important tools; body, voice and imagination. Students will also receive a foundation in Improvisational Theatre, which will challenge them to put on their thinking caps and learn to be comfortable with spontaneity as they create and act out scenes. They will get their feet wet with more serious scene work and learn how to compliment their fellow actors and experience the "give and take" between performers that will take their dramatic skills to the next level.

Acting Level Three

GRADES 4 - 8

Become a detective and discover how to find clues about a character in a script. Actors will work with scenes from well-known theatre-for-youth plays and use the text to uncover and interpret all kinds of things about their character's life, circumstances, feelings, and thoughts. Students will also learn to delve deeper into a play's structure to understand character growth over the entirety of a play.

Put On A Play

GRADES 1 - 5

Explore the far reaches of your imagination to create your own play. Each session will concentrate on a popular book series to better understand characters and stories and the class will culminate with the creation of an original play. There will be a performance on the last day of class for family members and friends!

Private Acting Lessons

GRADES 2 - 12

Focus on timing, rhythm and control, analyze scenes for tactics and objectives, prepare for auditions and callbacks and expand your range with character and dialect work. These half-hour lessons are a great way for beginning and seasoned actors who want to explore the craft at a more advanced level and are available by appointment only. Contact the theatre at to register. Single lessons to prepare for an upcoming audition or performance are also available.

Singing Level One

GRADES 2 - 5

This class is designed to introduce performers to successful musical vocal production onstage. Basic vocal production, including proper breathing, pitch, tone and intonation will be covered. This course is an opportunity for beginning and trained vocalists to learn how to "act the song" onstage solo and in a group. There will be a recital on the last day in our classroom space for family members and friends!

Singing Level Two

GRADES 5 - 8

Advance the skills required for excellent singing onstage. Skills covered will include vocal production, including proper breathing, pitch, tone and intonation. Students will cover popular as well as traditional musical theatre fare, considered staples to any singer's repertoire. There will be a recital on the last day in our classroom space for family members and friends!

Private Voice Lessons

GRADES 2 - 12

Practice the essentials of proper singing technique; breathing, support, projection, diction and strengthening voice. Students will also learn exercises to increase their breath control, range, and vocal stability. Voice students will have the opportunity to participate in a recital for family and friends at the end of the session!

Half-hour lessons are available by appointment only. Contact the theatre to register. Single lessons to prepare for an upcoming audition or performance are also available.

Theatre For Special Needs

GRADES 2 - 12

A private class to give kids with some of the biggest imaginations around a chance to strut their stuff! Coursework is designed for the special needs student and will focus on basic acting skills such as projection, characterization, voice and diction. Of course, there will be lots of theatre games, too! Contact the theatre for scheduling availability and pricing prior to each session’s registration.