The Midland Theatre Opens Registration for Summer Camp Theatre Workshops
Nurture interest in the arts through a fun, interactive and educational weeklong residency of workshops and performances for children in Grades 1-12

The Midland Theatre invites aspiring actors in grades 1-12 to step onstage and explore the performing arts! Registrations are now being accepted for Camp Encore (grades 1-8) and Missoula Children’s Theatre production of Jack and the Beanstalk (grades 1-12). Both programs will be held during the week of July 14-19 at The Midland Theatre.

The Midland Theatre and Mortellaro McDonald’s have teamed up to offer fun and educational workshops that complement Missoula Children’s’ Theatre’s weeklong residency – with a focus on nurturing and inspiring young actors in our community.

Camp Encore – held Tuesday through Thursday, July 15-17 at The Midland Theatre – is a series of theatrically-based workshops for children grades 1-8. These fun and inspiring workshops are divided into age-appropriate, interactive explorations of the performing arts. The young actors will be engaged in hands-on activities, coached by Missoula Children’s Theatre (MCT) professional actors and The Midland’s expert staff. 

Workshops include: Creative Dramatics!; Rhythmic Movement; Step Onstage; Let’s Make-up; The Actor’s Tools; Improvisation; Introduction to Mime; and If These Walls Could Talk. The cost is $5 per workshop, with scholarships available to assist with workshop fees. Capacity is limited to 30 participants per workshop, and the length of each will be 45 minutes, starting at either 9:00 am or 10:00 am. All workshops will be held at The Midland Theatre in downtown Newark. To register, call The Midland’s Nancy Anderson at 740-349-9218, ext. 4. 

Auditions for the Missoula Children’s Theatre production of Jack and the Beanstalk are Monday, July 14 starting promptly at 4:00 pm and lasting until 6:00 pm. Auditions will be held at The Place Off The Square, 50 North Second Street in downtown Newark. Those auditioning must be in place and ready to start at 4:00 pm and plan to stay for the full two hours. No advance preparation is needed; just bring your smile.

About 50-60 roles are available and all local students, entering 1st grade through 12th grade are encouraged to audition. Some cast members will be asked to stay for a rehearsal immediately following the audition. Most students will rehearse approximately 4-1/2 hours each day, Tuesday-Friday, July 15-18, from 12:30 until 5pm. Participants must be available for all rehearsals and performances. To register for the audition or for more information, contact Nancy Anderson at 740-349-9218, ext. 4 at The Midland.

Missoula Children’s Theatre is a non-profit organization based in Missoula, Montana. This coming year more than 60,000 cast members across the globe will take to the stage led by over 30 teams of MCT’s Tour Actor / Directors. This is the 4th season that MCT has held their weeklong residency at The Midland Theatre, with a new show and cast offered each season. MCT’s tour team will arrive in Newark with a set, lights, costumes, props and make-up… everything it takes to put on a play, except the cast! Local children will fill in the there to the delight and applause of their families, friends, community, neighbors and teachers. MCT’s focus is ‘helping kids reach a new stage.’

Two performances will be held for Jack and the Beanstalk on Saturday, July 19, 2008 at the Midland Theatre, including a Matinee at 3pm and an evening performance at 7pm. This MCT production, like all their shows, is an original adaptation of a classic children’s story or fairytale… a twist on the classic story you know and love that is destined to enchant audiences of all ages.

Tickets for Jack and the Beanstalk are $7.50, $10, and $12.50, plus a $2.00 handling and historic preservation fee for each ticket. To purchase tickets for the performances, call 740-345-LIVE (5483) or stop by The Midland Theatre Box Office at 36 North Park Place in downtown Newark from Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, or an hour before the show. To purchase tickets online, visit The Midland’s website at www.midlandtheatre.org.

Camp Encore Workshops are encouraged for all students, including those students (grades 1-8) who are cast and not cast in the performance of Jack and the Beanstalk. Camp Encore is held in the mornings and Jack and the Beanstalk rehearsals are held in the afternoons. 

Camp Encore Workshops include the following sessions:

MCT – CREATIVE DRAMATICS! This workshop allows young students to use their imagination to transform a story into a play, learning the importance of focus, the development of character, and the use of pantomime. Grades: 1-2

MIDLAND – RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT Explore and become increasingly aware of the body in motion through music! This workshop teaches young actors about their bodies, the space around them and each other. Grades: 1-2

MIDLAND – STEP ONSTAGE Every performer must know the foundation for communicating throughout rehearsals. Learn stage directions, as well as other basic theater words while playing fun-filled theater activities on the star-graced Midland stage. Grades: 1-5 (2 different, age-appropriate workshops)

MCT – LET’S MAKE-UP Without the support of visual image, the most talented of actors can portray only a narrow spectrum of characters. Make-up is the foundation and the most basic visual image for all performers. This participatory workshop teaches students of all ages by demonstrating corrective, old age and fantasy make-up. Grades: 1-8 (3 different, age-appropriate workshops)

MCT – THE ACTOR’S TOOLS Learn the basic tools of the actor’s trade – observation, memorization, concentration, and imagination. Students will learn to apply the actor’s tools to performing and to everyday life by participating in a variety of fun exercises. Grades: 3-5

MIDLAND – IMPROVISATION Be prepared to act - off the top of your head! This workshop helps young actors develop their thinking and reaction skills in an environment where anything can happen. Grades: 3-8 (2 different, age-appropriate workshops)

MCT – INTRODUCTION TO MIME Through a series of fun and enlightening exercises, participants are introduced to the art of acting without words, from simple body language to the techniques of creating illusions. Grades: 6-8

MIDLAND – IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK Discover the historic roots of The Midland Theatre. This workshop takes students on an adventurous tour of The Midland, behind-the-scenes! Be sure to dress comfortably. Grades: 6-8

Here’s what last year’s participants shared about their experiences: The “class size was small enough for everyone to have participation time” With the Improvisation workshop, our daughter “was allowed to express her individuality and humor; She said it was fun, fun, fun!” From another parent, our child “really liked dancing with the other children and especially enjoyed making up a dance with the workshop, ‘The Rhythm is Gonna Get You’.” Another mom, noted “She really had a great time and would love to do it again!” and she loved “being creative and using her body” to tell a story.

Support for this event is provided by: Event Sponsor: Mortellaro McDonald’s; Media Partners: The Advocate, This Week Community Newspapers, Time Warner Cable, WNKO/WHTH; Additional support provided by: Ohio Arts Council.

The Newark Midland Theatre Association is a local organization dedicated to building value in our community with the positive, shared experiences of the performing arts, both locally produced and nationally recognized, in the beautifully restored Midland Theatre. Built in 1928, The Midland Theatre annually presents touring and local artists through its five performance series, inspiring arts education and community outreach programs, and other events. The Midland Theatre’s mission is enriching the lives of audiences today and tomorrow.

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