Theatre for life

Being involved in theatre, not only gives kids acting experience to launch a future career, but it also teaches them how to command an audience, how to articulate, along with critical listening and speaking skills. These are skills that everyone can use no matter where life may take them. Toledo is home to several amazing theatre companies, and many of them offer classes and casting opportunities for tweens and teens. If your child is looking to try something new in the New Year, you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities around town.

“This past season we had kids from 100 different area schools, and not one school offers regular drama programming, “ said Aimee Reid, Executive Artistic Director at Children’s Theatre Workshop (CTW). When designing programming for students, CTW follows the Ohio Education Board standards for drama and theater, which means the skills learned are also applicable in a school setting, as well. The students in the Ensemble (ages 10-12) have an opportunity to write four scripts each year, and two are chosen to be the next production.

The Toledo Repertoire also offers plenty of opportunities for tweens and teens to learn more theatre techniques and grow their portfolio. Dave DeChristopher, Artistic Director, was excited about Heathers The Musical for ages 14-19. The Rep enjoys introducing the students to older works, but making them applicable to today. Students also have the chance to work with the top local professionals in theatre.

Here are some upcoming classes and productions for teens and tweens to get started or continue in acting and/or theater production:

  • Children’s Theatre Workshop
    ctwtoledo.org
    Winter Workshop
    December 28 and/or January 4
    Ages: 10-14
    Theatre Classes for the Ensemble
    (10-12) January 13 – March 17
    (Saturdays)
    Theatre Classes for Teens (13-18)
    Age specific, one hour focused
    classes on Saturdays
  • Toledo Repertoire Theater
    toledorep.org
    Improv! (7-17)
    January 6 – February 24, 2018
    Audition Bootcamp: Cold Reading
    (7 -16) March 3
    Audition Bootcamp: Singing (7 -16)
    March 10
    Playwriting 101 (7-16)
    March 17 – May 20, 2018

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