COURSE OFFERINGS
iGeneration Shakespeare
This cool literacy and performance based program centers around an energetic modern reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth or Julius Caesar. Students will explore and adapt the scenes, characters, poetry and plot of Shakespeare’s plays into creative modern speak while building community and personal strength through performance techniques.
The Intelligent Communicator
This vital life skills course works to enhance a student’s s positive social interactions while offering an in-depth look into direct communication in job interviews, work/family/peer related situations, public speaking events and professional social gatherings. Teaching Artists will facilitate theater games, voice and diction exercises, improvisational scene work, relaxation techniques and video recorded mock interviews.
Timeless Antigone
This program takes an invigorating journey into the world of Sophocles’ ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone. We will investigate the themes of obedience, family, loyalty, law, and standing up for what you believe is right. With the help of Teaching Artists, kids will dissect and reinterpret this ancient play with theatrical movement, acting and playwriting techniques.
The Peaceful Negotiator
This Acting and writing based Conflict/Resolution program will infuse group dialogue explorations and anger management techniques with improvisational scene work in order to help students creatively manage personal, community wide or global problems. Through Sociodrama, theater games, improvisation and playwriting, each student comes to a well-rounded awareness of self and community.
Living Newspaper Theatre
In this thrilling and relevant program, students will investigate current world events and invigorate civic education through the dramatization of contemporary human rights issues. Students choose their own topics from the newspaper (after looking at various publications side by side) and from these we will work on translating them into a theatrical performance piece - live or recorded. The Living Newspaper Project will culminate in a public performance for peers, family, school staff and community members.
From Canvas to Character
In this highly imaginative playwriting residency, students are guided to interpret a piece of classical artwork and adapt it into a short play. Teaching Artists will teach dramatic structure, character development, dialogue improvisations and monologue writing while the kids dynamically write and revise and write some more. This program includes a staged reading or semi-staged production of original student works.
Razzle Dazzle -- An Introduction To Musical Theater
This Musical theater based class is dedicated to all the young singers and dancers who dream of being on Broadway. With the guidance of a Music Director, Choreographer and Acting Coach/Director, students joyously explore singing, acting and dancing in preparation for a final, fully staged musical production.
Drama Therapy
This playful program offers an introduction to theatre making with children on the autism spectrum. With a focus on enhancing social interaction skills and emotional intelligence, our Rising City Drama Therapists joyfully share the many gifts of creative storytelling, character development and cheerful physical expression.
All About Acting -- The Fundamentals of Theater Making
This high-energy fundamentals of theater-making program helps unlock the power of the creative imagination through performance studies. We will delve into scene work, improvisation, theatre games, open scenes, relaxation techniques, vocal/ physical warm-ups and theatrical movement as a way of revealing a sense of character, place and action in a scene or play. This residency concludes in a formal or informal performance sharing.
Stopping the Hate -- Anti-Bullying Program
Bullying is no laughing matter. After taking the time to investigate the types of bullying, we approach this sensitive subject with serious group discussions that lead into improvisational scene work, playwriting and interactive storytelling. A final performance is a nice way to reach more kids with this important message of peace.
The Living Green Superheros Project
With super fun theater based games, kids learn about how to reduce their own carbon footprint by conserving energy, reducing waste, decreasing air pollution and supporting local farms. With this important knowledge, they can create original superhero characters and stories about how to save the planet earth from destruction. All props and costumes are made from recycled items. This residency concludes in an outdoor performance play sharing and tree planting ceremony. Student will receive an engraved BPA free water bottle.
The Athena Project
This empowering theater-based group is Rising City’s answer to the “Mean Girls” Syndrome. With the help of two female Teaching Artists trained in the healing arts, girls will take a journey into the world of true kindness to self, others and nature. They will explore feminine creativity, health and wellness through yoga, writing exercises, Sociodrama and visual art.