Youth Performing Arts Conservatory (YPAC)
Week-Long Theatre Festival
Open House May 17, 1:00-5:00 p.m.
YPAC Showcase Week May 19-22, various time
Zach Smith, Becky Bush, Zoe Symon, Hannah Clark, Pickens Barringer, Katherine Wolfenden, Angie D'Alli, Ryan Pater
YPAC is a performing arts program at The ArtsCenter for students in grades 1-12. The program began in the fall of 2005 and has provided performing arts instruction to hundreds of students in Chapel Hill/Carrboro and the surrounding area. YPAC offers classes and workshops on a variety of subjects including acting fundamentals, musical theatre , improvisation, stage combat, audition techniques, voice/speech instruction, movement for the actor, on-camera acting and more.
“YPAC’s first event is the YPAC Open House for students and parents interested in trying out the classes at YPAC,” explains Jeri Lynn Schulke, Director of the Youth Performing Arts Conservatory. “Prospective students are welcome to attend classes taught by members of the YPAC faculty on the afternoon of May 17. The YPAC faculty members in addition to being terrific teachers are, themselves, working actors, directors, playwrights, artistic directors and choreographers.”
Various classes throughout the afternoon will be available for students in grades 1st-12th while parents are invited to sit in on classes to observe and to attend short information sessions led by Ms Schulke. She will be available to answer any questions about the program including questions regarding curriculum, focus, and goals of each class.
“The Chapel Hill/Carrboro school system already has excellent theatre programs at their schools, YPAC is simply a supplement to those programs” explains Schulke. “At the same time, there are local schools in the area that have no theatre programs or classes and YPAC offers an outlet for students at those schools.”
“We are looking for input from students and parents on what they would like to see offered through our program. For instance: are students interested in a class on performing magic, puppetry, directing or playwriting? We are hoping that the YPAC Open House will offer us the opportunity to start a dialogue with students, parents and theatre instructors alike.”
The YPAC Open House will be followed by a week of YPAC Showcase Performances by all the current Youth Performing Arts Conservatory classes. The end-of-year showcase performances are free and open to the public. “These performances are another opportunity for prospective students and parents to check out the YPAC program in action. There will be evening performances by students in grades 4-12 and class-time performances by younger students in grades 1-3.”
The YPAC All-Star Talent Show will follow on May 22nd. YPAC students will be performing for fabulous gifts and prizes and helping to raise money for future YPAC scholarship needs. Tickets to the YPAC All-Star Talent Show are a suggested donation of $5/adult and $2/student, with all proceeds going towards the YPAC Scholarship Fund.
Students must pre-register in order to attend the free classes during the YPAC Open House on May 17. To register or for a complete schedule of Theatre Jam, including the YPAC Open House, the YPAC Showcase Performance Week and the YPAC All-Star Talent Show please contact Jeri Lynn Schulke at ypac@artscenterlive.org or 929-2787 ext 219 or Lawruh Lindsey at ypacasst@artscenterlive.org or 929-2787 ext 240.
I'm trying to find an adult workshop focused on children's theatre teaching techniques. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Posted by: Tammy Lail | May 12, 2009 at 11:11 AM