Media Contact: Michelle Sanders, Public Relations Manager

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: March 11, 2008

(425) 392-1942 x124

www.villagetheatre.org

*CORRECTION BELOW: SPRING STANWOOD

CLASSES CANCELLED*

VILLAGE THEATRE ANNOUNCES SPRING

KIDSTAGE CLASSES IN EVERETT AND STANWOOD

Classes Begin April 14, 2008

EVERETT AND STANWOOD, WA – Village Theatre KIDSTAGE is proud to announce its Spring line-up of exploratory and musical theatre classes for students of all ages, including “If You Give a Pig a Party,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Hairspray.” Classes in Everett run April 14, 2008–June 9, 2008 and in Stanwood from April 7–11, 2008. Classes range from $115-$175 for Everett and $115-$150 for Stanwood. Parents receive a 10 percent discount when registering more than one student from the same family or when registering for more than one class. One discount per family only. Each registered student will also receive one half-price single ticket to any Village Theatre Mainstage production. Registration forms are available online at www.villagetheatre.org or by calling Village Theatre’s Youth Education office at (425) 257-6371.

EVERETT KIDSTAGE Spring Classes

at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA

EARLY STAGES – Literature and Life Skills (Pre-K–2nd Grade):

Early Stages are literature based exploratory classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate exercises and activities teach beginning terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as taking turns, listening, speaking up and being part of a team — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A sharing for family and friends is held on the last day of each class.

Story Explorers (Grade PreK-K)

If You Give a Pig a Party

Tuesdays 2:30 PM–3:30 PM, April 15–June 3, 2008

Tuition: $115

Laura Numeroff's charming books, including If You Give a Pig a Party and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie are the inspiration for this class. Students use their imaginations to make these colorful characters come to life.

Fables and Fairytales (Grades K–1)

Fairytale Factory

Tuesdays 4:00–5:00 PM, April 15–June 3, 2008

Tuition: $115

Jump into famous fairy tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Little Red Riding Hood. Students break with tradition and mix and match popular stories and characters to create their own original factory of fairytales! Exploration includes movement, art, and music.

Creative Chronicles (Grades 1-2)

Kid’s Best Friend: Canine Capers

Tuesdays 4:15–5:15 PM, April 15–June 3, 2008

Tuition: $115

Stories of famous dogs such as Balto the sled dog, and Cynthia Rylant's best-selling Henry and Mudge books about a lonesome boy and his 180-pound canine, are used as a springboard for learning how to portray specific character traits such as bravery, loyalty, and teamwork within the dog pack.

Pair with Musical Moves.

FUNDAMENTAL STAGES – Building Blocks for Young Actors (Grades 3–12)

Fundamental Stages are introductory exploration classes that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate curriculum includes exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills in every class. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and responsibility — all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. Classes are offered year-round and have a different theme each session. A class sharing or demonstration is held on the last day of each class.

Character Quests (Grades 3–5)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Section A: Mondays 4:00–5:30 PM, April 14-June 9, 2008

Section B: Thursdays 4:00-5:30 PM, April 17-June 5, 2008

Tuition: $150

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages or Elementary Acting classes are highly recommended.

Students learn how to create characters from the ground up by using and developing their own unique vocal and physical skills. Basic theatre and acting terminology are woven throughout the class as students re-enact and reinvent Roald Dahl's wacky world of Willy Wonka and his magnificent chocolate factory.

Pair with Musical Moves

Ensemble Building (Grades 6–8)

Magical Characters from Narnia

Mondays 5:45–7:15 PM, April 14–June 9, 2008

Tuition: $150

Prerequisites: none, although Character Quests, Acting 2, or Acting 3 is highly recommended.

Learn what it takes to work from a book, poem, or short story to bring a tale to life through improvisation, dialogue, and movement in an ensemble environment. This class offers a fun approach to developing characters, investigating conflict and resolution, and working together to create scenes as students invent their own mystical and unforgettable adventures in the magical world of C.S. Lewis' Narnia.

Pair with Broadway Foundations

MUSICAL THEATRE CLASSES (Grade 1–Age 20):

Musical Theatre Classes are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Class time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology. In the introductory level classes (Musical Moves) the focus is on the process of developing skills. There is an open class the last day of the session that demonstrates the new abilities of the students. In the intermediate and advanced level classes, students collaborate in developing a musical showcase of material that is performed for family and friends at the end of the session. All classes have a different theme each session. We encourage students to study year-round.

BEGINNING MUSICAL THEATRE:

Musical Moves – Section A (Grades 1–2)

Rockin’ Rhythms

Tuesdays 4:00–5:00 PM, April 15–June 3, 2008

Tuition: $115

Musical Moves – Section B (Grades 3–5)

Get Your Groove On!

Tuesdays 5:15–6:15 PM, April 15–June 3, 2008

Tuition: $115

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.

Shake, rattle, and roll! Explore the joys of moving and singing in a fun group environment. Students take turns and take risks as they develop healthy vocal habits while increasing body, rhythm, and spatial awareness. Students also explore singing and acting through a wide range of musical styles from Bach to Broadway.

Section A: Pair with Creative Chronicles

Section B: Pair with Character Quests

INTERMEDIATE MUSICAL THEATRE:

Broadway Foundations – Section A (Grades 3–5)

Peter Pan

Mondays 4:00–5:30 PM, April 14–June 9, 2008

Tuition: $150

Prerequisites: Musical Theatre classes, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.

This class is designed for students who have been introduced to musical theatre and are ready to work at a more advanced level. Increased emphasis on performance technique and skills by using songs such as "I Won't Grow Up," "I've Gotta Crow," and "I'm Flying" make this a challenging and fun class for everyone.

Broadway Foundations – Section B (Grades 6–8)

Hairspray

Thursdays 4:00-6:00 PM, April 17–June 5, 2008

Tuition: $165

Prerequisites: Broadway Jr., Broadway Bound, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.

This class is designed for students who have been introduced to musical theatre and are ready to work at a more advanced level. Increased emphasis on performance technique and skills by using songs such as "You Can't Stop the Beat," "Welcome to the 60s," and "The Nicest Kids in Town" make this a challenging and fun class for everyone.

Pair with Ensemble Building

Musical Theatre 101 (Grade 9-12)

Legally Blonde

Saturdays (mini-session) 10:00 AM-12:00PM, April 26–May 17, 2008

Tuition: $115

Prerequisites: None — although Acting 3 or Acting 101 is highly recommended.

This is an intermediate course for teen students to learn musical theatre techniques. Class will explore character development, ensemble building, singing, and dancing through material from the smash hit musical Legally Blonde. Bend and snap!

ADVANCED MUSICAL THEATRE:

Steve Tomkins Performance Studio (Grades 9–Age 20)

Mondays 6:30–9:00 PM, April 14–June 9, 2008

Tuition: $175

By audition or invitation.

Highly recommended for Company and TeenSelect cast members.

For our most advanced students who want to train at a professional level. Focus is on fine tuning each element of a triple threat performer. Guest artists will educate students on specific theatre skills such as: monologues, scene work, singing, dancing, stage combat, dialects, and auditioning. The session will culminate with a special visit from Village Theatre Artistic Director, Steve Tomkins.

*ALL OF THE BELOW CLASSES HAVE BEEN CANCELLED*

STANWOOD KIDSTAGE CLASSES

at the Stillaguamish Grange Hall, 6520 Pioneer Hwy, Stanwood

FUNDAMENTAL STAGES – Building Blocks for Young Actors (Grades 3–12)

Fundamental Stages are introductory exploration camps that encourage confidence by building theatre and life skills in a fun and encouraging environment. Process over product is emphasized. Developmentally appropriate curriculum includes exercises and activities that teach terminology and theatre skills each day. Students also learn valuable life skills such as teamwork, creativity, collaboration, imagination, public speaking, problem solving, and responsibility – all in a safe atmosphere where it is easy to make new friends. A camp sharing or demonstration is held on the last day of each camp.

Creative Chronicles (Grades 1-2)

Kid’s Best Friend: Canine Capers

April 7–11, 2008, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tuition: $150

Stories of famous dogs such as Balto the sled dog, and Cynthia Rylant's best-selling Henry and Mudge books about a lonesome boy and his 180-pound canine are used as a springboard for learning how to portray specific character traits such as bravery, loyalty and teamwork within the dog pack.

Character Quests (Grades 3–5)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

April 7–11, 2008, 1:00–4:00 PM

Tuition: $150

Prerequisite: none, although Early Stages or Elementary Acting classes are highly recommended.

Students learn how to create characters from the ground up by using and developing their own unique vocal and physical skills. Basic theatre and acting terminology are woven throughout the camp as students re-enact and reinvent Roald Dahl’s wacky world of Willy Wonka and his magnificent chocolate factory.

MUSICAL THEATRE CAMPS (Grades 1-5)

Musical Theatre Camps are for students ready to develop or increase skills in all areas of musical theatre. Camp time includes learning music, staging, choreography, and rehearsal terminology.

BEGINNING MUSICAL THEATRE:

Musical Moves (Grades 1-2)

Rockin’ Rhythms

April 7–11, 2008, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM

Tuition: $150

Prerequisites: none, although Early Stages classes are highly recommended.

INTERMEDIATE MUSICAL THEATRE:

Broadway Foundations (Grades 3-5)

Peter Pan

April 7–11, 2008, 1:00–4:00 PM

Tuition: $150

Prerequisite: Musical Theatre classes, previous KIDSTAGE performance, or permission.

This camp is designed for students who have been introduced to musical theatre and are ready to work at a more advanced level. Increased emphasis on performance technique and skills by using songs such as "I Won't Grow Up," "I've Gotta Crow," and "I'm Flying" make this a challenging and fun camp for everyone.

About Village Theatre KIDSTAGE:

Designed to encourage teamwork, personal integrity, self-esteem and a life-long appreciation for live theatre, KIDSTAGE is a year-round performing arts training program in Issaquah, Everett, and Stanwood for young people ages 3-20. KIDSTAGE students participate in classes, workshops and full-scale KIDSTAGE productions. All performances are by KIDSTAGE students and classes are taught by professional theatrical instructors.

About Village Theatre

Based in Issaquah, WA, with operations in Everett, Village Theatre is a leading producer of musical theatre in the Pacific Northwest. Producing entertaining quality productions for the entire family since 1979, Village Theatre has grown into one of the region's best-attended Equity theatres, with over 18,000 subscribers and 170,000 projected total attendance each season. Through its Village Originals program, Village Theatre is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new musicals, having launched over 75 new works to date. Village Theatre also takes pride in nurturing tomorrow’s audiences through its youth education programs, Pied Piper and KIDSTAGE, serving over 53,000 young people, families, and schools annually.

Village Theatre season sponsors are The Boeing Company, Continental Airlines, Microsoft and Lombardi

Village Theatre is also funded in part by 4Culture, ABODA, ArtsFund, ArtsUnited, Bellevue Arts Commission, Cascade Bank, City of Everett, City of Issaquah /Issaquah Arts Commission, Encore Arts Programs, First Mutual Bank, Frontier Bank, Journal Newspapers, The National Endowment for the Arts, Overlake Hospital and Medical Center, PONCHO, Port Blakely Communities/Issaquah Highlands, Standing Ovation, and Washington State Arts Commission. Village Theatre is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and Theatre Puget Sound.

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