Oddfellows Playhouse Winter 2014 Class Registration is OPEN!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Exciting Theatrical Winter Classes and Productions Offered by Oddfellows Playhouse

Middletown, CT

December 11, 2013

Exciting new theatre arts classes and productions are being offered for children and youth ages

4 - 20!  Registration is now open for Winter Classes and Productions at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre.

Kids can explore their creative side, become confident in public speaking and enjoy working as a team while experiencing the arts through classes in acting, improvisation, technical theatre and creative dramatics.  This winter there are several unique opportunities.

●       Playwriting will be taught for grades 6-12 by Artistic Director, Kristen Palmer.  Palmer is an experienced playwright and creative writing teacher.  Students will explore their dramatic imaginations and write original ten-minute plays over the 8 week session.

●       Puppetmania! will be lead by Master Teaching Artist, Renee Soares.  Students in grades 2-4 will design and craft unique puppet-making projects and creating a puppet show working with a live production.

●       Shakespeare’s Fairies, Witches and Ghosts will introduce 4-5th grade actors to the dynamic scenes and characters from Shakespeare’s plays.  This mini-production is a great introduction to the language and stories of the world’s most well-known playwright.

All classes at the Playhouse are taught by professional artists dedicated to arts education.  Each session culminates in a sharing for families and friends!

Details and registration is available at www.oddfellows.org

Winter classes start the week of January 13th and end the week of March 3rd.

Tuition ranges from $120 - 300.

Financial aid, Scholarships and Work-Study arrangements are available.

All classes take place at Oddfellows Playhouse, 128 Washington Street, Middletown.

About us:

Oddfellows Playhouse was founded in 1975 as a community-based, multicultural theater program designed to include children from all backgrounds. Oddfellows remains Connecticut’s largest and most active year-round youth theater, an independent, not-for-profit organization that annually serves over 1,200 young people.  The mission is “ to build essential life skills through the performing arts.”
In 2013 Oddfellows Playhouse was named “Connecticut’s Best Children’s Theatre by Connecticut Magazine.  In 2012 Oddfellows was awarded its very first National Endowment for the Arts award for the Our Town grant. In 2003, Citizens Bank named Oddfellows Playhouse its Community Champion for youth services, and CPTV featured the Playhouse and its program on a special titled art.culture.life. In 1999, the Playhouse received a Community Service Award from the Middlesex County NAACP in recognition of its years of commitment to young people, particularly those challenged by poverty.  The New England Theatre Conference recognized the Playhouse’s history of quality performing arts and youth education with an Award of Excellence in 1998.
The Playhouse has produced over 350 shows, including classics, contemporary and world premieres.

For more information contact:  Kristen Palmer at (860) 347-6143 ext. 103 or Kristen@oddfellows.org.