Last chance to register for winter youth theater programs

Oddfellows Playhouse winter programs for young people start up this week and next, and Friday, January 11 is the deadline to register for the Oddbridge After-School Program for Middletown Public School students ages 6 - 14. Arts classes begin January 14 and registration for these classes will remain open through January 18 or until an individual class has reached its maximum enrollment.

Highlights/Last Chance:
The Servant of Two Masters Junior Rep Mainstage production (ages 12 - 14) has auditions Thursday, January 10, 4:30- 6 pm. Rehearsals are Tues/Thurs, 4:30 - 6 starting Jan. 15.

Circus Botanicus is a mainstage circus-theater production for ages 12 -19. Rehearsals are Tues/Wed, 6 - 9 pm starting January 22.

After-School classes for ages 6 - 14 start January 14. Classes include Scene Study, Stories from the Middle East, Clowning & Slapstick, Musical Mentoring, Visual Arts, Circus, and a Mini-production for ages 9 - 11 called Fairytale Fantasy. Most classes meet one afternoon per week, 4:30 - 5:30 pm. There is also an Improv Jam for ages 11 - 14 on Saturdays from 10 - 11:15 am.

Oddbridge is an arts-based program which provides a snack, arts-based activities and homework help to Middletown kids from 3:30 - 4:30 pm, when classes start. Participants can take a bus right from their school to Oddfellows. Registration for this program closes January 11. Oddbridge participants must also be registered for a 4:30 - 5:30 class on the days that they do Oddbridge.

Middletown Teen Talent Search is January 19 and is open to kids ages 12 - 19 from Middletown & surrounding towns. $500 & $250 cash prizes for the top acts. Registration deadline is January 17.

This Is Important: An Ensemble-Creation Experience is an opportunity for kids ages 14 - 20 to work with Playhouse Artistic Director Dic Wheeler and State Troubadour Nekita Waller to create original theater and music around issues of importance to the participants. Creation sessions start January 31 and will be Thursdays, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, through February 28. Stipends available for participants who commit to the 5 weeks of creation, which will lead to an original mainstage play with music to be performed in May.

Le Petit Studio is a unique opportunity for kids ages 8 - 14 and family members to work with Congolese theater artist Toto Kisaku to create instant theater pieces. Saturdays, 10 am - noon, January 26, February 9 & February 23. Sign up for one or all three!

Phew! That's a lot of stuff. For more details, prices, and to register, call (860) 347-6143, email info@oddfellows.org, or go to www.oddfellows.org. Financial Aid is available for all programs.