Oddfellows Playhouse Fall Classes 2022!!!

Registration is now open for Fall Classes at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater located at 128 Washington Street in Middletown! Beginning September 17th, classes in theater, dance, circus, music and visual art will be offered for ages 3 - 20. Teenagers are invited to audition for our fall mainstage production.

Teen Repertory Company (ages 14 - 20) will hold auditions for Journey to the West on September 12th & 15th, from 6:30 - 9 pm. Teens are asked to pre-register for one of the two audition evenings, to arrive on time, and plan to stay for the entire time. Everyone who auditions and commits to the rehearsal and production schedule will be cast in the show. Regular rehearsals will be Mondays and Thursdays, 6 - 9 pm. Performances will be November 10th - 12th & 18th - 19th.

Circophony Teen Circus (ages 12 - 20) offers fall circus training in preparation for a winter mainstage production. Acro Focus! will be held on Tuesdays evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm and Juggling+ on Wednesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30pm, culminating in a Fall Circus Showcase on December 2nd. Students may register for one or both classes! No previous experience is required. Classes run September 20th - November 30th (10 weeks.)

For our youngest Oddfellows, Saturday Classes feature Circrobatics (ages 3 - 5 and 6 - 8) combining circus, acrobatics and creative movement. Other classes include Faerie Tale Theater (for ages 3 - 5) as well as Circro-Balance (ages 6 - 8) with a focus on stilting, unicycling, rolling globe, tight rope, and spool. Classes start September 17th and continue through November 19th (10 weeks.)

Musical Mentoring, which offers students one-on-one music lessons with Wesleyan Music students, will be held on Saturdays this fall for students ages 6 - 8 and 9 - 11. Classes will be held October 1st - November 19th (8 weeks.)

Technical Theater & Design (ages 14 - 20) will be held on Sundays, 4 - 6 pm, September 25th - October 30th (6 classes & Practicum).

This year, the Fall after-school program will be split into two 6-week sessions. Session one runs September 19th - October 27th, culminating in a Share Day on Friday, October 28th. Session two runs October 31st - December 8th, with Share Day on Saturday, December 10th.

Stage One classes for ages 6 - 8 include Circus I, Visual Expressions, Creative Movement, Fairy Tale Theater, and Hip Hop Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11).

Stage Two classes for ages 9 - 11 include Circus II, Whole Body Acting, Culture Tuesdays, Into the Story, Theater Improv, Watercolor Painting, Afro-Caribbean Dance, Musical Theater (ages 6 - 11,) Hip Hop Dance (ages 9-14,) and a Mini Production of James and the Giant Peach (ages 9 - 14.)

Stage Three classes for ages 12 - 14 include Clowning and Physical Comedy, Scene Study, and Hip Hop Dance (ages 9 - 14,) Musical Theater, Advanced Acting: Michael Chekhov Technique, and a Mini-Production of James and the Giant Peach.

Most after-school classes run from 4:45 - 5:45 pm, though the Stage Three classes and James and the Giant Peach Mini-Production run a bit longer. Middletown Public School students may complement their class experience with Oddbridge, an extended day program which provides transport from Middletown schools to the Playhouse, a snack, and supervised arts activities, games and homework help before classes start. This year Oddbridge will extend throughout the school year, providing special programs and field trips on early dismissal days or days when regular Oddfellows’ classes are not in session.

For more details on times, tuition and class descriptions, please go to www.oddfellows.org. If you have specific questions, email info@oddfellows.org or call (860) 347-6143. Financial Aid is available for all programs. It is Playhouse policy that the arts should be available to every young person regardless of ability to pay - no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Oddfellows Playhouse, founded in 1975, is Connecticut’s oldest and largest performing arts program for young people. Oddfellows programs are made possible with support from the Middletown Commission on the Arts; Connecticut Office of the Arts/DECD; City of Middletown; The Fund for Greater Hartford; American Savings Foundation; State of Connecticut Judicial Branch (Youth Violence Prevention); Middletown Youth Services Bureau; Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Middletown Health Department; Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation; Thomas J. Atkins Memorial Trust Fund; Middlesex United Way; CHEFA Cultural Relief Grant; New England Foundation for the Arts/New England Arts Resilience Fund; George & Grace Long Foundation; and many generous individual donors.

Photo attached by Bill De Kine of Teen Repertory Company 2021 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Spring 2014 Registration for Theater Classes and Productions at Oddfellows Playhouse is OPEN!!

Exciting new theater arts classes and productions are being offered for children and youth ages 4 - 11!  

Registration is now open for Spring 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 and creative dramatics.  This spring there are several unique opportunities.

●       PRODUCTION CLASS: FOR FEET’S SAKE. An Oddfellows First! The Kids Company, for children 8-11 year olds, will take the main stage with this original, wild take on Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. Young actors will work together, learn rehearsal skills, choreography, and songs as they gain acting experience on-stage and off. All registered students will be cast in the show.  Attendance is VERY important, and additional rehearsals may be called as show time approaches. Performances will be on May 16^th at 7pm and May 17^th at 2pm.

●       Theater Classes for ages 4-7 develop self-confidence and build communication skills in a positive growth environment.

 

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

Spring classes start the week of March 17^th and end the week of May 12^th

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.

Seeking Actors Grade 6-8 Jr. Rep Production: BUCCANEERS!

For Junior-High Students: Grades 6-9

BUCCANEERS

By Liz Duffy Adams
Directed by: Lorra Webb
Young Enid Arabella longs for adventure and escape from her family’s poverty. She runs away and is captured by a pirate king and his crew of kidnapped children. She summons her courage and wits to lead a mutiny and over-throw their oppressor – only to find herself in charge of a crew with different ideas about what they should do now that they are free – continue a life on the sea or return home to their families?

This new musical, premiered in 2012, is an exciting performance opportunity for young actors to sing, dance, act and be a part of an ensemble that values their voices and talents at any stage of development. Led by long-time Jr. Rep director Lorra Webb this will be a great musical performance experience in a creative, supportive environment.

Performances: April 3,4,5

Instructor: Lorra Webb

Rehearsals being: January 14th, Tuesday & Thursday. 4:30-6:30pm

For more information please call 860.347.6143 or email Kristen@oddfellows.org

oddfellows.org

ODDFELLOWS PLAYHOUSE SEEKING YOUNG ACTORS for 2014 Productions!

Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theatre will produce two Connecticut original productions this Spring with actors in grades 6 - 12 through the Teen Rep and Jr. Rep Companies.

The Teen Rep Company is seeking actors ages 14 - 20 for the Connecticut premiere production of  SHE KILLS MONSTERS by Qui Nguyen.  It will be directed by Kristen Palmer.

The show switches between fantasy and reality as his edgy teen focused play tells a story of loss, family, identity and acceptance – in an exciting comic book style.  When Tilly dies suddenly in a car accident her older sister Agnes’s only connection to her is a role playing adventure Tilly left behind. Agnes enters her sister’s fantasy world and learns about who her sister was – while fighting off the real and imagined monsters that plagued Tilly’s short life.

Young Actors will thrive in this show as they develop their acting skills and are part of an ensemble Teen Rep Production project. There will be opportunities for stage combat, choreography, puppetry and creating stage effects.

All interested teens are invited to attend an open workshop to learn more about the script and ensemble at Oddfellows Playhouse on January 6th or 8th from 6-8pm.  Rehearsals start January 13th and will be held every Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 - 8:30pm.

Performances: March 20-23^rd

Tuition: $300.  Financial Aid, Scholarships and Work-Study Available. 

The Jr. Rep Company seeks actors in grades 6 – 8.   This show will also feature a first ever east coast musical production.  The Connecticut premiere production of BUCCANEERS by Liz Duffy Adams will be directed by Lorra Webb.

Young Enid Arabella longs for adventure and escape from her family’s poverty. She runs away and is captured by a pirate king and his crew of kidnapped children. She summons her courage and wits to lead a mutiny and overthrow their oppressor – only to find herself in charge of a crew as fractious as the seas.

This new musical, premiered in 2012, is an exciting performance opportunity for young actors to sing, dance, act and be a part of an ensemble that values their voices and talents at any stage of development. Led by long-time Jr. Rep director Lorra Webb this musical presents great messages about leadership, empowerment and family.

Rehearsals begin January 14th and are held every Tuesday & Thursday, 4:30-6:30pm until the Performances on April 3, 4 and 5th.

Tuition is $300.  Scholarship and Financial Aid are available.

All actors will have a role in the production.  Oddfellows has been producing plays with young people for over 38 years.  The cadre of directors and designers are professional artists with a commitment to young people’s personal growth and artistic development.

To register, or for more information on how to get involved go to oddfellows.org or contact Artistic Director, Kristen Palmer at 860 347 6143, ext. 103.

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.