EDUCATION STATION - March 2010
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SCR's Junior Player's in The Velveteen Rabbit.
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Junior Players Present a Classic
SCR’s Junior Players will present The Velveteen Rabbit, the beloved classic by Margery Williams, adapted for the stage by Thomas Olson, in the Nicholas Studio March 27-28.
Who are the Junior Players? They’re students in the Theatre Conservatory’s Kids and Teen Acting Program, who attend class twice a week during the school year. In the fall, they spend classroom time in actor training, just like other students in the Conservatory—except the Players train at a more advanced level, preparing for the day when rehearsals begin for their spring show.
THE VELVETEEN
RABBIT
story by Margery Williams
adapted for the stage by Thomas Olson
Is
there a child anywhere who hasn’t been touched by this classic story
that brings toys to life? Now, they’ll really come to
life—the horse, the bear, the clown and all the rest—in this play about
a boy named James and the toy rabbit he got for Christmas and
immediately put away. But as all children know, if a toy is
loved for a long time it will become real, which is what finally
happens to the velveteen rabbit in this story of love, loss, and
then—a little bit of magic.
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How do they get to be Junior Players? They are chosen through the audition process, but only after two years as Conservatory students, combined with a strong commitment to hard work and the ability to work well within an ensemble. They have spent class time on rehearsing their roles in The Velveteen Rabbit, under the direction of Mercy Vasquez.
Junior Players are Brooke Boukather, Rachel Charny, Chelsea Davis, Ally Hickok, William Hopper, Christopher Huntley, Jaclyn Martin, Grace O’Brien, Jamie Ostmann, Karoline Ribak, Demie Santone and Juliet Weaver.
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Sofya Ogunseitan with Larry Bates in Fences.
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ACTING WITH HISTORY
Young Actors 'Meet' August Wilson
August Wilson’s plays influenced several generations of theatre-goers, but two budding young actors from SCR’s Kids and Teen Acting Program, who shared a role in Fences, had never seen a Wilson play. After all, Wilson documented the black experience in America during the 20th century. Skye Whitebear and Sofya Ogunseitan, who alternate in the role of Troy Maxson’s daughter Raynell, are eleven-year-old children of the 21st century.
But now that the show is over and their lives are back to normal, the girls recalled the experience, starting with the playwright...
Q: What did the experience of acting in one of his plays teach you about August Wilson?
Sofya: It tells me that he really enjoyed telling stories, and he really put a lot of details into his stories.
Skye: I think his play Fences is very emotional, and it gives me an understanding of how things were totally different back then than from now. I would love to see more of his plays, so I can see his different reactions to segregation and racism. To me, August Wilson is a very honest man who speaks the truth in his plays.
What did you enjoy most/least about rehearsing?
Sofya: I liked watching my favorite parts of the play being rehearsed. I also liked doing my part in the rehearsal because it is fun to perform. I didn't like it when I didn't get feedback on my performance in rehearsal. I wanted more feedback.
Skye: The least thing I enjoyed about rehearsing was performing in front of the other actors, since it was new to me and this was my first professional play. The thing I enjoyed most was learning and singing the "Blue" song with Larry [Bates]. That was so much fun!
What do you enjoy most/least about performing?
Sofya: I really like being on stage because it's really fun to perform in front of an audience. I like doing a performance that others are watching....putting on a show. There is NOTHING I don't like about performing. I like it all.
Skye: The thing I enjoyed least about performing was becoming nervous knowing that everyone's attention was on me. The thing I enjoyed most was seeing the audience give us a standing ovation!
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Skye Whitebear with Larry Bates in Fences.
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What have you learned in SCR’s acting program that has helped you in your performance?
Sofya: I learned how to focus when performing, how to lead with a body part and how to project my voice.
Skye: I learned how to speak loudly and pronounce my words clearly, and also how to work in an ensemble.
What did you learn from the director, Seret Scott?
Sofya: I learned the importance of blocking, especially how to position myself on stage so that the audience can see what is happening.
Skye: I learned how to animate my lines more and how to work with the whole cast more.
From the Conservatory director, Hisa Takakuwa?
Sofya: I learned how to make my performance more realistic and how to fit my character better.
Skye: Hisa taught me how to take on the role, because she told me that I was a 7-year-old in the play, and I had to just think back four years ago to what that was like and act that way.
Do you have a favorite backstage memory?
Sofya: Whenever I was backstage, Charlie Robinson would give me a kiss on the cheek before he walked out on stage.
Skye: When Troy and Cory were onstage fighting, I was always sitting there backstage talking to Baron [Kelly], and then I would start saying their lines, and it was the funniest thing ever.
What do you girls want to be when you grow up?
Sofya: If acting doesn’t work out, I’ll probably join the World Cup soccer team. And if that doesn’t work, then I want to be an ophthalmologist.
Skye: If my fashion and modeling careers don’t go the way I hope, and acting doesn’t work out, I’ll probably try singing.
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Kids warm up in the Summer Acting Workshop.
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IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME
A Full Slate of Acting Classes at SCR
In the theatre world, most stages are “dark” during the summer, as artists and staff take a short break before gearing up for the fall season. But at SCR, summertime is one of the busiest times for the Theatre Conservatory, where acting classes are in full swing, and students fill the classrooms from morning until night.
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Having fun in Improv.
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“The summer program is exciting for us,” says Conservatory Director Hisa Takakuwa, “because this is the time of year when we offer classes for everyone. Beginners get their first taste of theatre in the Summer Acting Workshop, which is open only to kids new to SCR. On the other hand, our Professional Actor Training program is open only to experienced students, who must audition to be accepted. In between, evening Adult Acting and Playwriting classes run the gamut from new students to pros. And, there’s a Summer Musical Theatre for kids at all levels of experience. So, when we say there’s something for everyone in the summer at SCR, we really mean it!”
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Director Karen Hensel, left, works with a student.
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SUMMER ACTING WORKSHOP
July 26-August 7 OR August 9-21
This is where it all begins! Kids from third grade through high school get their first taste of theatre in a camp setting, where they explore voice, movement, character development and more, led by a faculty of enthusiastic theatre professionals.
ADULT ACTING AND PLAYWRITING
June 14-August 3
Are you shy, afraid to speak in public? Are you outgoing and love to be the center of attention? Either way (and in between) there’s an evening class for you at SCR, where first-timers get into the spirit of acting and move along at their own pace—all the way to Actors Workshop, a real “workout” for serious students. Plus, playwriting at all levels!
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Teens on a break.
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PROFESSIONAL ACTOR TRAINING
June 7-July 31
This is the place to complete your actor training. In eight weeks of highly concentrated study, you’ll emerge with a focused plan of action for a future in theatre, film and television. Applicants must be 18 years of age or over and qualify through an audition/interview.
SUMMER MUSICAL THEATRE
August 9-21
From seventh grade through high school—whether beginners or young pros, students learn how to audition and prepare for a musical role. Instructor Erin McNally teaches what it means to “act” a song and “sing” a scene!
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