Kings Youth Theater to do "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
SUGAR LOAF — The Kings Youth Theater Young Actors Program is continuing its training program this summer with its performance workshop at the Seligman Center for the Arts at the Orange County Citizens Foundation.
The six-week performance workshop program begins July 9 and takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Sugar Loaf.
Throughout the summer, students will be learning and refining the craft of acting while rehearsing a new production. This year the workshop will focus on William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The performances of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" will be held on Aug. 17 and 18.
The process
The theater process begins with the script. The playwright defines the structure of the play by answering the questions who, what and where. The characters in the play, the plot or story, including themes and style, and the time and place of the play are the concerns of the writer. This is done through dialog and relationships.
Once the actor understands who the people in the play are and what they have to do, the question then becomes how and why. Things like how a character lives and functions during the play and how the character walks and talks become the role of the actor. Motivation, emotion, rhythm, and psychology come to play in why a character does what he does.
A relevant story
This summer's workshop is designed to answer the questions of How and Why. Using William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for this workshop offers the students the perfect opportunity to answer these questions. Midsummer is a classic for a reason, according to the director, and, though the language, at first, may seem challenging, it offers the perfect opportunity to study a script with no preconceptions.
"Because of the language, we have to deeply understand how and why these characters do some of the craziest things that no one would normally do. It's a fantasy but it's also a very relevant story for young people," said Paul Ellis, director of the workshop.
The play is being staged with the unique nature of the property in mind. The audience will follow the cast through the park-like setting of the Seligman Farm to encounter scenes as they unfold in their site-specific locations. This summer's workshop will include a study of location and how it impacts the performance.
The director
Ellis has 45 years of experience in the theater business. He studied theater with Lee Strasberg, Peter Brook, Julian Beck and play writing with Jean Claude Van Ittallie. Ellis has directed more than 80 plays and produced numerous concerts and festivals. He presently directs and produces the Air Pirates Radio Theater. His past students have been accepted to the finest acting conservatories including NYU, Purchase, Pace and the London Academy of Dramatic Arts. Many have appeared in major films and stage productions including American Idiot, Law and Order, Argo, Off Broadway shows and independent films.
The Young Actors Program begins July 9 with performances on Aug. 17 and 18. The fee for the six-week workshop is $400.
For information about the workshop or to register, call 845-469-7563 or visit www.airpirateradio.com/workshop.