School of Theatre > Summer Intensive
Summer Theatre Intensive
Fill this summer with imagination and creativity
Mirroring Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s new play development process, the Summer Theatre Intensive program offers two four-week sessions: Session One (grades 6–8) and Session Two (grades 9–12). Both sessions offer a fun-filled, rigorous, affordable camp experience—right here in Berkeley!
Here’s a peek at the process:
- Students spend each week working with master teachers as they study acting, play creation, improvisation, voice and speech, Shakespeare, stage combat and various forms of physical theatre such as mask work, clowning and psychological gesture. Find out more about the classes.
- Students also choose from daily electives including musical theatre, directing, hip hop and salsa dance, video and playwriting. Weekly seminars such as clowning, improv, hip-hop theatre techniques, and disciplines of design and production such as costumes, sound, lighting and props taught by Berkeley Reps’ design team, provide a chance to see what happens behind the scenes.
- Skills and concepts learned from this diverse curriculum are applied to the development of original work. Under the supervision of a Play Creation teacher, each student group develops a theatrical piece from concept to performance. These projects challenge students to take imaginative risks and to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the session.
- At the end of each four-week session, students will have the opportunity to perform their original work on one of the main stages at Berkeley Rep to an invited audience of family and friends.
This Summer Theatre Intensive is designed specifically for students entering grades 6–12 who want to become fully immersed in the craft of theatre. Our only requirement is an active mind open to imagination, collaboration, hard work and, of course, lots of fun.
the dates
Session 1
- Students entering grades 6–8
- June 22–July 17, 2009 / Monday–Friday; 9am–3pm
Session 2
- Students entering grades 9–12
- July 20–August 14, 2009 / Monday–Friday; 9am–4pm
the tuition
Session 1
- Due with application—$350
- Due April 1, 2009—$350
- Due June 1, 2009—$350
- Session 1 Total—$1,050
Session 2
- Due with application—$383
- Due April 1, 2009—$383
- Due June 1, 2009—$384
- Session 2 Total—$1,150
the enrollment process
Register online now!
Or you can download the registration form (PDF) and mail or fax it along with payment to Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, Nevo Education Center, 2025 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA 94704.
* Session 1 is full. Please fill out a registration form if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
One-third of the tuition is due with the application. A second payment of one-third will be due April 1. The remaining balance will be due June 1. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration process will continue until both sessions are filled. If you cancel before April 1, 2009, we will refund tuition less a $150 fee. If you cancel after April 1, we will refund tuition less a $350 fee.
the faculty
Over the past nine years, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre has developed a nationally recognized teaching faculty at the Summer Theatre Intensive. These theatre professionals and teaching artists are committed to training the next generation of theatre artists through their respective areas of expertise. Previous faculty expected to return include Hector Correa, Deborah Eubanks, Marvin Greene, Gendell Hernandez, Andrew Hurteau and Andy Murray.
the classes
Students are divided into groups according to grade level. Each group will rotate through a variety of classes taught by a different professional theatre artist.
Session 1 classes include
(for students entering grades 6–8)
Play Creation
- Become a part of a creative ensemble! Students use improvisation, musical inspiration, poetry and art, and creative and collaborative writing to explore and expand their imaginations as they write and design a play. Class culminates in an original theatrical performance on one of the main stages at Berkeley Rep.
Acting
- Learn the skills required to bring a scene to life! Students focus on the fundamentals of acting technique through character development, script analysis and scene work.
Improvisation
- Discover spontaneity through improvisation! As an ensemble, students explore technique, theory, games, tricks and pranks that help them open up to the kind of spontaneity that breeds better comic timing on stage, stronger reactions in rehearsals, laughter at parties and a lot more fun at family functions.
Movement
- Throw yourself into the moment! Students learn tools, techniques and tricks to develop their abilities to create unique movement and outrageous characters.
Stage Combat
- En garde! Students explore classic stage combat techniques combining tai chi, boxing and improvisational theatre. Emphasis will be on safety, character building, telling the story of the fight and acting the violence. Students will learn unarmed (slaps, punches, kicks, rolls) and basic broadsword techniques.
Voice
- Be heard on stage and speak out to groups with confidence and charisma! Discover vocal agility, full projection and secrets to building and maintaining vocal strength and clarity. Apply techniques learned to news items, tongue twisters, raps, sonnets and songs.
Electives
- Students may choose from the following possible electives: Musical Theatre, Clowning/Commedia dell’arte, Hip Hop/Salsa Dance and hands-on classes with Berkeley Rep’s production staff in costuming, lighting, sound and prop design held at Berkeley Rep’s technical shops.
Session 2 classes include
(for students entering grades 9–12)
Advanced Play Creation
- Give voice to inspiration. Mirroring Berkeley Rep’s new play development process, students participate in the entire cycle of developing a play from concept to performance. They’ll gain an advanced understanding of theatrical concepts such as ensemble, dramatic conflict, dramatic structure, rhythm, characterization, staging and performance, before collectively creating a theatrical performance piece to be performed on one of the main stages at Berkeley Rep.
Acting
- Bring a scene to life. Through rigorous class exercises, monologues and scene work, students study character development, given circumstances, tactics, objective and actions, and learn how to work as an ensemble.
Shakespeare
- Discover the art of acting Shakespeare. Class covers verse/scansion, figures of speech and literal meaning which students will then put into practice by working on scenes.
Mask / Movement
- Find yourself in the moment. Learn tools, techniques and tricks to develop students’ abilities to create unique movement and outrageous characters.
Voice
- Ensure your voice is heard. Students study vocal agility, full projection and secrets to building and maintaining vocal strength and clarity. Apply techniques learned to news items, tongue twisters, raps, sonnets and songs.
Improvisation
- Discover spontaneity through improvisation. As an ensemble, students explore technique, theory, games, tricks and pranks that will help them open up to the kind of spontaneity that breeds better comic timing on stage, stronger reactions in rehearsals, laughter at parties and a lot more fun at family functions.
Stage Combat
- En garde! Students discover classic stage combat techniques combining tai chi, boxing and improvisational theatre. Emphasis will be on safety, character building, telling the story of the fight and acting the violence. Students will learn unarmed (slaps, punches, kicks, rolls) and basic broadsword techniques.
Electives
- Students may choose from the following possible electives: Playwriting, Directing, Audition, Dance, Hip-Hop Theatre Techniques, Musical Theatre, Clowning/Commedia dell’arte and hands-on classes with Berkeley Rep’s production staff in costuming, lighting, sound and prop design held at Berkeley Rep’s technical shops.
Programming subject to change.
register now
financial aid
Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is pleased to be able to offer financial aid for students enrolling in our youth and teen classes. Scholarships will be granted to students attending classes who demonstrate a strong financial need. Financial aid will be disbursed on a sliding scale—eligible families generally receive scholarships covering between 30%–100% of tuition.
Families applying for financial aid must submit a minimum $25 deposit per student at the time of registration. This amount secures the student’s place in the program while their financial aid application is under consideration. This deposit is refundable if the registration is cancelled by the end of the first week of class.
Download our application form or call the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre at 510 647–2972.
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