School’s out and it’s time for students to take the stage and have some fun.

Students can beat the heat this summer by peeking behind the curtain into the world of theater at West Virginia University’s Summer Acting Academy, a weeklong performance camp, to be held June 23-27 in the Creative Arts Center on the WVU Evansdale Campus.

Whether taking that first step onto the stage or making a return trip, all students are welcome who are looking for a chance to perform, no matter their experience level.

The Summer Acting Academy is for students age 12 to 16 who want to go on an exciting journey into the art of theater performance. In addition to the camp, students will have the opportunity to look behind the scenes of WVU’s professional theater initiative, Mountain State Repertory Theatre, during the production of “The Unlucky Princess,” which takes place at the Creative Arts Center June 20-22 and 27-29.

Offering a wide array of training classes, the Summer Acting Academy will inspire self-confidence, teamwork, and above all, it will provide a truly rewarding experience. The full day of classes, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will include Fundamentals of Acting, Movement, Monologue Workshop, Voice and Speech, Character Masks, Stage Combat, and Rehearsal/Production. The classes will provide material for a showcase performance by the students at the end of the week.

“The focus of the academy is on ensemble-building and good old-fashioned fun,” said director Jessica Bishop, who is associate professor of stage movement in the WVU School of Theatre and Dance. “The program will not only boost the confidence of young performers, but will give them the tools they need to continue with performance training during the school year.”

In addition to Bishop, academy instructors include School of Theatre and Dance professors Jerry McGonigle and Cathy O’Dell, along with students Mya Brown, Nick Ryan and Landon Green, who are candidates for the Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting.

All classes will be held in the School of Theatre and Dance studios and theaters in the Creative Arts Center.

Cost of attendance for the weeklong Summer Acting Academy is $300, which includes a nonrefundable registration fee of $25. A Summer Acting Academy T-shirt is included.

For more information, please visit http://theatre.wvu.edu/summeracting, call 304-293-2020, or email theatre@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

cl/5/22/14

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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