Romantic Comedies at the Heart of Dramatic Academy Summer 2015
80s anthems and Much Ado give young people much to do
Bangor, ME – Registration is now open for Penobscot Theatre Company’s Dramatic Academy Summer 2015, with opportunities for young performers, developing technicians, and those simply exploring the craft. “It’s going to be the summer of love at the Bangor Opera House,” said Director of Education Amy Roeder, “because seriously what’s funnier or more dramatic than people falling hopelessly, ridiculously, inescapably in and out of love? Hairstyles from the 1980s, that’s what. But we’ve got that, too! In choosing the centerpieces of our two summer sessions, we went straight to the masters of romantic comedy: William Shakespeare and Adam Sandler.”
Session 1
The Wedding Singer (musical)
For ages: 4-20
Session dates: June 22 – July 20
Performance dates: July 18, 19, and 20
Pop your collars, peg your jeans, curl your bangs, and go back to 1985 with rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart, New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer! He’s the life of the party, until his fiancée leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Enter Julia, a winsome waitress engaged to a Wall Street shark. Unless Robbie can pull off the performance of a decade, the girl of his dreams will be gone forever. Will it be a nice day for a white wedding? Join the cast or crew of The Wedding Singer, a multi-age musical, and find out!
Session 2
Much Ado About Nothing
For ages 13 and up
Session dates: July 27 – August 16
Performance dates: August 14, 15, and 16
Shakespeare had a wicked sense of humor as evidenced by this timeless tale of love, mistaken identity and deception. Beatrice hates Benedict and Benedict doesn’t care much for Beatrice either, so when Don Pedro and the rest of the folks at Messina decide to play matchmaker, hilarity ensues! Meanwhile, evil Don John plots to thwart the marriage of brave Claudio and virtuous Hero, weaving an intricate lie with potentially fatal consequences. Who’s who? Will truth and love prevail? Who names their daughter “Hero?” Put a little Shake in your summer, and find out!
A Great Big Deal Over Nothing
For ages 4-12
In this modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Much Ado, set at Camp Messina, mistaken identities and young love run rampant as campers play, pine, and prepare for the big dance. Clark likes Holly, but he’s too shy to admit it, while Ben and Bea vow mutual hatred despite their friends’ insistence that they’re meant to be together. With a meddling duo determined to cause trouble and an inept security guard haplessly making matters worse, Camp Messina is far from a happy hideaway. Join the cast and enjoy great big fun!
In addition to rehearsing, students will attend classes on improvisation, theatre history, movement, and more, led by seasoned teaching artists and industry professionals. No audition is required, just eagerness to learn and a love of the dramatic arts!
Session 1 offers a special course of study for young people aged 14 and up interested in work behind the scenes, including set design and construction, stage management, prop design and construction, costuming, lighting, and sound. Because production and performance go hand-in-hand, Tech Track participants will learn alongside their performing peers. Through Tech Track, students will get valuable hands-on training and play an integral role in producing The Wedding Singer.
Faculty for Dramatic Academy Summer 2015 will include teaching artists Ben Layman, Amy Roeder, AJ Mooney, Ben McNaboe, and more.
Classes will run Monday through Friday from 9:00 am-12:00 pm (lunch noon-1:00 pm optional) for students aged 4-6; and 9:00 am-4:00 pm for students aged 7-20. During Session 1, Tech Track will run daily Monday through Friday from 9:00 am-4:00 pm. One-hour extensions for early drop-off and late pick-up will be available for an additional fee.
For more information, visit www.penobscottheatre.org and click on the Education tab.
The 2014 Summer Camp cast of “Hairspray”
