Bucks County Playhouse Announces Fall Youth Theater School
Bucks County Playhouse Announces Fall Youth Theater School
New Hope, PA (08/11/2010)
The Bucks County Playhouse is proud to announce the creation of a Fall Youth Theater School for children in grades 3 through 12. The curriculum being offered is a comprehensive schedule of classes for the young actor desiring training in acting, vocal production, dance and movement. The classes are an extension of the very popular summer Children’s Musical Theater at the Bucks County Playhouse managed under the leadership of Lunda Cornelius.
Youth Theater classes will be held each Saturday beginning on September 11, 2010 and running for 10 weeks. Children in grades 3 through 5 will meet from 9am to 10am. Classes for grades 6 through 8 are 10am to Noon and grades 9 through 12 will meet from Noon to 2pm. Classes will include intensive dancing, acting and vocal production. A recital, which will be a full musical production, will be held at the completion of the curriculum.
The mission of the Youth Theater is to prepare young actors to perform in Children’s Musical Theater productions, as well as Mainstage productions like the current Playhouse production of The King and I. Casting for the upcoming Holiday shows for the Playhouse will be drawn from actors completing the Youth Theater curriculum. General auditions will not be held.
Instructors for The Bucks County Playhouse Youth Theater (BCPYT) include Stephen Casey, Lunda Cornelius, Kristin Smith and Wendy Force McBride. Stephen Casey, a renowned choreographer, is the Artistic Director for the Playhouse, as well as the casting director for all Mainstage and Children’s Theatre productions. He has directed and choreographed over 70 Mainstage productions at the Playhouse. His professional credits include Broadway National, European, and bus and truck touring companies, as well as several cruise ships, and performing in many of the top regional theatres in the country. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from DeSales University.
Lunda Cornelius has appeared as the lead in more than 50 productions including musical theater, operetta and grand opera. She has also taught Children’s Theater for over 12 years and directed the new and very popular Children’s Musical Theater at the Playhouse this summer. Ms. Cornelius has her Masters Degree in Vocal Performance with a Masters Minor in Theater.
Kristin Smith is a recent graduate of the University of the Arts and teaches dance at the Pennsylvania Classical Ballet. She has also taught at United Dance Productions in Bermuda and the Linn McDonald School of Dance. This summer Ms. Smith choreographed the Children’s Musical for Parkland High School.
Wendy Force McBride is the director of Acting Naturally, a non-profit organization created specifically to teach the technique of acting. Wendy’s experience includes 20 years of acting and improvisation. She’s directed local theatre, school plays, Church productions and Talent Shows for more than 12 years. She was instrumental in many of the Children’s Musical Theater productions this summer.
According to Ms. Cornelius, “Every participant will be receiving advanced dance, movement, acting and vocal production training. Today’s young actors are required to bring more to the table. Youth Theater provides the training that is the foundation for building today’s well-rounded young actor.”
For enrollment, please call Lunda Cornelius at 267-566-3983 or email, LundaCornelius@gmail.com. Ms. Cornelius will also be available for on-site enrollment at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA) on Friday, August 20th from 2:30pm to 5:30pm, Sunday, August 22nd from 10:00am until 1:00pm and Saturday, September 4th from 10:00am until 2:00pm. Information is also available on the web at www.bcpyt.wordpress.com.
