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Flat Rock Playhouse’s Studio 52 is excited to offer virtual classes this fall for students near and far. There are classes open to students in Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade with options for acting and musical theatre. Classes will be taught by theatre professionals and Vagabonds including Studio 52 Director of Education Anna Kimmell, Flat Rock Playhouse Artistic Director and Artistic Associate Lisa K. Bryant and Matthew Glover, Betsy Bisson, Tania Battista, and Flat Rock Playhouse newcomer TJ Medel! The semester begins the week of September 21st and runs for nine weeks.
For younger artists, there are classes available for K-2nd grades and 3rd-5th grades where students learn the basics and fun-damentals of theatre including improvisation, acting through movement, and creative play. For older artists, there are classes for 6th-8th grades and 9th-12th grades that dive further into theatre and music theatre with self-scripting, scene work, and even audition prep. Full and partial scholarships are available through the Dave Hart Scholarship Fund. Scholarship applications are on the Studio 52 website and the deadline is September 4. For those inspired to donate, contributions to the Dave Hart Scholarship Fund are accepted on a rolling basis through the Flat Rock Playhouse website.
“Theatre has never been more important than it is right now,” says Studio 52 Director of Education Anna Kimmell. “Not only do these classes give students a chance to connect through a shared passion and develop their talents in theatre arts, but they’re also learning valuable life skills like communication, problem solving, and creativity. All of these have proven instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The announcement of Kimmell joining as Director of Education was shared on August 21. She comes to the Playhouse from Arkansas Repertory Theatre where she also worked as Director of Education.
The full list of classes including dates, times, and instructors can be found below or online at frpstudio52.org. You can register online or by calling the Box Office at (828) 693-0731. Payment plans are available through the Box Office. Registration closes on Thursday, September 17.
Studio 52 Virtual Classes – Fall 2020
Acting and Creative Movement | K-2nd Grades
Does your little kid have a big imagination and lots of energy? Then join Studio 52 for a fun and physical virtual theatre class that combines reading, creative movement, acting, music, and art! In lively Zoom classes rooted in creative play and inspired by literature, students will explore improvisation, acting through movement, character development, and more.
Dates: Sep. 21 – Nov. 16
Days/Times: Mondays from 4 – 4:45 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly 45-minute Zoom class
Instructor: Tania Battista
Tuition: $150
Acting | 3rd-5th Grades
Explore improvisation, characterization, voice and speech, costume design, and more as you create an original virtual play! With a combination of weekly in-person classes and one private 20-minute session with your instructor, students will develop, memorize, film, and share a video of their role in the play. At the end of the semester, each actor’s part will be edited together to create a virtual performance!
Dates: Sep. 21 – Nov. 16
Days/Times: Mondays from 5 – 5:45 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly 45-minute Zoom class, one 20-minute private lesson
Instructors: Anna Kimmell and Tania Battista
Tuition: $175
Musical Theatre | 3rd – 5th Grades
Make ‘em laugh in a musical comedy class combining silliness and song! This virtual class integrates acting, singing, improv, and movement as actors use their voices, bodies, and imaginations to develop hilarious Broadway repertoire. At the end of the semester, students will share their uproarious musical revue in a one-of-a-kind virtual showcase.
Dates: Sep. 24 – Nov. 19
Days/Times: Thursdays from 4:30 – 5:15 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly 45-minute Zoom class, one 20-minute private lesson
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
Tuition: $175
Acting | 6th-8th Grades
Dive into the development of full and fun characters in this imaginative acting class where students learn about character creation and analysis. With an emphasis on improvisation, collaboration, and self-scripting, actors will leave feeling more confident making bold and specific choices on screen, on stage, and in life. At the end of the semester, actors will share their original characters in a one-of-a-kind virtual showcase.
Dates: Sep. 21 – Nov. 16
Days/Times: Mondays from 6 – 7 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly hour-long Zoom class
Instructor: TJ Medel
Tuition: $200
Musical Theatre | 6th-8th Grades
Lights, camera, action! “Let’s go to the movies” in this fun class celebrating songs of the silver screen! In a combination of weekly Zoom sessions and one private coaching, young actors will work with Studio 52 faculty to develop their skills in vocal technique, acting through song, and movement. The semester culminates in a one-of-a-kind movie musical revue, presented in a final virtual screening!
Dates: Sep. 22 – Nov. 17
Days/Times: Tuesdays from 5 – 6 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly hour-long Zoom class, one 20-minute private coaching
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
Tuition: $200
Acting | 9th-12th Grades
Hone your ability to create honest characters, feel confident connecting and collaborating with others, and discover freedom and playfulness. In this class for high school actors (both beginners and experienced performers), students will explore performance technique in the development of monologues (which can be used for future auditions), as well as digging deep into character objectives and tactics. At the end of the semester, share your newfound skills in a final showcase for friends and family.
Dates: Sep. 22 – Nov. 17
Days/Times: Tuesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly hour-long zoom class
Instructors: Betsy Bisson, Lisa K. Bryant
Tuition: $200
Musical Theatre | 9th-12th Grades
Become a star of the silver screen in this movie-musical inspired class celebrating Hollywood hits. With a combination of weekly Zoom classes and one private coaching, actors will take their singing, acting, and movement skills to the next level. Refine your on-camera performance technique and step into the spotlight with a combination of solos, small groups, and ensemble singing. Connect and collaborate with like-minded peers, learn about cinema history, and develop a one-of-a-kind movie musical revue, presented in a final virtual screening!
Dates: Sep. 24 – Nov. 19
Days/Times: Thursdays from 6 – 7 PM
Virtual Format: Weekly hour-long Zoom class, one 20-minute private coaching
Instructors: Anna Kimmell, Matthew Glover
Tuition: $200
Special thanks to Walnut Cove Members Association for their support of Studio 52. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org.
FLAT ROCK PLAYHOUSE
In 1937, a group of struggling performers, led by Robroy Farquhar, organized themselves as the Vagabond Players. The Vagabonds worked in a variety of places over the course of three years, and in 1940 found themselves in the Blue Ridge region of Western North Carolina. The local and tourist community welcomed them with open arms when they presented their first summer season of plays in a 150-year-old grist mill they converted into The Old Mill Playhouse at Highland Lake. So successful was that summer, they returned in 1941. After WWII, the Vagabond Players reorganized, came back to the region and opened a playhouse in nearby Lake Summit. The Lake Summit Playhouse thrived during the post war years and soon the Vagabond Players were looking for a larger and permanent home. In 1952, the troupe of performers, and a newly formed board of directors, made an offer to buy an 8-acre lot in the Village of Flat Rock. This new home made the Vagabonds “locals” and a rented big top gave birth to Flat Rock Playhouse. As the beautiful Western Carolina region continued to grow, so did the Playhouse and in 1961, by Act of the North Carolina General Assembly, Flat Rock Playhouse was officially designated The State Theatre of North Carolina. What began as a few weeks of summer performances in 1940 is now a nine-month season of plays including Broadway musicals, comedy, drama, and theatre for young audiences. The Playhouse’s dual mission of producing the performing arts and providing education in the performing arts includes a professional series; a summer and fall college apprentice and intern program; and Studio 52, year-round classes and workshops in theatre and film for students from kindergarten through adults. Flat Rock Playhouse now hosts over 100,000 patrons annually and is a significant contributor to the local economy and the Arts in North Carolina.
