Does your child love to perform? Are you looking for an active after school activity in a fun setting for your kids, or perhaps a new weekly series for your little one?
Adventure Theatre MTC Academy is getting ready to begin its fall semester, offering performing arts classes for children ages 3-18 that are fun and enriching, and benefit kids on stage and off. Watch below for an informative introduction to ATMTC programs:
Chances are you’ve seen a show or two (or ten) at the Glen Echo venue that is hugely popular among DC area families. Their plays and musicals, often interpretations of classic children’s stories, are always top-notch, featuring amazing talent, delightful sets, and some of the best theater experiences for young audiences around.
Those high standards are maintained in their class and camp offerings for children — and I know this first hand: Both of my kids have participated in Adventure Theatre MTC summer camps, Owen took part for three years, and Sasha made her stage debut this past July. Not only did they have an absolute blast, I loved seeing just how much they got out of the program. Over a two-week session the kids learn an incredible amount about acting and the inner workings of the theatre, which they showcase in a real production that parents and friends are invited to watch. It was obvious they received quality instruction in a fun, encouraging environment.
A brilliant performance by Adventure Theatre summer campers
The Academy provides young people with creative drama and musical theater training, including classes, student productions, ensembles, camps, and workshops based on National & State Fine Arts Standards of Learning. Some of the fun and popular classes on the schedule this fall include:
Lightsaber Adventures – Focusing on stage combat instruction, young Padawans will learn the ways of the force through both simple tasks and challenging missions. This class will teach lessons in safety, focus, spatial awareness, teamwork and self-discipline all within a safe framework of basic stage combat movement.
Acting Up! – One of the most important classes a young performer can take! Students will journey with ATMTC through the process of acting as a professional teaching artist guides them using creative drama techniques through the basics of acting, improvisation, and character development, culminating in an informal presentation of the characters and stories the class created during the semester.
Broadway Baby – This magical introduction to the world of song, dance, and make-believe for little ones will explore music and movement through guided activities in a playful and structured environment designed for the imagination and rooted in musical theater. Props, costume accessories, and themes enhance exploration and movement. Students will work on classroom skills such as following directions, listening, and working with others.
Mini-Play: Mary Poppins – One part exploratory drama, one part improv, all around fun! This class culminates in an informal showcase of work. Participants will explore the classic story of Mary Poppins, its characters, plotline, and sequence, and work together each week to create their own improvised version of the play.
Singing for the Stage – Courses help students establish the basic techniques of vocal production, pitch controls, tone production, and breathing through various exercises and demonstrations in a choral/group setting.
The above are just a sample of the many, many classes being offered, so be sure to check out the full selection. And they take place at two locations: Glen Echo Park and Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville. Days, times, and rates vary by class — details are available on the Adventure Theatre website.
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~Dev