Shawnee Theatrical Arts Resource School

The Shawnee Theatrical Arts Resource School (S.T.A.R.S.) offers a channel for a child’s natural gifts of imagination and role-playing. Through theatre arts children sharpen their creativity, improve their communication skills, gain self-confidence and learn the importance of teamwork. Above all, children enjoy becoming a part of the magic that they create on the stage.

Our program offers children an introduction to many aspects of theatre through stage movement, dance, music, art, creative games, role-play and scene study.

Class size is limited, please register as soon as possible
Click Here For Fall Classes Registration Form

Click Here to See a video of our end of session performance

Advanced Creative Dramatics is designed for students with some stage experience.  The course teaches techniques for more challenging aspects of theatre, including beat analysis, portraying negative emotions, physical acting, creating a consistent character, realistic dialog, and saving a scene.  Students will use scene study and improvisation techniques. Taught by Patrick Bresnyan, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and has performed with Chicago  Shakespeare and the Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Theater. He holds a BFA in Acting from the  University of Florida, and has also acted, directed, and taught in Monroe and Pike Counties.   Classes may be taken on an ongoing basis.  Class dates and prices will be provided soon

Scholarships for High School Students are available. Write an email and send it to request@theshawneeplayhouse.com telling us why you need a scholarship and why you would like to take the acting class.

Advanced Dramatics Registration Form

Class Descriptions

Introduction to Creative Dramatics For grades K-4.
Instructor:  Midge McClosky 
 Does your child pretend to be a super hero, an animal or their favorite character? Theatre arts are a natural extension of the child’s gift of imagination and role-playing. Creative Dramatics 1 offers children an introduction to many aspects of theatre arts through creative games, story dramatization and improvisation. Children sharpen their creativity, learn the importance of teamwork, and improve their self-confidence. Above all, children enjoy becoming a part of the magic that they create on stage.  45 minute class.  Mondays (4:30-5:15 pm) from October 18th – November 22nd.  Cost is $75 for the six-week session. 
  
Introduction to Musical Theatre For grades K-4.
Instructor:  Midge McClosky 
Does your child sing and dance around the house? This class introduces children to the unique aspects of Musical Theatre performance.  Students will learn the basics of basic staging, choreography, diction, projection, and performing in group numbers.  Students will work on stage, with a Grand Finale performance for family and friends, giving the students the opportunity to perform before a live audience.  45 minute class, Mondays (5:30-6:15 pm) from October 18th – November 22nd.  Cost is $75 for the six-week session. 
 
Intermediate Creative Dramatics  For grades 5-9. 
Instructor:  Midge McClosky 
For the child who loves acting and drama, but may not be interested in musical theater, Creative Dramatics 2 explores more advanced  aspects of theatre arts and teaches concrete performance skills, including diction, projection, dialog, cues, and blocking.  Students work on character development with a variety of short scripts.  The course concludes with a Grand Finale performance for family and friends, giving the students the opportunity to perform before a live audience. 
1 hour class, Mondays (6:30-7:30 pm) from October 18th – November 22nd.    Cost is $100 for the six-week session. 
 
Intermediate Musical Theatre For grades 5-9.
Instructor:  Midge McClosky 
Intermediate Musical Theatre is an exciting course that focuses on specific performance skills needed for musical theatre.  Staging, singing, choreography, character development, duet performance, transitions, and large group numbers.  Students will work on stage, with a Grand Finale performance for family and friends, giving the students the opportunity to perform before a live audience. 
1 hour class, Mondays (7:45 - 8:45 pm) from October 18th – November 22nd. Cost is $100 for the six-week session. 

To sign up for any of these classes please fill out a registration form