• Acting
  • Reader's Theatre
  • Acting Classes
• YAG Players with Director Nancy Mathis
• Payment Information for Acting Classes and YAG Players
• Major Productions

Come Join The Magic Of Theatre ~ You Can Be A Star!

The Academy is excited to continue our partnership with the Young Actors Guild. Our theatre curriculum provides classes and special events which allow children many opportunities to be instructed in the art of acting as well as production. This season we will offer outstanding directors who have toured nationally and internationally in theatre and opera.

Below is a listing of what we offer in theatre. We encourage students to become involved in more than one of these activities. Acting classes and the YAG Players do not require an audition. These activities require a registration and are based on first-come, first-serve as class sizes are limited. The major theatre productions are by audition only.

Acting

Reader's Theatre

New for the Fall 2009 semester is Reader's Theatre for ages 5-7 with Dr. Janie Weber. Reader's Theatre is a dramatic presentation of a written work in a script form. Actors use vocal expression to help the audience understand the story rather than conventional theatre techniques such as sets, costumes, or intricate blocking. The focus is on reading the text with expressive voices and gestures. Students work cooperatively to project and interpret meaning into the script reading experience while enhancing their confidence, developing comprehension, expression, fluency, and joy in cooperative interaction with peers.

Acting Classes

Students in 3rd grade and above have the opportunity to work with Director Catie Curtis in our acting classes. Students in these classes will study scenes from a variety of shows and productions. Students will develop on-stage skills including choreography and movement, character study and analysis, voice training, and general stage presence. These classes are designed for children of all ages and acting levels. Class sizes are limited so don't delay enrolling!

Reader's Theatre Ages 5-7	Tuesday or Thursday 4:00-5:00	$150
Acting Academy Junior Level Grades 3-6	Monday 4:00-5:00	$150
Acting Academy Senior Level Grades 7-9	Monday 5:00-6:00	$150
Acting for High School Students Grades 10-12	Monday 6:00-7:00	$150

Reader's Theatre classes take place in the Echols Building room 115 and are for 10 weeks, September 10 - November 12. Acting Classes take place in Gardner Lecture Hall and are for 10 weeks, September 14 - November 16. Please note that these ages are suggested ages only.

Register now for Reader's Theatre and Acting Classes!

YAG Players with Director Nancy Mathis

The YAG Players, a theatre company for grades 3 - 6, present actual small-scale theatre productions. Participants will perform in a variety of venues, including public schools, and performances featured in the ShowTime Series at UA Fort Smith. This fall, the YAG Players are presenting Disney's Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In the Spring, the YAG Players will be presenting Disney's Aristocats. YAG Players is limited to 25 students, so enroll now! No audition is necessary.

Willie Wonka Rehearsals	Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-5:30	$225
Willie Wonka Performances	November 21 at 7:00 November 22 at 2:00
Aristocats Rehearals	Tuesday and Thursday 4:00-5:30	$225
Aristocats Performances	May 15 at 7:00 May 16 at 2:00

All rehearsals take place in the Echols Conference Center and performances are held in the Breedlove Auditorium.

Register now for YAG Players

Payment Information for Acting Classes and YAG Players

Enrollment in acting classes and YAG Players is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Payment is due before the first day of class. Payment arrangements may be made if needed. You may pay in 2 equal payments, with the first payment due on or before the first day of class and the second payment due on or before October 8, 2009. Multi-student families will receive a $10 discount for the second and each additional student within the family. Employees of the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith will receive a $25 discount per child.

Major Productions

This season the Academy is presenting two major productions. These shows are open to students of all ages including adults and for those who are serious about on-stage acting. The shows, which will be featured in our Showtime Series, include Best Christmas Pageant Ever and School House Rock Live! In addition to rehearsals, which begin April 12, students who are cast in School House Rock Live! will be enrolled in a production class, which runs from March 1 - April 11, to prepare for the show. Please note that Best Christmas Pageant Ever and School House Rock Live! are by audition only.

Our Spring Break Theatre Camp is open to students of all ages and levels. Registration for this camp is on a first-come, first-serve basis and requires no audition. At the end of camp week, the students will present a showcase of performances.

Production of Best Christmas Pageant Ever Breedlove Auditorium	December 18-20 Audition dates: October 17 & 18
Spring Break Theatre Camp Breedlove Auditorium	March 22-26
School House Rock Live! Breedlove Auditorium	May 26 at 10:00 am, May 26, 27, & 28 at 7:00 pm and May 29 at 2:00 pm, Audition dates: February 20 & 21

Students must audition for our major productions. Tuition to participate in Best Christmas Pageant Ever is $50, which is due at the audition. Tuition to participate in School House Rock Live! is $175. A $50 registration fee is due at the audition. Those cast in the production must pay the remainder of the tuition, $125, promptly. Please contact the Academy at rwalker@uafortsmith.edu for more information.