“Antelope Valley Theatre Project”

Hello, 

Antelope Valley residents have opportunities to explore their inner actor – for free! – with Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum Antelope Valley Theatre Project. Free workshops and residencies for adults include Elizabethan Dance, Fencing and Stage Combat; Classical Acting and Writing and Performing (all offered with provided childcare) and a multi-generational residency for families titled Families Act the Classics, during which family groups (each group must include at least one child and one adult) are directed by Theatricum directors in their own performance of an edited version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to be performed on December 14/15 during the Community Theater Festival.

 

Please consider covering and interviewing Antelope Valley families who are participating in Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum’s Antelope Valley Theatre Project and or the free public professional performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream on Friday, December 13 at 7:30 pm and the the final component, a culminating Community Theater Festival at the Antelope Valley College Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 1:00 pm, where class participants will present final demonstrations of their work and the multi-generational Midsummer Night’s Dream will be performed twice for the public.

 

For example, a retired military officer is participating in three of the free classes offered – he now is able to go after his dream to become an actor; or a husband and wife along with their son who are now enjoying quality time as a family while having unique experiences; there’s also a grandmother who is participating along with her daughter and grandchildren; and another resident is taking the adult acting class and is only able to do so because it’s a free class and childcare is provided so she can bring her son with her.

This Theatre Project is providing much needed arts programming and creative experiences for adults, students and children alike who wouldn’t ordinarily have the access. Thank you for your consideration. I’d be happy to coordinate interviews and arrange for you to visit classes (which take place in various locations around the AV and/or the performances which take place at the AV College of Performing Arts Theatre.

Susan

 “Antelope Valley Theatre Project”

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum seeks to inspire, revitalize and increase engagement
with the arts through immersive community theater program

Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum has announced the Antelope Valley Theatre Project, an immersive theater program that will expand the company’s reach to the Lancaster/Palmdale area with support from The James Irvine Foundation Exploring Engagement Fund.

“Theatricum has been working to build a relationship with communities in the Antelope Valley for some years,” explains project director Elizabeth Tobias. “We are always searching for a way to translate the education programming we do with kids in schools into programming for adults that will similarly inspire and engage them with the arts.”

The Antelope Valley Theatre Project is a three-pronged program that includes bringing professional performances to the region; engaging local residents through acting classes and workshops; and presenting a culminating Community Theater Festival.

Theatricum Botanicum’s professional repertory company offers free admission to the public performance of its award-winning production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Antelope Valley College Performing Arts Theatre (Friday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.).

In addition, community members will be offered the opportunity to participate in one of six different workshops culminating this December at no charge, including technique workshops for adults in Elizabethan Dance, Fencing and Stage Combat; Classical Acting residencies for adults; Writing and Performing residencies for adults; and a multi-generational residency for families titled Families Act the Classics, during which family groups (each group must include at least one child and one adult) will be directed by Theatricum directors in their own performance of an edited version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Workshops will take place at various locations throughout the Antelope Valley including Antelope Valley College; Living Stone Cathedral; Jackie Robinson Park; Piute and Lowtree Wellness Homes in Lancaster; and Legacy Commons Senior Center and various community centers in Palmdale.

The third and final component will be a culminating Community Theater Festival at the Antelope Valley College Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday, Dec. 15, where class participants will present final demonstrations of their work and the multi-generational Dream will perform twice for the public.

Working with Theatricum artistic director Ellen Geer, education director Susan Angelo and company member Earnestine Phillips, Tobias has spent over 8 months laying the groundwork for the project by organizing community outreach meetings with local community leaders, public officials and the general public.

“The bulk of our work so far has been forming partnerships,” she says. “We want to make sure the project is carefully integrated into any enrichment programming already taking place in the area so we can reach as many people as possible. We are planting the seeds for what we hope will blossom into a long-lasting, more permanent theater program that develops organically from the amazing support of The James Irvine Foundation, our own expertise and enrichment/development of the community’s existing programs and passion.”

The mission of Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum is to educate and entertain audiences by presenting classics, socially relevant plays and education programs. By passing on a sense of history, great works of art inform the present generation and inspire the future. Theatricum was founded by actor/botanist Will Geer who brought artists, musicians and audiences together to share Shakespeare, poetry and folk music in the natural setting of rustic Topanga Canyon. This tradition continues today with a company of dedicated artists presenting professional plays and concerts in Theatricum’s 299-seat main stage theater and 88-seat S. Mark Taper Pavilion for over 20,000 patrons each season. Over 12,000 K-12 students, and 300 private students of all ages from the greater LA area participate in programs designed to ignite a love of language and inspire learning through performance. For over 35 years, Theatricum has been a valued cultural destination and a provider of meaningful enrichment to Southern California and its families.

Click on the photos of A Midsummer Nights Dream in this email to download high resolution versions, or email lucy@lucypr.com to request jpegs.

###

Advertisement

Summer Theater in the Antelope Valley

You can watch, support and enjoy theater in the Antelope Valley this summer. Here are two ways:

1.

COMING SOON

At It’s Only Tuesday Productions in Lancaster

SINS OF THE MOTHER

July 5-7

Pink Panther Strikes Again

July 12-28

******************

**********

*****

2.From the Antelope Valley Thespians:

Hello, everybody! I’d like to welcome you to the Antelope Valley Thespians Night of Improv. It’s a fundraiser in an attempt to raise funds for our next production. It’ll be performed at the Academy of Style June 29th. At 7:00 pm, feel free to bring your family- it’ll be clean, child appropriate humor, and we encourage children to attend. At 9:00, there will be an adult’s only show, where all rules are out the window.What do you need to participate? Well, your presence is required, for one. Also, any awkward props, iconic movie quotes andEach show is $6.00, or you can buy both for $10.00. You can also become an AVT patron at the show.So, please stop on by, we’d love to see you! 

AVT: Antelope Valley Thespians supporting Antelope Valley Writers

The Antelope Valley Thespians have been putting on performances for a few years now. They are one of a number of outlets for local writers (playwrights, specifically) to get work into the public eye.

Take a look at their website if you have a chance. Here is what they have to say about what they are trying to do with and for local writers:

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR SCRIPT

One of the main goals of AVT is to produce original work by playwrights local to Quartz Hill and the Antelope Valley. Seeing your play undergo the production process gives you a great insight into how your script might be interpreted by a director and actors.

Additionally, concepts that are challenging or impractical from a technical perspective will need to be ironed out in the first production, allowing you the chance to perceive the strengths and drawbacks of your script’s technical feasibility. The feedback you will receive from the cast, crew, and audience will provide invaluable information as you put the final touches on your manuscript before offering it up for publication.

Being accepted for production is also a great way to show a publisher that the theatre community takes your work seriously enough to stake a significant investment of time and money to produce it.

AVT currently offers many different outlets for original work, based on where you are in the playwrighting process. The cultivation of a new, produceable, quality script can be a long and involved process; AVT is there with people, tools, and ideas to help you along the way.

Stay tuned to our blog, Facebook Page, or Twitter feed for updates on details for upcoming writers events.

A Christmas Carol – Now Playing – It’s Only Tuesday Productions

This post is a re-post from the It’s Only Tuesday website.

NOW PLAYING

November 30 – December 23 Friday/Saturday @7:00

Sunday @2:00

Focusing on Dickens’ powerful language, humor and warmth, this charming version of A CHRISTMAS CAROL simply and directly tells the story of the redemption of a human soul. The play follows the ever-powerful story of Scrooge, a lonely miser, who, through the help of spirits and visions from his past, present and future, finds a second chance to become a loving, generous human being. It begins with a child reading the story for the first time. As the scenes are played out behind him, with 5 other actors playing multiple roles. the child becomes totally caught up in the story and is finally invited by the other characters to enter the play as one of them. With traditional carols and English folk tunes creating the proper atmosphere, the world of Scrooge, Fezziwig and Tiny Tim comes alive, igniting the holiday spirit for young and old alike.