Summer Theatre

Teaching Summer Theatre Institute is a joy for me and a wonderful chance to work with children and teens. I view teaching theatre skills as a way to create protective factors for adolescents facing life's problems. Theatre offers a chance to practice social skills and develop possible solutions in handling challenges, plus hone a variety of talents. Challenges can include dealing with peer pressure, learning how to overcome stage fright or fear of public speaking, worry about ability to memorize lines, not getting the part you wanted or not getting cast at all, rolling with the punches of lost props, torn costumes, fellow actors forgetting their lines, lights going out on stage in the middle of a production, and missed sound cues. However, I have seen actors gain confidence as they learn how to solve these problems. That confidence carries over into school, work, and social situations. Besides, theatre is fun, exciting, and rewarding. That's why they call what we do "a play."