University Offers Inaugural Summer Theatre Program

Whether it’s musical theatre, performance or playwriting, a new summer program at the University has something for students ages eight to 18 interested in the performing arts.

The University of Scranton’s inaugural Summer Theatre Program consists of three separate workshops: the Musical Theatre Intensive for students ages 13 to 18; the Physical Theatre for the Young Actor for students ages eight to 12; and the Playwriting Workshop for the High School Student.

The Musicial Theatre Intensive is a three-week camp taking place Monday, July 2, to Saturday, July 21, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The camp will focus on performance skill instructions culminating in a professionally mounted production of “13” by Jason Robert Brown. Students will audition for roles and work closely with faculty and guest artists with the same intensity given to University students during productions of The University Players and the academic Theatre Program. Sheila Stasack and Esther Zabinski, guest artists to the University’s Theatre Program and The University Players, will serve as director and musical director, respectively. Performances will take place July 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. in the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts.

The Physical Theatre for the Young Actor is also a three-week camp that runs weekdays from Monday, July 9, to Friday, July 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will rehearse all aspects of performance, including physical movement, timing and storytelling. Participants will be cast in an original stage adaptation of “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. The camp will be taught by Chicago-based professional actor and University of Scranton alumnus Jeff Trainor, who will also direct the play. The performance of “The Little Prince” will be held July 27 at 7 p.m. in the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts.

The Playwriting Workshop for the High School Student is a two-week hands-on workshop running weekdays from Monday, July 23, to Friday, Aug. 3, 9 to 11:30 a.m. High school students will engage in the basics of playwriting, including character, story structure, theme and theatricality. The workshop will emphasize the creation of a new work and involve daily writing exercises, analysis of established texts and the creation of short plays. The workshop is taught by Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., assistant professor of theatre at The University of Scranton.

The programs will take place at the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts located on The University of Scranton campus. The cost of attendance ranges from $300 to $450. For all camps, a daily check-in between 8:30 to 8:50 a.m. in the McDade Center lobby is mandatory.

Tickets for the performances are $10 for the general public and $7 for senior citizens and students.

For an application or more information about the Summer Theatre Program at The University of Scranton, visit www.thescrantonplayers.com or contact Rich Larsen, academic theatre program director, at richard.larsen@scranton.edu or 941–6327.