When you think of theater, you likely think of the drama, the comedy, the lights, the excitement.
Education may not immediately spring to mind.
But the benefits of an arts education are many—among them, improved communications skills, critical thinking and problem solving. Fortunately, two local theaters provide ample opportunities for education in the arts for students in the Harrisburg area.
Education on Stage
Since 2002, Gamut Theatre Group has been performing both in-house and touring educational productions for students. Gamut’s current offering is William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”
Each performance includes a post-show discussion, which can be customized depending on the school’s curriculum. Gamut’s director and professional actors pose questions to students and encourage a dialogue about themes of the play, character development and staging choices for the production. Students and teachers also have an opportunity to ask questions they might have.
Melissa Nicholson, Gamut’s executive director, said that students benefit greatly from seeing Shakespeare performed.
“Shakespeare wrote these as plays,” she said. “However, in schools today, it is studied as literature, which can be confusing since the language is 400 years old. The biggest thing we hear when students come to see a show is, ‘Now we understand it.’ It connects them to the story in an entirely new way.”
Nicholson understands this issue well. She currently is president of the Shakespeare Theatre Association, an international association for theaters that primarily produce the works of William Shakespeare.
The educational performances are designed not to run longer than 90 minutes and combine Shakespeare’s original text with modern “narrations” to increase student understanding.
A few blocks away at Open Stage of Harrisburg, the educational production, “The Diary of Anne Frank,” has been performed for 18 years. This play, which is staged each March, is available as a morning performance for school groups and one public performance. The performances for school groups include a special presentation by Holocaust survivor Hilda Mantelmacher.
“Being able to include a presentation from an actual Holocaust survivor with these performances has such an impact on the audiences,” said Open Stage Associate Artistic Director Stuart Landon. “It brings to light that this is so much more than just a play. It’s a recounting of history, a true story of suffering and survival.”
For the second year in a row, local actor Erin Shellenberger will portray Anne.
“I think that presenting this story through live theater is key,” she said. “Many of our youth are very visual learners, and, by presenting the story to them in real time, it humanizes an event that can sometimes feel distant.”
Education at Camp
In June, school may end, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. Both Gamut and Open Stage host summer camps so kids interested in the performing arts can pursue their emerging passion.
Open Stage of Harrisburg’s Studio School offers summer classes for kids ages 8 to 18. The OSHKids “Summer Camp: Disney’s Aladdin,” for kids ages 8 to 11, runs June 12 to 30. The classes focus on developing characters, learning how to build sets and costumes and preparing for a student showcase.
For kids ages 12 to 18, the Music Theatre Workshop (MTW) runs July 10 to 28. MTW is an intensive, three-week program in acting, singing and movement focusing on the repertoire of classic and contemporary music theater. Auditions are required to participate in both programs. OSHKids auditions will be held in May and MTW auditions will be held in June.
Over at Gamut Theatre Group, summer programs are offered for kids ages 6 to 16. The Gamut Summer Theatre Academy is for ages 8 to 16 and is an all-day, intensive four-week program in the study of theater, dance, voice, improvisation, stage combat and writing. The academy is offered in one-week sessions, with each week including a Friday night production. The program begins July 10 and ends Aug. 4. The Popcorn Hat Players Theatre Camp is for kids ages 6 to 12 and is a half-day program that runs Aug. 8 to 18. The goal of the camp is to enhance communication skills and develop self-confidence, imagination and creativity.
Education Essentials
At Gamut Theatre: In March, Gamut offers two weeks of educational shows to the public. The public performances of “Romeo and Juliet” are March 17 to 26, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 p.m. For tickets, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/tickets. Student matinees run from October through July. Schools interested in more information on the educational outreach performances should call the theater at 717-238-4111. Additional information is available at www.gamuttheatre.org/student-matinees.
Registration for both the Gamut Summer Theatre Academy and the Popcorn Hat Players Theatre Camp can be done online. For more information and to register for classes at Gamut, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/summercamps.
At Open Stage: “The Diary of Anne Frank” will be performed on March 12, for which a limited number of tickets are available. Tickets for the public performance are available at www.openstagehbg.com. Educators interested in bringing classes to see “The Diary of Anne Frank” should contact thediary@openstagehbg.com for reservations for performances in 2018.
If your child is interested in either OSHKids Summer Camp or Music Theatre Workshop, call 717-214-3248 to schedule an audition appointment. For more information on classes at Open Stage of Harrisburg, visit www.openstagestudioschool.com.
Upcoming Theater Events At Harrisburg’s Professional Downtown Theaters
At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
The Popcorn Hat Players Present “The Snow Queen”
March 8 to 25
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. available by request for groups of 20 or more.
“Romeo and Juliet”
March 17 to 26
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Doors and bar open one hour prior to the performance.
Tickets are $30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
“Bring Your Own Price” on Sundays, where any size donation buys your admission.
“Improvapalooza 2017”
March 31
Doors and bar open at 6:30 p.m. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15
At Open Stage of Harrisburg
www.openstagehbg.com
Studio Workshop at Open Stage
Free evenings of 1-act plays
March 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m.
No reservations required
“Sundae Best Variety Show”
At Open Stage
March 11 & 12 at 7:30 p.m.
“The Diary of Anne Frank”
Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m.
Open Stage’s 18th annual production
At Whitaker Center
“Uncanny Valley”
A new play about artificial intelligence by Thomas Gibbons
April 7 to May 7
Author: Laura Dugan
