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It's not too late for local youth to sign up for the fourth Annual National Youth Theatre Festival coming June 25-27 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem.
Kids ages 12 to 18 can register for the event as late as on the day it begins, said Shawn Mortensen, production and programs manager for SCERA, who is in charge of the festival.
Tuition is $100 and includes workshops with professionals plus activities, food, snacks, and a T-shirt. To register, or for more information, call the SCERA at 225-ARTS or visit www.scera.org.
The three-day event will kick off on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with dinner, games, introductions, and a festival preview before participants attend the Jordin Sparks concert at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre. Sparks was the season six winner of television's "American Idol" competition.
"You get to come to the Jordin Sparks concert, for crying out loud," said Mortensen. "That's a hot ticket." The concert is included in the registration cost.
Cindera Che, a famed choreographer and performance coach, and a teacher at The Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, will be among the professionals featured in the festival workshops.
Sheila Krein will direct a workshop on make-up artistry. Former Miss Utah Stacy Johnson-Bills will teach dance and movement. Comedian Jason Hewlett will share his talents as an entertainer and impersonator.
Utah Valley University acting professor Chris Clark will conduct an improv workshop, and director Steve Anderson will teach acting for film technique and film basics.
"It will be a great opportunity to sit at the feet of these great actors and performers, and to learn from them," said Mortensen. One of his main goals with the festival is having participants come away as better performers in all aspects of theater.
Now in its fourth year, SCERA's Youth Theatre Festival has drawn participants from California and Nevada, Mortensen said, and he has sent out invitations to youth groups in locales such as Denver, Boise, and Idaho Falls.
"We have hopes," the program director said, "that someday we'll have talent from New York come and teach workshops. Then people can have that experience here, and at not so much cost."
Mortensen said Che will also be teaching a master class on methods to help directors and parents. People of all ages are invited to the presentation Friday, June 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The $75 cost includes a light dinner.
Not everyone is aware of the many programs offered by SCERA, he said.
"Movies are just a small part of what we do every day here at SCERA," said Mortensen. "We have choir, we have ballroom dance, and we will have photography later. You could drop a child off and have them involved all day long ... There are great things happening at SCERA, and it's a great time to be on the team here." |
