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DES MOINES — Each summer, Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) offers young people throughout the Midwest the opportunity to explore their interest in the performing arts—and this year is no exception.
As a positive response to COVID-19 and with the health and safety of camp students and their families a top priority, DMPA recently announced in-person Summer Camps for 2020 have been replaced with an exciting virtual experience. Eight virtual classes and camp models will be offered this summer including: “Tiny Tales,” “Theater in a Box,” Musical Theater Dance with Broadway’s Sara Brians, Musical Theater Camp ... Online!, Virtual Broadway Academy, Improv Online!, Virtual Broadway Intensive, and Adam Kantor’s Broadway Studio. This brand-new learning experience will serve preschoolers all the way up to college-age students.
Details about each opportunity can be found below. Classes and camps are organized by age group starting with our youngest group (preschoolers and kindergarteners) and ending with advance classes for college-age students. Registration is available now at www.DMPA.org/classes-camps. Questions should be directed to Education@DMPA.org.
TINY TALES
For preschoolers and kindergarteners (ages 3-5) (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
This class is intended for pre-school age children and their grown-up to participate in together. Grown-ups can be a parent, caretaker or sibling age 12 or older.
SECTIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
Tuesday Section:
Tuesdays: June 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 11-11:30 a.m.
Thursday Section:
Thursdays: June 11, 18, 25, July 2 from 11-11:30 a.m.
A story is more than just a story. Each week, we will meet online in a small group with friends, along with a parent or older sibling, to experience a new story together; we will then take it off the page and into our living rooms using drama and other active fun! Be a monster, a tree, or a hero saving the town depending on the day. We will also reserve time each week to act out a story together told by you! A special letter will be delivered to your house before class with a few easy story add-ons you can do together.
THEATER IN A BOX
For students entering grades 1-4 (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
We ask that a parent or other adult help children log on each day and be readily available should they need additional assistance with technology.
SECTIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
Grades 1-2
Section A: June 15-19; 9 a.m. daily (Approximately 35-40 minutes in length)
Section B: June 22-26; 9 a.m. daily (Approximately 35-40 minutes in length)
Grades 3-4
Section A: June 22-26; 10 a.m. daily (Approximately 40-50 minutes in length)
Section B: June 29-July 3; 10 a.m. daily (Approximately 40-50 minutes in length)
In this virtual camp for elementary school students, kids can do it all - write, create, direct, and perform a story on the small stage using our theater in a box!
We will start by talking about the important parts of a story, like conflict, plot, and setting, and get into how plays work by using dialogue and stage directions to provide a map to the work of the play. Next, we will make scripts and develop and create puppet characters using materials from the theater box mailed to your house. Participants will stage their play and record it on a phone or iPad to be debuted through an end-of-camp sharing.
Students will also be asked to complete daily engagement activities that may require an additional 20-30 minutes to outside of group camp time, such as designing their theater sets and puppets, writing a script and staging their play!
MUSICAL THEATER DANCE with Broadway’s Sara Brians
For students entering grades 3-12 (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
At least some previous dance experience recommended.
SECTIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
Grades 3-6:
Tuesdays: June 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 4-5 p.m.
Grades 7-12:
Thursdays: June 11, 18, 25, July 2 from 4-5:15 p.m.
Explore the world of musical theater dance in an online, 4-week class with Broadway’s Sara Brians!
Sara’s musical theater dance class centers on storytelling, character, musicality and performance. Class begins with a concise jazz-based warm-up to fire up your technique, strengthen and stretch your body, and prepare your mind for learning choreography. The focus of class is the combination, which will always be driven by character and story, and inspired by the music. You will be challenged to grow in a supportive online environment and your uniqueness will be joyfully celebrated in this class!
Sara Brians is an award-winning director, choreographer and educator based in NYC. Sara's Broadway credits include MATILDA, BILLY ELLIOT, 42nd STREET, WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE TERMS OF MY SURRENDER and AFTER THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC. Sara's choreography credits include CABARET, SPRING AWAKENING, GODSPELL, FOLLIES (NYIT Award), ROCK OF AGES,MAN OF LA MANCHA,THE FULL MONTY,BIG FISH,CHICAGO, RING OF FIRE, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG,ANYONE CAN WHISTLE,PIPPIN, THE TROUBLE WITH DOUG, NEWTON'S CRADLE and many more.
MUSICAL THEATER CAMP...ONLINE!
For students entering grades 3-8 (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
No previous acting or theater experience is required to participate. We ask that a parent or other adult help children log on each day and be readily available should they need additional assistance with technology.
SECTIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
Week 1, Cast A: June 15-19 with 9 a.m. daily start for group activities Week 1, Cast B: June 15-19 with 1 p.m. daily start for group activities Week 2, Cast A: June 22-26 with 9 a.m. daily start for group activities Week 2, Cast B: June 22-26 with 1 p.m. daily start for group activities Week 3, Cast A: June 29-July 3 with 9 a.m. daily start for group activities Week 3, Cast B: June 29-July 3 with 1 p.m. daily start for group activities
Just because we can’t put on a typical musical right now doesn’t mean we throw in the towel. No! Join us as we prepare in one week this first-of-its kind musical entitled, THE SHOW MUST GO…ONLINE!
Each student will receive a one-minute scene/song to rehearse, video record, and upload. When each actor’s segment is edited together in order, these video performances tell the story of a group of dedicated theater students who are determined to keep their yearly musical going…online!
The cast will meet daily for an hour to connect and participate in group drama and other activities. Performers will also be assigned to 25-minute small-group coaching sessions to prepare each student to record their individual performance.
VIRTUAL BROADWAY ACADEMY
For students entering grades 6-8 (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
The week is designed for young performers with a strong interest in musical theater. No audition is necessary, although previous experience in music, dance or acting is recommended; a willingness to jump in and try in all areas required.
SESSION DATES AND TIMES:
The Virtual Broadway Academy will be held Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 24 between 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. daily. The week-end online sharing for family and friends will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24.
Dreaming of being in a show or already performing in musicals? The Virtual Broadway Academy is designed for middle school students in grades 6-8 who thrill at the thought of performing in a musical. These five days of personalized online instruction bring experienced guest Broadway performers and university faculty members to lead sessions in the triple threat areas of musical theater – acting, dancing, and singing.
Private coaching sessions, small group workshops, and Q&As with special Broadway guests will help you dig into the world of Broadway and prepare you for your next chapter as a young performer. Faculty will begin with each participant at his or her ability level and lead them through activities designed to appropriately stretch their skills.
IMPROV ONLINE!
For students entering grades 6-12 (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Activities will be geared toward both the beginning and the more experienced improvisor. The number one requirement is a willingness to jump in and try!
SECTIONS, DATES AND TIMES:
Grades 6-8: June 29-July 3 from 1-2:30 p.m. daily
Grades 9-12: June 29-July 3 from 3:30-5 p.m. daily
Students will explore their passion for improvisation in an online format. Students will work in small groups to tap into their creativity through a wide variety of improvisation games and activities, each building on the next to develop collaboration, problem-solving, and quick-thinking skills. The week will end with an online showcase of improv scenes and techniques that family and friends can be invited to watch.
VIRTUAL BROADWAY INTENSIVE
For teens entering grades 9 through first year of college (based on fall 2020 enrollment)
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Designed for aspiring performers who are highly interested in musical theater. Auditions are not required to participate; however, previous training or experience is necessary. (We recommend that participants have experience in at least two of the following areas: singing, dance and acting.)
SESSION DATES AND TIMES:
The Virtual Broadway Intensive will be held Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17 between 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The week-end online sharing for family and friends will begin at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, July 17.
Take your musical theater performance skills and knowledge of the Broadway industry to the next level in the most personalized Broadway Intensive yet. Broadway veterans and university faculty lead teens in a weeklong series of master classes on the “triple threat” skills of musical theater – acting, dancing and singing.
Receive more individualized instruction than ever before through private coaching sessions and intimate group sizes. With time to socialize and connect with other passionate theater teens, daily group dance classes, inside looks into the industry through Q&As with special Broadway guests, and a culminating online sharing event for family and friends, you will create a memorable and skill-building week.
ADAM KANTOR’S BROADWAY STUDIO
Open to advanced musical theater students from grades 10 through college (based on fall 2020 enrollment).
EXPECTATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
High school or gap year students should be seriously considering a performance major after graduation. College students should be pursuing a performance degree or actively involved.
SESSION DATES AND TIMES:
Adam Kantor’s Broadway Studio will be held via Zoom the week of Monday, June 22, through Friday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m. each day.
Broadway’s Adam Kantor invites advanced musical theater and theater students to join him in an exclusive online studio for a special week of coaching and industry insights. In this intimate experience limited to 10 students, participants will receive individualized coaching on 2-3 musical theater songs and/or monologues, observe their peers, and hear stories, tips and other insights from Adam’s career.
Each studio member can expect to be coached 2-3 times throughout the week.
Each participant is also expected to prepare 1-2 musical theater songs for the week to use in coaching sessions. We are working with an accompanist to record an mp4 accompaniment track for one of your songs in advance of the week. This mp4 accompaniment track will be yours to keep for future auditions or performances with your selected song. Any additional items you may need will be communicated before camp starts.
Adam Kantor recently won an Outer Critics Circle honor for his performance as Harry in Darling Grenadine at the Roundabout. Prior to that, he won a Grammy and an Emmy Award for his performance in the Tony-winning Broadway production of The Band’s Visit, in which he played Telephone Guy. On TV he was in Billions on Showtime in the role of Pununzio, and The Good Wife on CBS in the role of Ezra.
For additional information regarding the Virtual Summer Classes and Camps or to register, please visit www.DMPA.org/classes-camps.