Theatre

Myths and Magic!  -  T1

• AGES 3 & 4
• 2:00 to 2:45 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Fridays, Sept. 10 through Dec. 10
• Spring Schedule: Fridays, Feb. 11 through May 13
• This fun filled class will make the world of creativity and theatre come alive! Using puppetry, character building, story-telling and musical theatre games, young performers will have a chance to work together to create their own magical theatre journey. Minimum of 6 students and Maximum of 8 students.
• All classes meet in the Visual Arts Studio and will culminate with an in class performance and cast party. No class on Sept. 24 or Nov. 26 / Feb. 25 or April 22.
• Tuition: $190.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley

Beginner’s Drama  -  T2

• Grades K & 1
• 3:45 to 4:30 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Tuesdays, Sept. 28 through Jan. 18
• Fall Show: “Three Little Elephants”
• Spring Schedule: Tuesdays, Feb. 8 through May 24
• Spring Show: “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” (Inspired by Dr. Seuss)
• This inventive and entertaining class is designed to introduce the magical world of theatre to beginning performers. Through explorations into imagination, musical movement and some just-plain-fun theatre games, children will begin to create characters and learn to work together to tell amazing stories that they help to inspire. This class will enthrall parents and friends with an in class performance on the final day of class.
• No class on Nov. 23, Dec. 21 or Dec. 28 / Feb. 22, April 19.
• Tuition: $210.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley

Drama for Young Actors I  -  T3

• Grades 2, 3 & 4
• 4:45 to 5:45 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Tuesdays, Sept. 21 through Jan. 25
• Fall Show: “Stone Soup”
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 16 weeks on Tuesdays starting September 21 through January 25.There will be no class on Nov. 23, Dec. 21 or Dec. 28.
• Spring Schedule: Tuesdays, Feb. 15 through June 14
• Spring Show: “Where the Wild Things Are” (Inspired by Maurice Sendak)
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 16 weeks on Tuesdays starting Feb. 15 through June 14. There will be no class on Feb. 22 or April 19.
• Talents will grow and imaginations will soar through these higher-level acting classes. Creative characters and wonderful stories will be created through improvisations, scene study, and physical explorations such as clown and movement, and of course, hilarious theatre games. Each class will culminate with an in class production for family and friends.
• Tuition: $280.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley

Drama for Young Actors II  -  T4

• Grades 2, 3 & 4
• 6:00 to 7:00 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Tuesdays, Sept. 21 through Jan. 25
• Fall Show: “A Midwinter’s Night Dream” (Inspired by William Shakespeare)
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 16 weeks on Tuesdays starting September 21 through January 25.There will be no class on Nov. 23, Dec. 21 or Dec. 28.
• Spring Schedule: Tuesdays, Feb. 15 through June 14
• Spring Show: “Treasure Island” (Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson)
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 16 weeks on Tuesdays starting Feb. 15 through June 14. There will be no class on Feb. 22 or April 19.
• Talents will grow and imaginations will soar through these higher-level acting classes. Creative characters and wonderful stories will be created through improvisations, scene study, and physical explorations such as clown and movement, and of course, hilarious theatre games. Each class will culminate with an in class production for family and friends.
• Tuition: $280.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley

Creative Theatre!  -  T5

• Grades 2, 3 & 4
• 5:30 to 7:00 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Thursdays, Sept. 30 through Jan. 20
• Fall Show: “Little Red Riding Hood”
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 14 weeks on Thursdays starting Sept. 30 and will be culminating with a never before seen show created by the students using the different creative theatre skills learned throughout the class. The show will take place during the final class Jan. 20. There will be no classes on Nov. 25, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.
• Spring Schedule: Thursdays, March 3 through June 9
• Spring Show: “The Ugly Duckling”
• Classes will meet in the Visual Arts Studio for 14 weeks on Thursdays starting March 3 and will be culminating with a never before seen show created by the students using the different creative theatre skills learned throughout the class. The show will take place during the final class June 9.
• This amazing new class will explore some of the worlds most famous fairy tales using aspects of theatre not usu- ally explored by young performers. Actors will be able to have an in-depth experience with the exciting theatrical skills of puppetry and mask, physical theatre (including clown and mime) and storytelling, using each one of these amazing techniques to tell timeless stories in ways that have never been seen before. Actors will have the opportunity to help create the performance using the new skills they develop throughout the class.
• Tuition: $335.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Meredith Walker

Musical Theatre Ensemble  -  T6

• Grades 4, 5, 6 & 7
• 4:00 to 6:00 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Fridays, Sept. 17 through Jan. 29
• Fall Show: “Wonderland!”
• Under the direction of teacher Chris Smalley and the musical direction of Matthew Surapine, “Wonderland!” by James DeVita, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur is an unabashedly silly adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. This musical theatre ensemble will tell this beloved story through the theatre and song of a hilari- ous full length musical. Classes will meet for 16 weeks in the Visual Arts Studio on Fridays starting Sept. 17. The Friday, January 28 class will meet in the DAC Weatherstone Studio for a dress rehearsal. The performance will be Saturday, January 29 at 11am in the DAC Weatherstone Studio. There will be no class Sept. 24, Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
• Spring Schedule: Fridays, Feb. 18 through June 18
• The timeless “Wizard of Oz” has been adapted into a dazzling musical by Tim Kelly, with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur! Dorothy and Toto find themselves tossed out of Kansas into the middle a wonderfully entertain- ing musical with all of your favorite characters. Under the direction of Chris Smalley and musical direction of Matthew Surapine this musical theatre company will bring the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Tin-man and every- one else to life through song and dance. Classes will meet for 16 weeks in the Visual Arts Studio on Fridays starting Feb. 18. The Friday, June 17th class will meet in the DAC Weatherstone Studio for a dress rehearsal. The performance will be on Saturday, June 18 at 11am in the Weatherstone Studio. There will be no class on Feb. 25 or April 22.
• Minimum of 15 students.
• Tuition: $180.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley and Matthew Surapine

Adult Improvisational Theatre Class  -  T7

• 8:00 to 9:30 PM
• Fall Schedule:  Thursdays, Sept. 23 through Oct. 28
• Join in on the hilarity! Actor/teacher Chris Smalley is excited to bring adult theatre classes to the Darien Arts Center starting with a class based on the fast paced, always entertaining Improvisational Theatre. Using the skills that found him performing with professional Improv Troupe “Eight is Never Enough” at the Time Square Comedy Club in NYC, Chris will lead activities and skits that will allow adults to explore their creative side, while learning how to make strong, quick decisions in a fun, friendly environment. Classes will meet for 6 weeks at the DAC Visual Arts Studio with the final class offering a chance for the performers to display their skills for friends and family.
• Minimum of 6 performers needed for the class to run.
• Tuition: $155.00 per semester
• Instructor(s): Chris Smalley

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