Brand new to Road Less Traveled Production’s (RLTP) mission, the theater company has announced a sensational programming initiative geared towards Buffalo youth, as part of its new Education Initiative. Young people with an interest in theater arts are encouraged to learn more about the program that will be taught by some of the region’s most prominent and respected theater artists. “The RLTP Summer Institute is designed to inspire a young generation of budding theatre artists,” said RLTP Literary Director Jon Elston, “and to prepare them both for higher education in the field of Theatre and for work opportunities in the Theatre industry.”
“Summer Fundamentals is a comprehensive introduction to Theatre and Drama, providing instruction in solo and ensemble acting, theatre history, storytelling, and design fundamentals,” Elston continued. “Students will split each day of this intensive three-week summer session between active skill-building exercises and Master Classes hosted by some of Buffalo’s most seasoned theatre professionals, including RLTP Ensemble members. Audition Preparation & Scene Study is an advanced course for slightly older and more experienced students, ages 16 through 19, and is designed to ‘help them develop and improve skills essential to auditioning, both academically and professionally.’ Audition Preparation & Scene Study students will learn to present highly effective, polished, and impressive audition pieces and learn to efficiently read, analyze, and interpret scenes for cold reads. It is a six-week course meeting every Monday.”
“Unlike other local summer theatre instructional programs – which predominantly offer short-term goal-based small production training (or in other words theatre “boot camp”) – RLTP’s Summer Fundamentals is BOTH fun AND educational,” said Gina Gandolfo-Lopez, Managing Director Road Less Traveled Productions. “Our students receive a broad and comprehensive survey of many core concepts, skills, and practical applications within the theatre profession, providing them with a solid foundation upon which they may build with future instruction and work experience. Students will help to shape their own curriculum by ultimately selecting an area of interest that particularly appeals to them (acting, playwrighting, directing, design) and investing their creative energies in a prepared final presentation that is unique and specifically reflects their interests and passions. And no one is compelled to sing or dance unless they REALLY WANT TO…!”
RLTP is currently enrolling students in the Summer Institute*. Interested parents and guardians can obtain more information by e-mailing institute@roadlesstraveledproductions.org, visiting www.roadlesstraveledproductions.org, or calling (716) 629-3069.
Summer Fundamentals students will learn about voice, movement, improvisation, styles of acting, characterization, rehearsal techniques, and working in a group, as well as be introduced to concepts of theatre history, direction, design, and playwriting, all through acting exercises, theatre games, and mini-projects. Two sessions of this three-week-long, Monday- Thursday program will be offered (one in July, one in August); both sessions will culminate in a final presentation, in which students contribute to the conception and execution of a short, dramatic production for an audience of family and friends.
The inaugural session of the Summer Institute will offer two classes beginning in July 2013: Summer Fundamentals (intended for students ages 11-16) and Audition Preparation & Scene Study (for students ages 16-19). Both classes will be held at the Road Less Traveled Theater in the Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre (MAFAC), located at 639 Main Street, in Downtown Buffalo, NY’s Historic Theatre District.