Hello THAC Friends & Followers,
Our final children’s performance from THAC’s Spring 2015 Semester takes the main stage TONIGHT – Thursday 4/23 by the Artemis Fowl students, grades 5-7.
Be sure to stop by Town Hall by 4:00 PM, Thursday 4/23 to see their final performance, and check out my photos (below) from rehearsal the other night! Follow THAC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more education updates. Cheers!
COREY L BROWN
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN
Hello THAC Friends & Followers!
TONIGHT – Wed 4/22 – things are getting magical at Town Hall Arts Center! Since February, our Harry Potter Play Production Class has been hard at work not only crafting their acting skills, but perfecting their writing as well! These amazing 5-7 Graders have learned what goes in to telling a story on stage and how plays are made with full lights, sound, and costume! Instructor LuAnn Buckstein says that,
These kids created this show from start to finish. They came up with the story idea, their own characters, and improvised the scenes. There is even costume design by Mia Chaw and music design by Aiden Miller. (Two of the students) What a creative, inventive, playful group!”
They even named the production themselves! DO NOT MISS the THACED original: Triwizard Madness; what promises to be an enchanting performance TONIGHT – 4/22 at 6:00 PM. Be sure to check out my class visit photos (below) and follow THAC on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for THAC Education updates. Cheers!
Hello THAC Friends & Followers,
Our adorable K-3 Grade Cinderella Class will be taking their newly mastered performance skills to the stage TONIGHT! These students have been working diligently to learn the fundamental techniques of stage acting and improvisation while prating their public speaking skills. Instructor LuAnn Buckstein spoke candidly with me about this energetic bunch saying,
Wow what energy these kids bring to class every time I see them. They have such an uninhibited way of approaching this show. I love the moment to moment creativeness!”
Be sure to stop by Town Hall Arts Center for their performance on this evening, 4/22 at 6:00 PM, and follow our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for THAC Education updates. Check out these phone photos of LuAnn , teaching assistnats Sam Coto and Kendra Beeman, and our wonderful Cinderella students. Cheers!
Hello THAC Friends & Followers!
The Town Hall Arts Center Education Department is gearing up for a grueling week of performances! Starting with a very special performance from our Super Hero Support Group Class Today, Monday 4/20 – these 3-5 graders have been hard at work since February learning and practicing the fundamental techniques of stage acting, public speaking, and improvisation. I had the chance to speak with class Instructor LuAnn Buckstein who says,
What a creative group! These kids have been working on developing a character and trying to make them bigger than life. They surprise and delight me with their spontaneity and inventive perspectives. I love working with these “Super” kids!”
Check out my photos with LuAnn, her TA Alyssa James, and our little starlet students below, and don’t miss their performance TONIGHT – MONDAY 4/20 (6:00) pm at Town Hall Arts Center. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates about THAC Education. Cheers!
Dear THAC Friends & Followers,
After a long week of killer deals and steals from your favorite retailers, it is time to reflect on what the holidays are truly about… the spirit of giving! Town Hall Arts Center is one of the many non-profit organizations to participate in Colorado Gives Day, an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving.
Town Hall Arts Center would like to graciously thank Community First Foundation and FirstBank for their partnership in creating the largest incentive fund in history through Colorado Gives Day – totaling 1 million dollars! As one of the largest giving-day incentive funds in the country, the program proportionally increases the value of every dollar donated to Town Hall Arts Center. According to a Colorado Gives Day Press Release,
“If a nonprofit organization receives 10 percent of the total donations made on Colorado Gives Day, that same nonprofit receives 10 percent of the $1 Million Incentive Fund. The 2014 Incentive Fund is 300 percent larger than last year.”
– Kayla Arnesen, Community First Foundation
Colorado Gives Day 2014 is Tuesday, December 9th! On behalf of our actors (both adult and child), designers, directors, teachers, and staff – we would be honored if you could consider a gift to Town Hall Arts Center this year in the form of a Colorado Gives Donation! It would mean the world to everyone who makes THAC Productions possible, who are all working hard to bring the live theater experience to the Denver metro area! During the past year, over 33,000 students, seniors and adults attended our main stage performances, and preview performances of each main stage musical were attended by over 1,050 underprivileged individuals. In addition, we served over 3,000 children with our educational programs. Many of those children received scholarships or tuition reductions because of the support of individuals such as you!
Donors are encouraged to join the movement to “give where you live” and raise millions for your favorite Colorado nonprofits. Colorado Gives Day is powered by ColoradoGives.org, a year-round, online giving website featuring nearly 1,500 Colorado nonprofit organizations. THAC will also be participating in the #COGivesDay Rally on MONDAY 12/08/14 at the capitol building in Downtown Denver!
THANK YOU for considering THAC while donating this season!
Happy Holidays,
COREY BROWN | @COREYLENBROWN
CBROWN@TOWNHALLARTSCENTER.ORG
Hello THAC Friends & Followers,
I hope you are having the happiest of holidays this season. For the many bah-humbuggers you may have encountered during this Black Friday post-holiday week of madness, THAC has the perfect solution to bring you and your peers some holiday cheer! Town Hall Arts Center’s Theatre Education Department has a variety of different classes serving and promoting the importance of performing arts in youth culture throughout metro Denver. We hold multiple sessions of our Actor’s Playground — children’s theater workshop classes for ages 5 to 18. In general we plan 6 summer sessions, 5 fall sessions, and 5 winter/spring sessions. As one season ends, another begins! But not before a fantastic round of LIVE PERFORMANCES on the main stage at Town Hall Arts Center from these future stars! Our Fall Class Play Productions at THAC are FREE and open to the public! Check the schedule (below) and come visit us for an hour of FREE LIVE YOUTH THEATRE this holiday season!
CHEERS,
COREY BROWN | @COREYLENBROWN
CBROWN@TOWNHALLARTSCENTER.ORG
PS. Stay tuned to the THAC BLOG for a special Arts On the Move preview to see how THAC is reaching participants who could not experience our children’s theatre activities otherwise!
Grades 6 – 12
Directed by: Susan Rahmsdorff
Our most exciting production yet! One-half student created, one-half Noises Off! Our actors will create their unique characters and give them personality. Students build the first half of the show together as those characters hilariously audition for the school play. Then, in the second act, we go back to the script to see the disastrous results as the production falls apart around them! You think the theater is crazy from an audience perspective? Wait until you see the pandemonium back stage!
Grades 3 – 5
Directed by: Luann Buckstein
Who let the mice drive? Join us for this hilarious “Fractured Fairytales” style take on the classic story. We all know the tale of little Ella, forced to do the dirty work so often she became Cinder-Ella! Thanks to her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella scrubs up pretty well, much to the dismay of her wicked Stepmother and terrible Step Sisters!
Grades K – 3
Directed by: Justin Kress
Join Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Little John and the whole band of Merry Outlaws as they take on the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham. We’ll rob from the wicked and give to the good and have a great time doing it!
Grades: 5 – 7
Directed by: Kelly McAllister
Kronos has a new plan to rise and destroy Olympus! This time, it starts with breaking down the protections around Camp Half-Blood. In an attempt to save their sanctuary, Percy, Grover, Annabeth, and Percy’s half-brother, Tyson, set off to find the mythical Golden Fleece that can heal any wound. Along the way, they’ll meet gods and monsters and an array of the most bizarre characters, all living unnoticed in our world! Can Percy accept the burdens of leadership and his family? Can you fight prophecy, even if you aren’t sure what it means? Who is going to get eaten and will that slow them down?
Grades: 5 – 7
Directed by: LuAnn Buckstein
Will Harry be kicked out of Hogwarts? It looks that way. The Ministry of Magic is calling Harry a liar and denying the return of Voldemort. On top of that, the new Defense Teacher, Dolores Umbridge, seems determined to make everything worse! In response to these threats, Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather, introduces him to “The Order of the Phoenix” – a clandestine group formed to fight the Death Eaters and Harry starts “Dumbledore’s Army” – a clandestine student group formed to fight the problems within the school itself. Can Harry, Ron, Hermione and their friends take on all these troubles and still pass their O.W.L exams?
Hello THAC Friends & Family,
Let’s get to know another cast member performing in Anything Goes! Today’s post is dedicated to Mr Seth Maisel, cast as a Sailor and member of the Anything Goes Ensemble. Check out our Q&A Session where Seth talks Halloween, knee-high boots, and acting for the past 20 years… Enjoy!
CBROWN@TOWNHALLARTSCENTER.ORG
NAME: Seth Maisel
DOB: May 24, 1979
HOMETOWN: Pueblo, CO/Presque Isle, ME
EDUCATION: BA – Theater, BA – English Lit (Shakespeare), MFA – Theater
DAY JOB: Education Director – Town Hall Arts Center
COLOR: Burgundy
MOVIE: The Haunting (The original, not the terrible remake), Princess Bride, Tombstone
BOOK: “American Gods” – Neil Gaiman
BAND: The Darkness
SONG: Depends on my mood
MUSICAL: Book of Mormon, Into the Woods
FOOD: Popcorn
PLAY: “The Winter’s Tale” — Shakespeare
BEVERAGE: Earl Grey (Yes, “Earl Grey, hot”)
HOLIDAY: Halloween, though I’m always working.
SCENT: Baking
DOGS OR CATS? Yes
HEELS OR FLATS? Knee-high pirate boots
BOXERS OR BRIEFS? Boxer briefs!
COKE OR PEPSI? Never could tell the difference
MAC OR PC? Apple phone, PC desktop
SPRING OR FALL? Spring
SUNRISE OR SUNSET? Sunrise (Now that song is stuck in my head. Thanks!)
BEACH OR POOL? Beach
THE BEST INVENTION IN HISTORY IS? Printing Press. Followed closely by the internet.
WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS? Throw them back. Hard. Or juggle. Lemons are perfect size for juggling.
YOU’RE STRANDED ON A DESERTED ISLAND… WHAT ITEMS DO YOU BRING? Kindle, Solar Generator
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ACTING? 20 years (attempted), still trying to get it right.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ROLE THAT YOU HAVE PLAYED? Vladimir – “Waiting for Godot”, Frederick Frankenstein – “Young Frankenstein”
WHAT’S YOUR DREAM ROLE TO BE CAST? Hal – “Henry IV, Henry V”
WHO IS YOUR HERO? Biggest inspiration? John Barton – made a push in the 80s to make Shakespeare accessible and interesting to modern audiences.
WHERE ARE YOU IN 10 YEARS? Still on stage… somewhere… anywhere.
CAN WE FOLLOW YOU FB? TWITTER? FB – Seth Maisel (or Seth Maisel – Teacher). I fear the Twitter. I can’t make myself clear in a whole paragraph, let alone 150 characters.
WHY SEE ANYTHING GOES? This is one of those fantastic grand spectacle shows. Huge tap numbers, beautiful sets and costumes. Then the performances are absolutely hilarious. I forget what I’m supposed to be doing on stage because I’m too busy laughing at the hilarity going on around me.
ANYTHING GOES | NOV 14 – DEC 28, 2014
WWW.TOWNHALLARTSCENTER.ORG/ANYTHING-GOES
Where arts and education meet!
The Actor’s Playground is a program designed to give young people a place where they can express themselves creatively, expand their appreciation of the arts and develop the skills they need to take an active part in the arts. We open up new worlds for children by providing experience and guidance in a professional setting.
Click here to download the registration form.
Fill out the form and attach to an email to smaisel@townhallartscenter.com. You can also print out the form and mail to Seth Maisel, Education Director Town Hall Arts Center 2450 W Main St Littleton, CO 80120.
SESSION A: Mondays, 4-6 pm, February 4 – April 15*
(Performance Monday, April 15 at 6 pm)
SESSION B: Thursdays, 4-6 pm, February 7 – April 18*
(Performance Saturday, April 20 at 2 pm)
Tuition: $175
Directed by Shelly Bordas
A tribute to Roald Dahl – scenes from your favorites, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, The BFG, Matilda, James & The Giant Peach, and more! A great class for beginners to theater and fans of Roald Dahl everywhere. Students learn and practice the fundamental techniques of stage acting, public speaking and improvisation while working on this fun-filled production. Each class begins with theater games and team-building exercises as we work towards our
performance for friends and family.
Tuesdays, 4-6 pm
February 5 – April 16*
(Performance Tuesday, April 16 at 6 pm)
Tuition: $175
Directed by Shelly Bordas
Just keep swimming! Swimming, swimming…. Join us and explore the amazing ocean characters and heartwarming story of a father’s love, hope and faith, as we search for our favorite little clown fish with the lucky fin, Nemo. Sharks, turtles, whales, pelicans, jellys and even – uh oh – Darla! – make this show fantastic and fun! With all the wild characters, amazing costumes, and outrageous moments you can only get when Town Hall meets Disney.
Wednesdays, 4-6 pm, February 6 – April 17*
(Performance Wednesday, April 17 at 6 pm)
Tuition: $175
Directed by Shelly Bordas
The war against Voldemort is not going well; even Muggles are noticing a dark change. Dumbledore is absent form Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of The Phoenix has suffered losses. Join us as the 6th year students learn to “apparate”. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and Harry receives extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Rehearsals begin February 6 and will culminate in a final performance for friends and family on April 17.
Saturdays, 10 am – 1 pm, February 2 – April 27*
(Performance Monday, April 29, at 7 pm)
Tuition: $275
Directed by Shelly Bordas
Acting Up! Theatre Arts for Teens is an affordable, educational and fun organization for inspiring young actors ages 12-18. We strive to train, encourage and inspire teens in the theatre to grow as performers as well as young adults. Since 2002, Acting Up has been creating original productions and performances in all kinds of genres and venues. In 2013, we will explore the wonderful world of The Musical. Exploring Song, Dance and Script Writing, through a 12-week program, the students will be a part of the writing, character development, acting, singing, dancing and even directing experience. This will culminate in a fresh new production we will perform for friends and family. This is a very gratifying and rewarding experience for young actors and their resumes. All actors are NOT required to sing and/or dance, but attendance is very important.
*There will be no classes over Spring Break, the week of March 25 – 29.
Hello!
We are just starting to catch our breath after a hectic week of performances. Our students blew the audiences away with performances of “Finding Nemo”, “Ella Enchanted” and “Harry Potter” over the last week.
This week we have schools from all over Denver coming to be a part of the “Participation Christmas Carol” where the audience plays roles ranging from adorable Tiny Tim to the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Future. Of course, we have our own take on the classic tale and everyone, including the audience, joins in to teach our silly sour Scrooge a lesson! We are still taking bookings for schools and groups, so call in.
Our Spring schedule is out and ready and we have a few new changes that we think will make for easier sign-ups, better classes, and more fun for everyone. Our classes will now be divided up by grade-level so that everyone gets to work with peers closer to their own age. So our class for the youngest students (a celebration of the splendiferous Roald Dahl) will be for grades K-2. Our next section is for grades 3 – 5, and it will be their turn to put on a little bit older “Finding Nemo”, this time with all of Disney and Pixar’s trademark sarcasm and irony. Fun for the kids, even more fun for the adults who come to watch!
Our “Harry Potter” class is going to be very exciting this Spring as we bring you “The Half-Blood Prince” for the first time! Students in grades 5 – 7 will learn to “apparate” and take on a much more grown up and serious time at Hogwarts.
And we aren’t done with the big plans. Our “Acting Up! — Theater Workshop for Teens” is going for 12 weeks this time, instead of the usual 10. That is because they will be creating their own musical! Students in grades 6 – 12 will choose their own music and then write and direct their own show that incorporates their choices. It is going to be a lot of work and a lot of fun. We can’t wait to see the result, because nobody knows what it will be!
We have an exciting Spring lineup ahead of us and are already planning for summer shenanigans complete with Shakespeare, comedy, camera work, and another full musical like last summer’s huge hit, “Once on This Island”. No, really, we’re still trying to get those songs out of our heads.
Happy December Everyone!
We wanted to thank you for participating in ColoradoGives Day on December 4th. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we raised $3,150 to support our cultural programming in 2012-13. We are truly grateful.
As you know, Town Hall Arts Center just celebrated its 30th Anniversary Season last year. The past three decades have been a remarkable journey for everyone associated with our organization and we look forward to sharing even more exciting live theatre with our audiences in the coming year.
This is the third time that Town Hall Arts Center has participated in ColoradoGives Day and we are proud to announce that giving has increased each year, a testament to the ongoing endorsement and generosity of our family of supporters. As a result of the success of this 24-hour event, we are already at 63% of our “Climb Ev’ry Mountain $5K Campaign” goal and feel confident that this goal will be met by year end.
Watch for the new Actor’s Playground schedule, due out next week. Lots of fun and exciting happenings for your kids!