1776 performed by YPW May 2006

George M! performed by YPW May 2008

The Program This 5-week intensive program has been designed to meet the needs of beginning, intermediate and advanced performers interested in working in the theatre. The hands-on program utilizes both the classroom and the “production process” to train young people in the theatre arts. The program includes the production of musicals and one-act plays. The workshop director is Broadway, film and tv veteran Michael Blevins. Once registered, students are guaranteed a part in at least one production and, depending on ability, experience, desire and commitment level, could feasibly appear in more than one production. Classes are broken up by age and ability. Students participate in a wide variety of subjects including radio and television production. No experience is necessary, however, applicants must complete an interview/audition for acceptance. Summer Classes Acting, Tap, Theatre Dance, and Voice/Diction are required. Electives will be offered dependent upon availability: AUDITION TECHNIQUE ONE ACTS BALLET PLAY WRITING BOX OFFICE RADIO PRODUCTION CHORAL SINGING SINGING CHOREOGRAPHY STAGE COMBAT COSTUME DESIGN STAGE MANAGEMENT DIRECTING TECHNICAL THEATRE MONOLOGUE WORKSHOP TV PRODUCTION MUSIC THEORY YOGA   “Take it from me, who’s been regularly attending high school musicals for more than four decades: I’ve never seen the likes of what the Centenary Young Performers achieve.”          - Peter Filichia, Drama Critic, The Star Ledger “I had a wonderful time this summer. In the morning classes I was able to reach my full potential by working closely with the teachers and other students.”          - Brittany Hoehlein, Age 17

Schedule*
Monday-Saturday    9am - 4:30pm
 
        *Students may be invited to participate/audition for the evening
          produc-tion (5:30pm-9:00PM) by the program director at no additional cost.

The Company
The Centenary Young Performers Workshop (YPW) is under the auspices of the Centenary Stage Company, a not-for-profit Equity Theatre Company in residence at Centenary College located in Hackettstown, NJ. The Centenary YPW is dedicated to the enrichment of young lives through the use of theatre art and serves as a greenhouse for cultivating young theatre performers, ages 8—18. The program is one of the few that offers both formal training and production experience for young people. Career-minded individuals can prepare for the rigors of a professional career, yet students not aiming for a professional
career benefit from the program with its emphasis on discipline, self-worth and development of communication skills.
The facility on the Centenary College campus features an intimate 174-seat proscenium arch theatre, a 50-seat recital hall, a dance studio and numerous rehearsal rooms. The Centenary Young Performers Theatre Workshop is a member of the American Alliance of Theatre and Education artists and educators serving young people, and is the only young people’s theatre training program run by a professional resident Equity Theatre Company.

The Staff
All instructors for the Centenary Young Performers are experienced professionals in the performing arts. The producing director of the program is Carl Wallnau, Artistic Director of the Centenary Stage Company and Fine Arts Chair of the Theatre Arts Department for Centenary College.

The Curriculum
The classroom curriculum gives students approximately 15 hours of study in acting, singing and dance each week, while allowing students the flexibility to pursue additional areas of interest. Effective performers must learn to use and embrace their own bodies, voices, and minds. All classes stress this awareness as well as the fundamentals of creative expression.

The Production Process
Students have approximately three to six hours of rehearsal daily depending on whether they are attending full-day sessions or evening session. The rehearsals are under the guidance and direction of theatre professionals, and culminate in full-scale musical productions as well as one-act plays presented to the general public during the Summer Festival of Shows, which takes place the last week of the program.

The Director - Michael Blevins
Michael is an alumni of the University of North Carolina And New York University. He has appeared in several Broadway productions including BRING BACK BIRDIE, LITTLE ME, and THE TAP DANCE KID in which he created the role of Winslow Alexander. He has appeared on the Tony Awards Show as well as in many feature films and TV commercials, and is widely known for his portrayal of Mark in the film of A CHORUS LINE. He has worked with many noted directors, including Danny Daniels, Bob Fosse, Woody Allen, Vivian Matalon, Joe Layton, Lynn Taylor Corbett and Peter Gennaro. He has choreographed music videos for Amy Grant, five national commercials as well as the Off-Broadway production of THE MAD FORREST. Blevins has led the Centenary Young Performers Workshop to state-wide acclaim, with performances in two consecutive years at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

For More Information
For more summer camp program information, registration or to arrange an interview for the YPW Summer Intensive Program, contact the Centenary Stage Company Administrative offices at 908-979-0900 or see our Young Performers Workshop (YPW) page on this site. Also see the downloadable brochure (.pdf) and the downloadable registration form (.pdf).

“A most unique program….the Skylands area of Northwestern NJ is fortunate
indeed to have this quality, theatrical bonanza in its midst.”
                                                 - Skylands Visitor

www.centenarystageco.org           boxoffice@centenarystageco.org
400 Jefferson Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840       908-979-0900
Copyright © 1999-2008 Centenary Performing Arts Guild. All rights reserved.
Revised: December 23, 2008
SR Web Resources