The Children's
Theatre Workshop
CTW offers a number
of special programs in live theater for Toledo and area youth from 5
to 18 years old. The program teaches theatrical techniques through an
informal, classroom-based structure, and promotes self-expression and
teamwork. Classes are structured based on the age of the child, rather
than experience level or ability. This allows more experienced members
to help the new folks, while the new members offer fresh ideas and diverse
points of view. This also allows older students to more deeply explore
a subject that might bore a younger child. In the classroom we play
theatre games, work on improvisational skills, study characterization,
and explore our "self". In the process we build esteem, self-confidence,
public speaking skills, and an awareness of a true teamwork effort -
all "life skills" necessary in that mythical "real-world"
we so often hear about. The level of the games and applications is a
function of the age of the class. We do not try to make professional
performers out of the members - rather we give them a taste of live
theatre (as much as they want) so they can decide for themselves if
and to what extent they might want to pursue the theatre either as a
career or as a hobby.
The Children's Theatre
Workshop programs are divided into two basic sections; The Main Company
and The Teen Company. Associated with both of these basic divisions
we have full theatrical productions as part of the program experience.
We also have a musical theatre program, specialty classes in theatre
applications such as auditioning techniques and technical theater and
a summer camp program.
The Main Company
The Main Company
is the core program of CTW - The place where everyone starts. The Main
Company program was started in 1954 by the Junior League and the American
Association of University Women, and has been running continuously since
that time.
The Main Company
is divided into classes based on age. Classes meet for one hour on Saturday
mornings or early afternoons for ten weeks. The very young children
play games acting out being a nursery story character or perhaps their
favorite animal. As the students become older, exercises in improvisation
are added, allowing a different kind of mental focus. Oh, how much fun
it is! And how educational! And mind broadening! The 12 to 18-year-old
class (the teen class) has, in addition to their performing in their
production, the additional responsibilities of providing all of the
technical support for the productions of the Teen Company. This includes
actually running the lights, running the sound, and performing other
production tasks. All members of the Main Company are invited to assist
with production duties - helping paint scenery, for example - and families
are encouraged to participate as well. We try to provide a full theatre
experience, allowing as much or as little involvement as a student may
wish. We like to think that we boost an ego or two, and perhaps help
make better people of those whose lives we have the privilege to touch.
The Teen Company
The Teen Company
is a sort of graduate school of CTW. The program is for teens - ages
12 to 18 - who have previous experience in theatrical applications -
preferably with CTW. An interview and/or audition is required to be
admitted to the program. The Teen Company program meets for ten weeks
- Two hours per meeting - on Saturday mornings. The Teen Company, like
the teen class of the Main Company, has responsibilities in addition
to their performance duties in their productions - They provide all
of the technical support for the Main Company shows. These productions
are usually large scale, requiring many pieces of scenery, complex lighting,
elaborate costuming and a lot of 'techie' bodies. For all of our productions
we have teen assistants working as Student Directors, Student Producers,
and Student Whatever-Else-We-Need. With a more directed application
of technical theatre techniques, these students are the production's
Light Master and crew, Sound Master and crew, Property Master and crew,
the Stage Manager (the one person actually in charge of the show while
it is playing to an audience) who tells everyone else what to do and
when to do it. This is known as 'calling the show', the running crew,
the properties crew, and everything else. They also help the younger
performers with their costumes and makeup, and act as helping hands
when something requires an extra touch.
Productions (The
Shows)
About the third
week of classes we hold auditions for our upcoming production. In the
Main Company, anyone who is in the classes is eligible to audition,
and any one who auditions gets a part in the show somewhere - after
all, we are a theatre organization! The Main Company performs traditional
children's shows such as Alice in Wonderland and Jack and the Beanstalk.
Productions are twice a year, typically the first weekend of December
and the first week of April, following the 10 weeks of classes. These
are usually major productions with lots of colorful scenery and costumes.
This gives the cast a true theatrical experience. A note about all of
our productions: All of the technical work - lights, sound, props, scenery
- everything - is handled by the teens in the program. Truly and totally
"Theatre by Children for children" (of all ages!).
