Contagious Drama Workshop

Course Descriptions

Creative Dramatics (5's) (6-8's)

In this supportive environment, children learn basic theater skills through theater games, improvisation and role-playing. Students develop their imaginations, intuition, and problem-solving skills while exploring and connecting with their creative selves. The “change me” box (a chest full of costume pieces and props for free exploration and story creation) is part of every class meeting.

Improvisation and Scene Study (9-12's)

This class enables students to explore characters and learn how to make personal connections to them. They will learn how to analyze a character and answer the basic questions that actors must ask themselves when approaching a piece of work: Who? Where? What? Why? How? Students will practice the art of improvisation and engage in theater games, warm ups and vocal exercises. Students will be be assigned a scene to develop and present at the end of the session.

Teen Class - NEW FORMAT FOR FALL 2010!

Classes include warm ups, theater games and improvisation. Students are encouraged to engage in active listening and responding as they learn to become skilled, honest actors. New for fall 2010, the Contagious Drama Workshop is teaming up with NJ playwright Ben Clawson to create original plays for its teen students! Ben will spend time with pairs of students early in the session, getting to know them, discussing what each is intrigued by in a character. He will then write/create short plays just for them! Plays will be performed for the public at the end of the session.

Ben Clawson photo Ben Clawson received his B.F.A. in Theater from Montclair State University, NJ in May of 2007. He is the author of numerous full length and one act plays that have had professional productions, readings and workshops in New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and New Orleans. His full length plays include Spilling Stuff and Breaking Things, Bootstraps, and most recently Omnivores at the Playwright’s Theatre of New Jersey. He has also written four evenings of short comedies including Cave/Men, Things that Happen in Bars, New.Tricks, and Attention Span of a Fly which reopened the historic Paramount Theater in Asbury Park in Summer 2007. He has been an evening winner and finalist in the Samuel French Short Play festival, national finalist for the American College Theater Festival's John Cauble One-Act Award, finalist for the Princess Grace Award in playwriting, and recipient of the Kennedy Center's David Mark Cohen award. He is a founding member of the StrangeDog Theater Company, with whom he has produced many of his plays.

Class runs from 6:15-7:45 on Wednesdays. Extra rehearsals will be held immediately following class time from 8:00-(approximately) 9 pm. Only students in the plays being rehearsed will be needed. Each student will have at least 2 private meetings to work on their play. Tentative date for performance is set for 12/22/10.

Parent & Child Improvisation Workshop (5-7’s, 8-12’s & Teens)

Have a fun filled, bonding experience with your child as you explore the world of improvisation side by side. See the joy on their faces as you switch roles and your child gets to play the parent! Each class includes warm ups and theater games. Register for one or two classes.

Adult Improvisation Workshop

Have you ever watched “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and thought they must be having a ball? Register for one or two of these hands on improvisation bonanzas! Learn a few key elements to improvisation and then get on your feet and act! No prep work or prior experience necessary. This class was designed to engage every person and is guaranteed to relieve stress! Each class includes warm ups and theater games.