Classes: Poteet Theatre Arts Education

Poteet Theatre Arts Education
2011    Fall Class Schedule
                                          
                                            (September 6 through December 17)
  

As you peruse the fall schedule, I hope you will take to heart Cyndi Steele-Harrod's words of wisdom to this summer's Broadway Bootcamp participants. "Don't limit yourself to only practicing your strengths."  It's easy to continue to work religiously on the areas we feel most confident about, while we tend to neglect the skills where we feel insecure.  In the world of theatre, we look for performers who are "triple threats:"    skilled vocalists, actors, AND dancers.  Yet we can't develop multi-talented performers without putting in the effort.  So this fall, I challenge each of you to take at least one class in a discipline that you perceive as a weakness.  Do you feel like you are a strong actor, but are you terrified to sing in front of an audience?  Then maybe private voice lessons are for you. Are you rhythmically challenged?  Improve your innate sense of rhythm by signing up for tap.  Were you born with the love of music, but speaking in front of a crowd makes your stomach ache?  Then perhaps acting should be on your class schedule.  The words "I can't  ....  (fill in the blank)"  is definitely not part of Poteet Theatre's vocabulary.  So this semester, let's all look seriously at our lists of "can not's" and turn them into "can do's!"

And along these same lines I'd like to add a special note to the adults in our midst.  As a parent (or grandparent) of a young performer I can guarantee that you have one of the busiest schedules around. And guess what?  After months or years of a crazy schedule  hauling those children to countless lessons, rehearsals and performances, all the chaos can begin to take its toll.  This can result in a gradual decline in mom or dad's  emotional and physical well-being.  You owe it to yourself AND your children to be the best that you can be. It seems like a contradiction, but the fact remains that the busier you are, the more essential it is that you make the time to take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.  PTAE offers three affordable classes designed especially to renew and recharge busy adults just like you!  Join us on Monday night for "Yoga Booty Ballet," a unique, spirited workout which combines meditation, cardio dance, strength training, and yoga techniques.  Improve your cognitive thinking abilities and sense of fun and rhythm on Tuesday nights with adult tap. Looking for a more relaxing atmosphere?  Join us Thursday evenings for a journey through the chakras (energy centers) as we de-stress and de-tox with a combination of Kundalini and Hatha Yoga  in "Yoga for Life." Or get really brave and make the commitment to 2 or 3 classes a week.  You (and your children) will be glad that you did!
  
We have a number of new teachers and classes for your enjoyment this semester.  Jay Prock will be sponsoring a Musical Theatre Production class in combination with the St. Luke's Children's Ministry.  They will be working toward a performance of a Christmas Musical in December.  More information regarding this to follow.
  
OCU student Kristin Stang will be joining us this semester as our new Tiny Stars instructor, our Musical Theatre performance class for 4 to 7 year olds. Kristin  is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and is currently pursuing additional schooling at OCU with a double major in Theatre Performance (focus on Children's Theatre) and Broadcast Journalism.  She is founder and director of the St. James Children's Choir in Oklahoma City, and teaches beginning piano and voice.  Her stage credits in NYC and Minnesota include The Music Man, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Oliver, Crazy for You, and Singin' in the Rain.  Poteet patrons may remember her as "The White Queen" and/or Tweedledee in Alice in Wonderland.
  
Choctaw/Nicoma Park theatre arts instructor Mary Burton will be joining us this semester with a new teen acting class which will address basic interpretation and acting techniques, terminology, voice control, movement and stage direction, as well as monologue and scene work, audition technique, character development and ensemble work.  A UCO graduate, Mary has led the Choctaw High School competitive drama program to 6 State Championships in One Act Play as well as dozens of All-State Actor recognitions.  She is thrilled to be part of the creative team of theatre arts educators at Poteet.

Patrick Rose' will be teaching a unique new  "Men's jazz/ ballet" class for beginning level male dancers ages 8 to young adult.  A very talented young performer, Patrick has literally grown up dancing at Poteet and is quickly moving on to new horizons outside of the theatre.  He offers a masculine perspective to young male performers who are interested in improving their dance skills in order to enhance their musical theatre performance. Real football players take ballet! 
  
A sophomore musical theatre major at UCO, Leah Coleman will phase in as our new teacher this semester for Madison Linck's Intro to Dance class for 4 to 7 year olds.
Patron's will remember seeing Leah on the Poteet stage last season as "Jo" in Little Women, and more recently as "Carrie Pipperidge" in this summer's production of Carousel.  Leah will be working together with Madison for the month of September, and then take over for the remainder of the semester when Madison leaves for New York in October.
  
In addition to our regular group classes, we are offering a number of exciting workshops.  Ladies, you won't want to miss the jump start our Fall semester with a special workshop offered by St. Luke's very own Stephanie Greenwald, Certified Instructor, Kujutsu Martial Arts.  Kick like a GIRL!!! Self - Defense for Ladies will take place on Saturday, August 27th from 10 a.m. - 2 pm. As a woman or young lady in today's world it is important to know the techniques necessary to defend yourself. Thousands of women are killed or injured each year due to unnecessary violence.  Join Stephanie as she teaches the principles of self defense.  You will learn basic stances, blocks and strikes from martial arts, along with awareness techniques, group building exercises, and confidence building techniques.  This workshop is for teens and women 12 years and older.  Wear comfortable clothing and bring a sack lunch with a drink. The cost for the workshop will be only $25.00 per person. Specific registration information will be e-mailed to you very soon.
  
Stephanie Greenwald is a Certified Instructor in Kujutsu.  She has taught in self defense schools in Tulsa and Duncan.  She was the owner of the Duncan School of Self Defense from 2001 - 2006 and has taught students ranging in age from 4 - 80 years old.  She is the Director of LifeLight Ministries and Education at St. Luke's United Methodist Church.  Stephanie is married to Phil and they have two daughters, Kalli and Tori.
  
On the acting front, we've had a great deal of interest among our teens in "Improvisational Theatre." In response to these requests,  Drama teacher and Director/Performer Jamie Brewster will be offering 2 separate Improv workshops for teens/young adults in October and November.   Jamie is also directing our production of "The Importance of Being Ernest" here at Poteet this fall.  More information regarding these fun workshops will be available soon.

Plans are also in the works to close out the Fall semester with additional seminar/workshop opportunities with Director Cyndi Steele- Harrod in December.  Stay tuned for more details! 

In addition to our weekly classes and workshops, please keep in mind that we offer private Voice, Acting, and Intrumental lessons (piano, flute, guitar, and other strings.)  Private lesson slots fill quickly, so please call 609-1026 to find out more information about reserving a place this fall with one of our teachers.

Last but not least, I want to thank all of you for your generous support:  for your countless, selfless contributions of time and finances. As we continue to expand our programming with new classes, teachers, and workshops, we are also hard at work behind the scenes to expand and improve our facilities as well.  For example, many of you have asked about the new dance floor that is to be installed in B-100.  Funding and permission from the Board of Trustees has been secured, but we have been temporarily put on hold until the church fountain which is above the facility is completed. We don't want to damage the new floor in the process of installing the fountain. Have no fear though, a new dance floor as well as many other improvements are on the horizon.  Our goal is to see Poteet Theatre become a state of the art performing arts facility while continuing our unique, caring ministry to families.

Please check our website  www.poteettheatre.com  over the next couple of weeks for  more detailed information information regarding our teachers and class offerings for the fall.  In addition, feel free to contact me at any time with any questions you might have about our programming. I would love to have the opportunity to meet with you to discuss how our Poteet family can help you and your child fulfill your dreams. Best wishes to all of you as you finish up your summer and head into a new school year.  See you at registration on September 1st!