About Adventures in Theater 2024
Workshop Breakdown
August 5-9th, 2024
8:30-3:00
A summer theater adventure for students ages 7-11! During this week together we will explore acting, improv, costuming, and technical theater elements to create small works and enjoy the magic of performance! Students will perform a short performance at 3pm on the Friday of our adventure. This performance will be student lead and consist of their favorite moments from our week. Drop off is at 8:30, and pickup is at 3pm. All activities will take place at Exit 7 Theater, with an afternoon break at the park directly across the street. Students will enjoy a small camp size, low student to teacher ratio, and an easy going environment to explore at their own pace. Exit 7 Theater is air conditioned, but students are still encouraged to wear comfortable and movable clothing for a day of play. Please see a sample schedule of our program below.
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8:30am: Drop Off
9:00- 9:35: Morning Activity- Movement Activity
Movement based activity which introduces the theme of the day, and allows students to explore the space and interact with a given concept or idea such as physical theater types, improv, props, costumes etc.
9:45- 10:45: Skits, short plays, and student derived work
Students will work together to act out scripts, derive their own work, and perform short stories. Stories and scripts will be based on the student’s interests.
11:00- 11:30: Free Play Outside (weather permitting)
11:30- 12:00: Lunch
12:00pm: View into Technical Theater
Students will participate in an on-theme activity which highlights a non-acting element of theater, such as lighting design, sound design, costume play, prop development, etc. Some exercises might include sound design challenges/trivia games, color theory, matching characterization and costumes, gobo design, and much more!
2:30pm: Favorite Moments
Students will have the opportunity to show any work from the day that they were proud of. This may entail group share sections, individual performances, or praise for other’s work.
3:00: Easy Closing Activity and Pick Up (coloring, puzzle, dance along video)
Expectations
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. It is understood that students are to behave in a polite and respectful manner while at the theater. Profanity, verbal disrespect, name calling and/or bullying of any type will not be tolerated. Moreover, pushing, shoving, hitting or rough-housing of any kind is strictly prohibited. We ask that the students not run while inside the building. Students are asked to listen and follow instructions to ensure everyone's safety. Students are not allowed to bring any kind of weapon to the building (this includes swiss army knives, etc.) and are asked not to bring cell phones, tablets, cameras, laptops, MP3 players or other electronic devices which might become damaged, lost or stolen. It is understood that Exit 7 Theater and its staff are absolutely not responsible for any damaged, lost or stolen items which the students may elect to bring with them. It is understood that the parents will remind their children of the correct way to behave while in theater.Students who repeatedly violate the rules and guidelines will be expelled without a refund.
Our Directors
Eleanor Tynan (Co-Director)
Eleanor Tynan is an experienced theater teacher and performer and is currently on the board of directors for Exit 7. She has performed in a wide array of shows in her career, ranging from community theater to performances at the Kennedy Center and an Off Broadway Showcase. Eleanor has a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater, and a Masters in Theater Education. Eleanor currently serves as the K-5 theater teacher in Springfield Public Schools. Eleanor's favorite youth theater moments include playing costume games, making shadow creations with lighting, and improv!
Jackie Berube (Co-director) is honored to make her Theater Adventure debut at Exit 7 Players! Jackie has always had a passion for theater, both on and off stage. Jackie ran a theater camp and has produced and directed several Junior Musicals at Bellamy Middle School, where she used to work as a math teacher. She has produced, stage managed and assistant directed shows with Amherst Community Theater and directed both Cinderella (2023 Summer Youth) and James and the Giant Peach (2024 Summer Youth) here at Exit 7. She played drums and keys in the pit band for Starlight Youth Theater as well. Favorite roles include Hope/Waitress in Almost, Maine, Lady Clapham in Something Rotten (Exit 7), Nana in Tuck Everlasting (WTG), Duloc Dancer in Shrek (ALSCT), and Mrs. Corry in Mary Poppins (Starlight). Jackie currently works as a Math Coach for Agawam Public Schools. She lives in Chicopee with her husband, AJ, and their daughter, Ripley and their cat Dipstick.
Exit 7 Players
Exit 7 is a community theater group located in Ludlow, Massachusetts that was founded in the spring of 1984 and began with a production of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians. Located on Chestnut Street in the historic auditorium of what was previously the Ludlow High School, the Exit 7 Players have focused on renovating the Chestnut Street Theater while bringing the arts to Ludlow and the surrounding communities.