VIRTUAL Spring 2021
Virtual Spring 2021 Schedule
5 Weeks April 10 – May 8
Little Twisters
4-4:45pm MONDAYS – Musical Theatre featuring Mary Poppins (starting April 5) – Ages 5-6 ONLY
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
“There’s a whole world at your feet!” Imaginations spring to life as you become Mary Poppins, Bert, and Jane or Michael Banks. Dance on the rooftops and become a chimney sweep while learning how to partner with a broom (Chim Chim Chiminy). Learn how to pronounce and sing one of the longest words ever (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious). And, of course, discover the fun in A Spoonful of Sugar! Find your voice and build confidence as you learn to speak and sing clearly. There will be a short performance on the last day of each class (May 3rd); at the end, each actor will take their bow!
4-4:45pm TUESDAYS – Musical Theatre featuring Mary Poppins (starting April 6) – Ages 6-7 ONLY
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
“There’s a whole world at your feet!” Imaginations spring to life as you become Mary Poppins, Bert, and Jane or Michael Banks. Dance on the rooftops and become a chimney sweep while learning how to partner with a broom (Chim Chim Chiminy). Learn how to pronounce and sing one of the longest words ever (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious). Find the fun in A Spoonful of Sugar! And, work through the acting process of a monologue using The Perfect Nanny. Develop your voice and build confidence as you learn to speak and sing clearly.
There will be a short performance on the last day of each class (May 4th); at the end, each actor will take their bow!
SATURDAYS
YOUTH (7-10 yrs)
9am Musical Theatre Prep featuring Schoolhouse Rock
Instructor: John Rea
Get your act together. Sharpen your acting, singing and dancing skills. This class will feature the audition songs for our Musical Theatre Camp production of Schoolhouse Rock this summer. You’ll learn how to make videos and audio files that will blend together, courtesy of the editing skills of John Rea, to make theatre like you’ve never made it before. Dive into the roles and bring your characters to life. This is a great class for all of you who are interested in our summer camp musicals.
10:30am Landing the Dream Role
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
Do auditions make you feel nervous? This important class will help you turn those butterflies into the energy you need to perform to the best of your ability. Together we will walk through the steps of preparing for an audition. Our work will culminate in two mock auditions in which you will have the opportunity to be on both sides of the audition table: as the actor auditioning and the persons in charge of the show. Monologues from contemporary plays and musicals will be used. We encourage you to try out your monologue in front of an audience at our Open Mic Night on May 1st at 7 PM to practice the skills we’ve worked on together.
1:30pm Production Class featuring Mirror
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
This class will feature a new short play by writer, comedian, and MacGuffin alum, Kate Leone. Mirror is the story of a young actress on Open Mic Night who must decide to perform or back out at the last minute. All the different sides of her personality are revealed through the mirror in the Green Room and come to her aid in making her choice. Creating this show together will take us on the full journey of bringing a story to life. Build your confidence, project your voice, and memorize your lines while rehearsing and performing this short play! Everyone will get a great part to sink their teeth into. Each actor will also create their own costume. The play will be performed on the final day of class (May 8).
MIDDLERS (11-14 yrs) and TEENS (15-18 yrs)
9am Scene Study featuring Scenes from Contemporary Musicals
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
Being a triple threat means singing, dancing, and acting. This class focuses on the moments between the music—an in depth look at how to play the complex roles in a musical. Take your acting to the next level by working through the storytelling that happens when you’re not singing and dancing. We’ll be using scenes from Mean Girls, Six, The Addams Family, Bring It On, and more!
10:30am Musical Theatre Prep featuring High School Musical 2 (MIDDLERS ONLY)
Instructor: John Rea
Get your act together. Sharpen your acting, singing and dancing skills. This class will feature the audition songs for our Musical Theatre Camp production of Disney’s High School Musical 2 this summer. You’ll learn how to make videos and audio files that will blend together, courtesy of the editing skills of John Rea, to make theatre like you’ve never made it before. Dive into the roles and bring your characters to life. This is a great class for all of you who are interested in our summer camp musicals.
11:30am Musical Theatre Prep featuring Pippin (TEENS ONLY)
Instructor: John Rea
Get your act together. Sharpen your acting, singing and dancing skills. This class will feature the audition songs for our Musical Theatre Camp production of Pippin this summer. You’ll learn how to make videos and audio files that will blend together, courtesy of the editing skills of John Rea, to make theatre like you’ve never made it before. Dive into the roles and bring your characters to life. This is a great class for all of you who are interested in our summer camp musicals.
1pm Comedy Improv
Instructor: Jen Jaynes
Making people laugh is one of the great joys in life. Get your funny on while you learn to create comedy on the spot, using simple suggestions and your own top-of-your-head responses. Comedy and the ability to bring humor to a situation serves you in every aspect of your life. We have a long tradition of creating comedy improv at MacGuffin, with our expert comedians performing in This Side Up Comedy Improv Troupe. This class is a perfect first step in learning how to work with partners, make up wacky jokes and characters, and test your limits…all while having a great time! If you like the tv show Whose Line is it Anyway, you can’t miss this class!
SUNDAYS
OLDER MIDDLERS (13-14 yrs) and TEENS (15-18 yrs)
10-11:30am Makeup for Actors: Putting on a Show (ages 13-18)
Instructor: Emma Ditnes
“The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, and makeup all express something.” – Gene Simmons
Take your character development to the next level and put your design and application skills to the test as you create new looks. Students will choose from a pre-selected list of theatrical shows and movies to design and execute the makeup of one character per week, resulting in a cohesive look for the piece. From old age to battle scars, from fairies to the undead, from the masculine to the feminine to anthropomorphic animals, and so much more. Students will be responsible for providing their own basic stage makeup (foundation, blush, eye liner, eye shadow, mascara, lip balm, and either a package of foam wedges OR a set of brushes). Come prepared to create!
This class is limited to ten students—no exceptions!
2-4pm Directing Lab 2.0 (ages 13-18)
Instructor: Liz Fredette
“Directing is like putting together a collage.” – Ethan Hawke.
A director’s job is the same as that of an actor…to tell a story. But while the actor tells the story from their own speaking, actions, and reactions, the director thinks about creating a living and breathing world with actors and set and props and costumes and music that should all work to support the text and story.
This class will explore the process of directing from conception to execution. Learn the fundamentals of script analysis. Practice guiding and enabling actors as they build characters. Establish the aesthetic of the design in order to create a cohesive environment that serves the play while adding your own style and point of view. The class will approach directing from two vantages: each student will direct a duet of two other students from the class and everyone will work with a play of their choosing to create and present a mock production plan, including overall concept and design elements.
This class is perfect for actors who think they might like to direct one day or want to understand how the other side thinks. If you’re new to the world of directing, this is a great place to start! If you’ve taken a version of this class before, we will build on what you’ve learned in the past.
This class is limited to nine students—no exceptions!
Five Week Class Tuition**: $125.
**Make Up Class – $180
**Directing – $200
FINE PRINT
This video will take students through how to set up their virtual space for classes and productions. MacGuffin Virtual Space Video
Most classes are 1 hour in length except for Little Twister Classes (45 minutes)
All students will be emailed the Zoom link for each of their classes. This link will be used for all 5 weeks.
Tuition will NOT be refundable after the 1st week of classes.
Our email address is info@macguffintf.com
A limited number of scholarships and work/study’s are available for MacGuffin classes on a financial need basis. Learn More