BPA Theatre School Offers Two Summer Sessions

News from Bainbridge Performing Arts
For Immediate Release:
Date: May 6, 2008
Contact: Sally Jo Martine, Public Relations Director
Phone: 206.842.8578
Fax: 206.842.0195
Web: www.BainbridgePerformingArts.org
Email: smartine@BainbridgePerformingArts.org

Time to Act THIS Summer 2008
BPA Theatre School Offers Two Summer Sessions
Beginning June 30 and July 15
BPA Theatre School’s adventure-filled summer 2008 offerings take up pirates, treasure, dragons, and high seas fun. Registrations are now underway for two summer sessions for grades 1 – 8.
BPA’s first summer Theatre School session meets June 30 – July 11. Students, grades 1 – 2, explore far away ports, salty tales, and bizarre creatures of the sea in The Legend of Captain Bly. In The Pirate’ Curse, third and fourth grade students rejoin Captain Blye and his mangy pirate crew, when they’re marooned on an island in the South Seas. Fifth to eighth grade students plunge into DragonSphere—a two-part original theatrical production by Steven Fogell. In Chapter 1, The Awakening, the year is 4048, and the Earth is recovering from a near-fatal asteroid impact. Amid the chaos and fear, DragonSphere emerges, revealing a new world that ignites the stage with energy and excitement.
BPA Theatre School’s second summer session meets July 15 – 25. First and second grade students use movement, singing, and acting to explore dragon fun in The Dragons of Noma, a spirited adventure that leads to the birthplace of the very first dragons. In Dragon Fire, the dragons have matured, and students, grades 3 – 4, employ characterization, movement, music, and dragon magic to show how the dragons’ special powers can save us all. Students, grades 5 – 8, return for the exciting conclusion of DragonSphere. In Chapter 2, Trial of Ashes, the war of the four dragons has thrust the world into chaos, and it falls to a small band of humanity to save the planet or find a way to escape.
An impassioned and talented team of teachers leads BPA Theatre School’s summer adventures. BPA stage veteran and instructor for grades 1 - 4, Gabe Carbajal has taught BPA Theatre School’s pre-school classes for the last two years, and later this summer, he takes on the role of “mentor performer” for Camp Broadway’s Thoroughly Modern Millie. Sophia Federighi, Jessica Low, and Steven Fogell guide fifth to eighth grade students through the futuristic adventures of DragonSphere. New to BPA’s teaching staff, Sophia Federighi has an AA from Seattle Central with an emphasis in theatre arts, including performance, playwriting, directing, and technical training. She vocal directs Thoroughly Modern Millie later this summer. Jessica Low is passionate about working with youth, and has worked as a youth educator for Civic Light Opera, ArtsWest, and Broadway Bound Children’s Theatre. Currently she is an instructor/director/choreographer for Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE program where she works with Pre-K through 12th grade students, teaching exploratory and musical theatre classes. She directs this summer’s production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. BPA’s Artistic Director Steven Fogell has been a part of BPA for more than twelve years, working as a teacher, director, and designer. He has directed more than 60 Mainstage and Theatre School shows for BPA, and is a published playwright and screenplay writer.
BPA’s educational programs support the values of successful learning and include year-round classes and performances for ages 4-adult. BPA Theatre School offerings have been met with rave reviews. About this spring’s outreach production, 45 Million Years of Dinosaurs in 45 Minutes, Cameron Bailey of Ordway Elementary enthused, “This was the most spectacular play I have ever seen...ever!” Nine-year-old Alyssa Navarrete, also of Ordway Elementary School, echoed Cameron’s sentiments, saying, “This play was hilarious and I learned a little too!!!”
BPA Theatre School’s adventure-filled summer 2008 classes disclose the magic of performing and the thrill of being a part of live theatre. All levels of experience are welcome. Interested parties should call TODAY to register for BPA Theatre School’s summer offerings at 206.842.8569.
Bainbridge Performing Arts extends special thanks to its sponsors: 2007 - 2008 Season Media Sponsor—Bainbridge Island Review; and Theatre School Presenting Sponsor—Prudential Northwest Real Estate. BPA is supported, in part, by the Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council, the City of Bainbridge Island, One Call for All, and and by a two-year Organizational Support Program grant from the Washington State Arts Commission.
For more information, visit online or join BPA’s mailing list at www.BainbridgePerformingArts.org.
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