Summer on Stage

Kids at the Portland Actors Conservatory's Summer On Stage program this past summer

Portland Actors Conservatory is proudly celebrating its 27th year in the Portland theatre community and the completion of another amazing session of the popular summer camp program, Summer on Stage. 

Summer on Stage is a fun and educational camp for kids to gain experience with theatre techniques, and learn how the production process of a show works from auditions to the final product. The program is available to youth ages eight to 18 and is aimed towards both beginners to theatre as well as experienced young actors.

This year’s Summer on Stage offered two two-and-a-half week sessions in July and August. Under the direction of talented teachers Melissa Whitney and Andrea White, the young actors spent the mornings focusing on training in movement, voice, improvisation, learning monologues, the do's and don’t's of auditions, as well as how to make a proper acting resume. After lunch, the rehearsal process began for the productions that would be performed at the end of the camp. This allows youth to integrate their morning classwork, while focusing on acting techniques and line memorization.  

In the first session this year, the young actors put on a production of William Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors. The second session took on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, as well as a clever original play, written by the ensemble of students, called A Little Bit of Scramblet. The final products were performed with costumes, full lights and sound in front of an audience of friends and family in the Fire House Theater in downtown Portland. The kids in the second session also ended their program with a "Thriller" flash mob on the Portland State University park blocks (see video below). 

Summer on Stage provides a unique and instructive way for young thespians to spend their summer in the Portland area. The program is open to any child between eight and 18, and does not require an audition to enroll.  It is an environment where youth can have fun and learn how to thrive in the theatre world.

Besides Summer on Stage, PAC also provides a four day musical theatre intensive class in June for youth ages 13 to 18. There are also many classes provided throughout the year for adults and youth, such as Acting: Act 1, Audition Techniques, Film Weekend Intensive, Shakespeare Weekend Intensive, and more.

Portland Actors Conservatory is also pleased to have recently announced its 2011-2012 season of plays:

Reckless

November 30th – December 19th

Twelfth Night

February 15th – March 4th

Holy Ghosts

April 11th – April 29th

Graduate Showcase

May 16th – May 19th

If you are interested in getting details on tickets, signing up for classes and Summer on Stage, or joining the two year conservatory, check out Portland Actors Conservatory online at www.actorsconservatory.com.