THEATER MAKERS

THEATER MAKERS combines acting with creating! Kids will learn acting techniques alongside developing characters they create, conflicts they devise, in settings from their own imaginations. In this way, kids get to steer their theater journeys, while guided in a safe, nurturing and fun environment! Each class consists of warm-ups, along with theater games and exercises that develop skills in areas such as movement & music, puppetry, monologues, voice, script-reading, character development and story. This series is about the process of exploring acting and creating (not a memorized and rehearsed final production), although kids will have lots of opportunities to perform for classmates throughout! There will be an “open studio” on the final day where family members are invited to come and see the kids in action!

SPRING 2024 - HARRISON, NY
WHEN – Thursdays, April 18-May 30 (invited “open studio” on the final day)
WHERE – Veteran’s Memorial Building: 210 Halstead Ave, Harrison
*Grades 1-3: 3:45pm-4:45pm
*Grades 3-5: 5pm-6pm
Space is limited
Contact Harrison Town Recreation Department for registration form or click here for the registration form (coming soon).

MEET THE TEACHING ARTIST

Tara is an award-winning and published playwright with her MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. She also loves to make theater with kids! She has taught theater in schools, theaters, college, a library, a discovery studio, a housing authority, a group home, to Girl Scouts...from preschoolers to kids, teens and adults—she enjoys seeing students’ love of theater and confidence grow. She believes that theater builds important life-muscles like creativity, empathy, cooperation and confidence. She also believes kids are brimming with ideas and energy, and theater gives a wonderful outlet to explore that—from zany to deep, silly to serious—theater allows for all voices and stories to be told! Plus, let’s face it: THEATER IS FUN! (And, hey, where else do people give you applause on a regular basis?)

In Tara’s classes, she fosters a warm environment where kids are given opportunities to connect with each other and get to know each other. She has seen many workshops and clubs for kids and adults alike where participants don’t have the chance to introduce themselves, let alone build a comfortable classroom relationship. Tara believes in “breaking the ice,” so that outgoing or introverted kids are given assistance in relating to each other, and building fun and meaningful experiences from there.

While Tara writes a lot for adults, she also loves writing for kids. You can check out Tara’s monologues for kids here and her plays for kids here. You can read more about Tara’s theater background here. Tara has two theatrical kids of her own, as well as a musical husband, and fluffy cat (who likes to pretend she’s above the drama, but we all know she’s not!). Tara has a knack for finding four-leaf clovers, can recite all 50 states in less than 30 seconds, likes to bake, play games, draw weird things, travel and read children’s books out loud in all sorts of accents and voices. She can’t wait to meet all the Theater Makers!

TESTIMONIALS

“Not only is Tara an extraordinarily gifted playwright, she is also a generous teacher who understands the power theater has to shape lives and deepen our understanding of our communities and our world.”
~Kevin Christopher Snipes, Creator of The Two Princes for Gimlet Media; Author of Milo and Marcos at the End of the World

“My daughter loved Tara’s Theater Makers program. The informal approach of creating the production including characters, plot, and script put her in the driver’s seat. The audience was blown away!”
~Katrina S. Parent

"Tara is an amazing director and great working with different children. So happy with my kids working with her!"
~Maryam. A Parent

“My daughter loved theater group with Tara! She encouraged her to contribute her own ideas to their production and really nurtured her creativity and individuality. When my daughter was struggling with some outside issues, Tara took the time to check in with her at the start of each class and helped her get in a better headspace so she was ready and enthusiastic to participate. Tara is a wonderful teacher and person and I highly recommend her!”
~Tara S. Parent

PAST THEATER MAKERS SESSIONS

OTHER WORKSHOPS - COMING SOON…

PLAYWRITING

Be in the room where it happens! Theater starts at story and character creation, and in this workshop, young writers have the exciting opportunity to have their voices heard. Each session will begin with a low-pressure ice breaker, to help build a supportive environment. Then writers will interactively explore elements of playwriting, such as character, dialogue, setting and story. They will learn what goes into writing a scene, play or monologue and have the chance to write, and hear read out loud, their own work!

MONOLOGUE WORKSHOP

Let your inner voice shine! Kids will learn to write a short monologue and perform it! They will explore key elements of what makes an engaging monologue, and work on basic acting to get the most out of their personal performance.

BASIC DIRECTING & ACTING FOR KIDS

Kids get to act and direct each other in this fun series! In small groups, kids choose scenes to explore from an acting perspective, as well as learn how to ask directing questions and stage moments.

THEATER MAKERS 2 WITH COLLABORATIVE PLAY

Theater Makers will create and star in their own play! Kids will learn basic theater skills through games and improvisation. Then they will write, rehearse and perform their own original short play! While this series has a final presentation, the focus remains on the process of acting, character and story creation, not the final presentation. Previous Theater Makers experience is a bonus, but not required.