Morpheus Theatre is excited to announce the launch of our G&S Junior Theatre School Program
- Professional Theatre Training for youth aged 9 to 14!

Program Overview

Come join us in the fall of 2011 as we explore the world of Gilbert & Sullivan by mounting a full scale production of HMS Pinafore. The production will be staged at the Victor Mitchell Theatre in April of 2012.

Learn Musical Theatre at its finest! Young performers will experience professional training and support in acting, singing and dancing. Our instructors are Calgary-based artists with the passion and enthusiasm that is essential for developing the skills and showcasing the talents of young artists. No experience is neccesary.

The course is a performance based process.  We will spend six months working on staging a full scale production of the Junior version of HMS Pinnafore. The participants will take the stage for one night only in the Victor Mitchell Theatre at The Pumphouse Theatres to perform for their family and friends.  They will work on a full set with lights, sounds, and costumes.

All children will receive professional training in singing, dancing and acting as well as study the process and experience all of the performing elements involved in a live theatre production.

Initially the children will be working as a single group while we develop basic skills in all of the performance elements.  Once we move into the casting and rehearsal phase they will be split up according to their roles in the show.  All of the children will receive a role in the piece (roles will be assigned by the instructors, and will be geared towards each child's skill level and what will benefit their development as a performer the most.)

Students enrolled in the program will learn the basics in choral singing, such as tuning, breath management, proper formation of vowels, good diction, posture and facial expression through vocal warmups, exercises, and homework.  The basics of musical sight reading will be taught, listening skills will be honed, and singing in harmony will be introduced.  Students will gain confidence and aptitude in their singing.  The fun, humour and drama of Gilbert and Sullivan is a great way for youth to be introduced to classical music.  Group vocal lessons encourage teamwork and friendship, in a low stress environment!  All students will also have the opportunity to try their hand at solo singing, if they so wish, and the learning environment created will be positive and constructive.

DATE: Starting Saturday, September 10th, 10:00 - 11:30 every Saturday.
COST: $400; $350 Season ticket holders.
(Payment plans are available - please call 403-246-2999)
WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre, Parkdale Community Centre

Register online now!
Or Call our office at (403) 246-2999.

No classes over winter break or holiday long weekends.

Instructor Bios:

Michelle Brandenburg (Acting & Theatre School Coordinator)
Michelle Brandenburg is a professional theatre artist living in the West Bragg Creek area.  She is an Artistic Associate with Morpheus Theatre and has been working in the Calgary Arts community for the past 10 years. Over the last while her focus has moved towards cultivation of the performing arts in young audiences and she is thrilled to be sharing her passion for theatre with the students of G&S Junior.  In her capacity as a performer, educator and writer, she has had the privilege of touring Calgary Schools, promoting Early Literacy through theatre.  She has directed various plays and large scale musicals, performed alongside brilliant actors, and led a variety of workshops and weekly classes. She also has the privilege of organizing Calgary’s only festival for emerging professional artists.

Naomi Williams (Music)
Born and Raised in Regina, SK, and bitten by the music bug there, she moved to Ontario at 18 to pursue a music degree in Voice Performance. After university, she taught voice and piano for three years in Guelph, ON. Naomi moved to Calgary in mid-2007, and has since performed lead roles with Morpheus Theatre, Front Row Centre, and Cappucino Musical Theatre. She is a member of the Calgary Opera Chorus, and the lead singer of classic rock cover band Blacklight Jack. She also teaches voice lessons privately.

Jessica Barrera (Dance)
Her unique movement training began in Toronto with the guidance of Marsha Kennington's Main Space School of Circus Arts and coaches from the Moscow Circus. She later joined Cirque du Soleil's creative circle, training and touring with the North American tour of 'Quidam' as an aerial artist for a number of years. In the later stages of her circus career, she branched off to work with Cirque Sublime as a co-artistic director and performer for 4 years. She has also been privileged to have studied and worked with Mike Kennard and John Turner from Clown duo 'Mump and Smoot' as well as having taken part in the film and television scene as an actor, dancer and stunt performer. In recent years, her creative work has led to teaching through the arts; touring educational shows in Ontario Schools with Cascade theatre and most recently with Join the Dance Canada (Dancing Classroom's program featured in the documentary 'Mad Hot Ballroom'). She has also been invited into the Toronto Peace Theatre and Stratford Summer Intensive as a guest teacher, and as a full-time specialist to the Harbour Kids camp and Toronto School of Circus Arts. Jessica also continues to develop various playful practices like yoga (including teaching), massage therapy and clown.