PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TRAINING FOR YOUTH AGED 9 TO 17!

Morpheus Theatre is pleased to announce that the G&S Junior Theatre School program is growing.  After 4 successful seasons, the Juniors are making room for more teenagers to participate in our program.

Starting in October 2015, we will be offering both a Junior class for students 9 to 13 years old, and a Senior class for students 14 to 17 years old. The program will continue to be led by Michelle Brandenburg and Naomi Williams and give youth an opportunity to expand their acting skills and challenge themselves with the lyrics and patter of a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta. The Senior class will also include more advanced acting skills and choreography.

The course is a performance-based process. Both classes will run Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:30 beginning October 17. Classes will include professional instruction in Acting and Voice and the program will culminate in two youth performances on the set of our mainstage production in the Victor Mitchell Theatre at the Pumphouse Theatre for their family and friends. They will work on a full set with lights, sounds, and costumes.

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 warm-ups, 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: Saturday, October 17  to Saturday May 14, 10:00 – 11:30am
***No classes over winter break or holiday long weekends.

COST: Juniors – $350, Seniors – $400     FAMILY DISCOUNT- Family members save $50!
***Payment plans are available – please call 403-246-2999

WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre, Lower Level, 3512 5 Avenue NW

Space is limited so register early! Click here to register online  or call our office at (403) 246-2999.

Morpheus Theatre is pleased to announce the promotion of Ginette Simonot to the position of Operations Manager.  Ginette has been with Morpheus for 7 and a half years as our Theatre Administrator.  During this time Ginette has been the friendly voice taking care of our patrons and volunteers, she has also been essential in managing our office and helping ensure that 30 productions and numerous workshops and classes got off the ground.

Over time Ginette’s role with the theatre has expanded, with major changes taking place as we moved into the Parkdale Community Centre, with her taking over space rentals and  third party ticketing services.  As such, the title of Theatre Administrator no longer suited the multitude of tasks that Ginette does with our organization.  In fact, we couldn’t find an equivalent position in any Canadian theatre company.

Please join me in congratulating Ginette on this promotion and join us at our Annual Appreciation BBQ on Sunday June 14^th where you can congratulate her in person.

Regards,
Sean Anderson
Artistic Director, Morpheus Theatre

Workshop: Clown Intensive 

with Alice Nelson

Sat May 16 & Sun May 17, 12:00 – 4:00

More than just red noses!

SYNOPSIS:

There is no fourth wall for a clown. Playing in the present is the ultimate challenge. The exercises and creation process prepares students to take risks. They must live the play that is happening, while trusting their own sense of humor.

Students will explore and appreciate the clown realm through the use of games (understanding play), improvisation and ensemble creation. In the role of provocateur, I act as side-coach, encouraging students in discovering their own unique clown entity. Students learn the history of clown and the categories within the clown style (red nose, character, white-face). Students receive training in physical comedy, building comic routines, and audience interaction. New solo, duo work and group work will be created.

Clown is a style that serves actors/creators it teaches humility, vulnerability, risk taking, trust and generosity. These traits are not only practiced within the ensemble, but with the audience. In clown, the relationship with the audience is paramount, as is the ability to abandon to the play.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Alice Nelson is a Calgary-based Actor, Playwright, Director, Theatre Educator, Producer, Puppeteer, Improvisor, Mask Maker and Clown. She holds an MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre from Dell’Arte Physical Theatre School in California. Alice has taught at Mount Royal University, Red Deer College, Rosebud School of the Arts, Artstrek Theatre Program and Epcor Center for the Performing Arts. She has worked with various Alberta theatres, including: Green Fools Theatre, Clunk Puppet Lab, Lunchbox Theatre, Northern Light Theatre, Quest Theatre, Urban Curvz, Trickster Theatre and WP Puppet Theatre. Alice has written and toured solo shows (Elephant, Local Celebrity, Swashbucklers, Ms.Sugarcoat) and co-created productions regarding social and political issues (Raunch, Keep Sweet). Her company, Organized Crime Productions, aims to produce works, which tells the stories of the underdogs, and bear witness to the world we know. Alice is a company member with the renown Loose Moose Theatre and regularly directs for their kid’s season. As well, she is a clown with the international humanitarian organization, Clowns Without Borders, and has attended four expeditions to South Africa, touring clown shows to schools, communities and orphanages. Her passion is supporting and raising awareness of CWB’s amazing work!

COST: $50 (registration online or by phone)

Register a group of 5 or more, and attend for less! Or, register for 3 workshops and get the 3rd one for 50% off (Call Morpheus Theatre to redeem).

WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre (3512 5 Avenue NW, Lower Level)

Refreshments served half an hour before the start of each day.

For more information, or to register, please click HERE or call (403) 246-2999.

MORE WORKSHOPS COMING! Click our WORKSHOP TAB for details.

This valuable workshop is presented at this low price in the spirit of Community Theatre.

The students will be performing our very own Junior Version of RUDDIGORE on the full set at the Pumphouse Theatre on Tues Apr 21!  This performance is for family and friends of the performers, but all are welcome to attend.

A special congratulations to Sean Haid, who completed the G&S Jr program last year, and this year is in the adult show! Way to go Sean!

Tickets are $12 each and available online here: https://tickets.morpheustheatre.ca/

For more information on our G&S Jr Program, please click here: http://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=17

In the next couple months, we will be contacting you a couple more times to remind you to SIGN UP for our new content-based mailing lists. Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to sign up for the emailing lists that interest them. Simply log in on our website HERE and update your mailing preferences. (If you think that you do not have a password, simply use the “forgot your password” feature.) If you are having difficulty updating your preferences, please call us at 403-246-2999 or email tickets@morpheustheatre.ca.

Our newsletter will also be shifting to a blog format, which you will be able to follow on Facebook, Twitter, or join our #5 General News List.