Karitos Theatre Arts Faculty Bios and Classes 2008

This year the Theatre Arts Department goes to the drawing board with new design-related and technical classes, and reprises some of your favorite classes from past years, too!

Intro to Stage Management Intro to Set Design Props 101 Make-Up for the Stage Costume Design: The Process Making Something Out of Nothing Historical Costume How-To The Nuts & Bolts of Production Drama in Worship Bringing the Scriptures to Life on Stage Acting 101: The Fundamentals Character Development Stand-Up Comedy Panel Sessions…and MORE!

Alan Atwood (Brookfield, WI)
Alan was co-founder of Acacia Theatre Company, a Christian theatre company in Milwaukee, and served as its Artistic Director for nine years. He currently serves as Pastor of Drama at Eastbrook and also tours several one-man plays around the country.

Drama in Worship
Useful for writers, directors and worship leaders who choose or write dramas for their services. This session will examine such things as how to prepare spiritually for doing drama in worship and how drama can best contribute to your congregation's worship experience.
Technical Requirements: chalkboard w/ chalk and eraser, or whiteboard w/ markers and eraser.

 

Allen D. Edge (Naperville, IL)
Allen is an ordained minister, actor, director, and comedian with over thirty five years of experience in stage, film, and commercial work. Allen serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Christian Artists Network, and is the founder and president of Transitions Edge Productions.

Acting 101: The Fundamentals
This is an introduction to the discipline of Theatre Arts. Students will learn the history of theatre and performance ethics. They will learn the biblical significance and application of theatre to the body of Christ. Students will also learn how to use the voice, body, and imagination in a theatre presentation. This course will include stage movement and terminologies.

Character Development
This session is for advanced students. We’ll discover ways to make characters live inside the actor and outside on the stage.

Stand-Up Comedy
This session is for anyone who has a desire to make people laugh. We’ll discover your style, and discuss performance ethics and how to develop material.

Phillip Hoagland (Louisville, KY)
Phil chairs the Theatre Arts and Humanities departments at Seneca High School in Louisville and has a wide range of experience in theatrical production. Phil and his wife, Maura, are ordained ministers and the founders of Adveniat Regnum Tuum (A.R.T.) Ministries.

Intro to Stage Management
The Stage Manager is perhaps the most important member of an effective production team. Yet this crucial position is--almost universally--the least understood and most neglected in amateur and educational theatre circles. This lecture/discussion class will examine the highly complex, fascinating, exacting and rewarding world of "SM"ing.

Intro to Set Design
From the bare stage to complex, multi-scene sets, the set designer provides the environment for the action. This class will introduce you to the set designer’s responsibilities, outline the phases of the design process, and explore how even simple design elements can enhance your performance projects.

Props 101
Props are an essential part of most skits and plays, but finding, building, organizing, storing, tracking and maintaining them can be a real challenge! This class will introduce you to the intricate world of the Properties Master. Come and learn how to safely, effectively and efficiently “prop” a production in its successive phases from preliminary design to final strike.

Janet Peterson (Milwaukee, WI)
Janet has acted professionally at a variety of Milwaukee-area theatres and directs at Martin Luther High School. However, her theatre home for the last 23 years has been Acacia Theatre Company, where she has held the position of Artistic Director since 2003.

Bringing the Scriptures to Life on Stage
Put the Scriptures, as they are written, on stage. Janet has staged large portions of the Bible including Revelation, Ephesians, Galatians (with Mike Landers), as well as a musical revue based on Psalms, and Lessons and Carols based on sacred holiday passages. In this class you’ll learn how to give voices and faces to the Scriptures, fleshing them out for your audience or congregation, and reinforcing them through a living visual presentation. Make your next Scripture reading more than just words!

Collaborative Sessions

The Nuts & Bolts of Production …and a few loose screws!
This open forum is geared for adults responsible for or involved in the production large group performances such as plays, musicals, dance concerts, etc. The theatre faculty and some special guests will be on hand to address your questions and concerns about any aspect of producing quality performances that minister, and will share with you whatever wit, wisdom, deep spiritual insights, or just plain sneaky “tricks of the trade” that we have garnered in our experience in ministry and the arts. Design, directing, stage management, tech stuff, fund-raising, audience relations, costuming, dealing with that little... oops!...uh...I mean, that dear young sister in the cast...whatever. You bring it, we'll discuss it.