(TEANECK, NJ) -- Black Box Studios is the "in house" educational theater company for the new Black Box Performing Arts Center of Englewood, NJ. While their new space remains closed due to the unprecedented health emergency, Black Box has pivoted online this summer and will continue programming virtually until it's safe to meet in person once again.
"Based on the incredible success of our Spring semester, which was mainly held on Zoom and culminated in a remarkable End-of-Semester showcase with over 40 students performing for an audience of 100+ on June 17th, we are confident about starting these workshops online and we'll see where it all takes us!", explains Black Box Managing Director Danielle MacMath, who'll serve as the floater for all workshops while co-producing and starring in BB's professional 'Shakespeare In The Park Bergen County 2020' programming this summer.
Other Teaching Artists include professional performers Mike Gardiner, Ilana Schimmel, Cassandra Guglielmo, Broadway veteran Jeff Keller, and BB's Artistic Director Matt Okin.
The following Zoom-based daily morning workshops are now open for registration in the form of 2-week Monday-Friday sessions, each culminating in a Friday, late-morning 'showcase' open to family, friends, and the general public:
Exploring Musical Theater, 9:30-10:30AM - Experiment with songs, monologues, short scenes, and choreography from favorite shows! Ages 13-19
Introducing Musical Theater, 9:30-10:30AM - Work on songs, short scenes, and dance moves from famous, Disney-type musicals! Ages 9-14
Drama Workshop, 9:15-10:45AM - Experiment with acting with scenes from cutting-edge works for the stage. Ages 16 -Adult
Acting Shakespeare, 11:00AM-12:30PM - Work on remarkable monologues, scenes, and more from great works of The Bard. Ages 14-19
Dramatic Writing Workshop, 11:00AM-12:30PM - Explore outlets and technique for expressing yourself through the writing of plays, screenplays, or teleplays. Ages 19+ (with some exceptions upon request)
Vocal Workshop, 11:15AM-12:30PM - Improve singing style, technique, and discipline with Broadway Veteran Voice Instructor Jeff Keller Ages 10-Adult
Dates:
Session I: Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 17
Sesssion II: Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 31
Session III: Monday, August 3 - Friday, August 14
All classes require a min. of 6 participants to run, and some may be combined with others if enrollment dictates. Private sessions at various times of the day are also available by special arrangement with each Teaching Artist.
Pricing (at Black Box, no one has ever been turned away for financial reasons): one daily morning workshop per two week period: $225; two daily morning workshops per two week period: $400.
For further information visit www.blackboxpac.com/classes.
The Black Box Performing Arts Center's founders developed proprietary, innovative, and uniquely collaborative workshops in theater (drama and musicals), acting, improv, music, and writing. For adults, teens, and children from all backgrounds, these programs are offered throughout the year and most are performance-based, with the resulting productions playing on our main stage. Now, the Black Box student community shares space with the Black Box Repertory Company, a cutting-edge group of theater professionals who run BBPAC and are about produce their fourth full season of professional theater, including new, recent, and more established works for the stage. Their work can be also be seen in NYC at select times throughout the year.
Originally started in the ballroom of a historic community center on Teaneck's Cedar Lane in 2007, Black Box has emerged as one of the premiere performing arts schools in the Tri-State area, offering a unique form of theater training that utilizes a proprietary improv-based collaborative teaching methodology which allows for maximum success in confidence building, group dynamics, creative output and flow, and true freedom of expression.
Photo Credit: Amy Lebovics Photography