Harry Patrick Christian and Phoebe Farber
(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, is offering its first slate of creative summer workshops for adults, the Summer Studio, in addition to its popular Improv Classes. Workshops include Public Speaking, Script Reading, Creativity and Storytelling. They begin on July 6 and end on July 23, 2026. Enrollment is now open.
This summer, Vivid Stage offers the fun of summer camp for adults. Participants can dive deep into storytelling, hone their public speaking skills, learn to analyze scripts, or find their creative spark. It’s possible to register for one workshop, or sample them all. Each workshop meets on a different weekday morning. The Summer Studio is perfect for seniors, teachers, freelancers, entrepreneurs, college students, or anyone with a flexible summer schedule.
The Public Speaking Workshop meets Mondays, July 6, 13, and 20 from 10:00am - 12 noon. This class is perfect for those who have always dreaded public speaking, but also for those who enjoy it, but want to improve their skills. Learn to communicate clearly, honestly and passionately with an audience of any size, while practicing in a safe space. Instructor: Harry Patrick Christian.
The Playscript Reading Workshop meets Tuesdays, July 7, 14, and 21 from 10:00am - 12 noon. It’s just like a book club, only students will be reading a selection of plays, both outside of and during class. The group will learn about their context, impact and form of storytelling as they enjoy getting to know a variety of characters and playwrights. Instructor: Harry Patrick Christian.
The Creativity Workshop meets Wednesdays, July 8, 15, and 22 from 10:00am - 12 noon. The workshop allows students to have fun exploring their imagination and creative potential. Students will use exercises in creative writing, photography, sculpture and music to illustrate the world of creativity and access their own creative power. These exercises will illustrate core creative concepts, such as risk-taking, tolerating uncertainty, optimism, divergent thinking and the imagination. Instructor: Phoebe Farber.
The Storytelling Workshop meets Thursdays, July 9, 16, and 23 from 10:00am - 12 noon. This workshop is for those who love The Moth, or any other storytelling platform, and have always wanted to try their hand at storytelling. Students will learn about structure and practice performance skills to turn a personal experience into a polished, engaging, and affecting story. Instructor: Harry Patrick Christian.
Each workshop is $120, and those who take all four workshops will receive a free ticket to one of Vivid Stage’s mainstage shows next season. Registration information, and more information about the instructors, can be found here. Classes will be held at the Oakes Center, 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, New Jersey. The venue is wheelchair accessible.
Vivid Stage was founded in 1994 as Dreamcatcher Rep, and is a non-profit professional ensemble of actors who build community with the audience by sharing contemporary, life-affirming stories that challenge, energize and entertain. Their work has at its heart a belief in the essential goodness of people and the power of live performance to connect people through our shared humanity. They expose theatregoers to ideas and lives like and unlike their own with the intention of awakening their imaginations and creating empathy for others. They deepen the experience of all their patrons with personal contact through receptions, talkbacks, and interactive programs.
The company’s activities include mainstage productions, improvisational comedy and cabarets, new play readings, works in a variety of media, and a menu of educational and senior outreach programs.
Vivid Stage’s programs are funded by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, the Shubert and Summit Foundations and many other corporations, foundations and individuals. Vivid Stage is an Equity Producing member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Vivid Stage, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) corporation, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
