Barter Theatre Youth Academy to Establish Satellite Campus in Kingsport
KINGSPORT – The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Kingsport Theatre Guild are pleased to welcome Barter Youth Academy to the Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre for Fall 2014. Barter Theatre has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation for superior artistic performance and entertaining theatre. Now Barter Theatre is providing an extraordinary education and excellent experience for Kingsport youth ages 5 to 18. Beginning Tuesday, September 16, 2014 Barter Youth Academy will present workshops for 8 weeks at the Kingsport Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre with professional teacher-directors from Barter Theatre. Students will be divided by age and work on subjects including Motivations, Situational Comedy and Character Changes. Youth of all ages will benefit from the confidence of getting up in front of a group of people and experience teamwork, leadership and acceptance. All students will perform in the Barter Youth Academys Demo Night on November 14 at the Renaissance Arts Center Theatre.
The Barter Youth Academy focuses on teaching students true theatre skills, from basic stage directions to advanced acting techniques.‚ The focus of the program is on this learning process, not just the end result of a performance.‚ Rather than serving as merely another chance for students to be on stage for one day, BYA instructors teach children and teenagers how to engage as an ensemble every day in rehearsal, and how to consistently grow as performers.‚ In keeping with this educational model, each semester session results in a demonstration (not a performance) for the public, wherein each of the major roles are played by several students in turn.‚ The BYA seeks to give every student the chance to expand as a performer, as opposed to casting only a handful of leads, and then focusing rehearsal on those chosen few.
The Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre is a multi-purpose community center, home to the Kingsport Senior Center and the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts as well as 5 major non-profit arts organizations including: Kingsport Art Guild, KingsportARTS, Symphony of the Mountains, Suzuki Talent Education of Appalachia and Kingsport Theatre Guild.‚ The facilities include a charming 350 seat theatre that is large enough to hold a great crowd but still feels intimate.‚ There is not a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are great.
The Kingsport Theatre Guild is one of Tennessees longest operating community theatre groups with a full and vibrant season (www.kingsporttheatre.org). The Kingsport Theatre Guild is proud to host the Barter Youth Academy. We are very excited to host the Barter Youth Academy in our home theatre and center, said Tina Radtke, Executive Director of the Kingsport Theatre Guild. Many of our cast members have participated in the Barter Youth Academy in the past and having the classes here in Kingsport will be more convenient and provide more opportunities to share information on productions, both here in Kingsport as well as in Abingdon. Radtke said.
Barter Youth Academy (BYA) BYA teaches everything from basic theatre terms to help any young students feel comfortable in a professional theatre environment to advanced acting techniques utilized by such great teachers as Meisner, Chekov, and Strasberg. Workshops change every session with new plays or musicals to work on, as well as new techniques to help your student grow, all while working on some of the greatest plays ever written for the American Theatre.
Tuition for the 8 week program ranges from $110 to $175 depending on age group, and scholarships are available. Registration and more information on the classes can be found on the Barter Youth Academys webpage at www.bartertheatre.com
The Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre is conveniently located at 1200 East Center Street in Kingsport Tennessee.‚ Visitors may easily access the facility from I-26, by taking exit 51, Wilcox Drive, and proceeding 3.1 miles to Center Street.‚ At Center Street take a left and the facility is on your right as you top the hill. For more information call (423) 392-8414.
