Backstage Pass Newsletter | July 2018
A Note from Nina: Summer's Here! Feline (and Other) Adventures Await!
Summer can be a confusing time for families. We all think, “Oh, summer is coming, it will be such a fun time.” But, when I chat with other parents, it seems like summer is five times more challenging than the school year. The kids are having an awesome time at camps or daycare, but parents are going crazy trying to figure out the ever-changing schedule of summer. Don’t get me wrong, I love evening picnics and weekend adventures, but the pressure for summer to be fun is often a little overwhelming.
Here are some ideas for easy family activities...
One antidote to the summer drive for family activity is a good book. For older kids, having leisurely hours to read a chapter book outside in a shady nook can be heavenly, and for the younger ones, what could be better than time with a parent, grandparent or babysitter reading a favorite story aloud? Read more »
Director Spotlight: The Story of El Gato
We are thrilled to debut the world premiere bilingual production The Cat in the Hat / El Gato Ensombrerado this fall at Bay Area Children’s Theatre. We recently interviewed the show’s director, Karina Gutiérrez—a renowned Bay Area performer, Stanford doctoral student, and co-founder of Bay Area Latino Theatre Artists Network—about her artistic approach to the unique challenges and opportunities of creating bilingual theatre.
What does it mean to you to be directing Bay Area Children’s Theatre’s first mainstage bilingual production?
It’s a huge honor. As a woman of color, I realize there are very few opportunities for theatre to represent and speak directly to the Latinx community. Being selected to direct BACT’s first bilingual mainstage show is very humbling. It gives me the opportunity to ensure theatre is accessible to and reflects communities that make up the fabric of the Bay Area. Read more »
Did You Know? What Is Theatre Camp?
At Bay Area Children’s Theatre, we bring children together for one- or two-week camp sessions to learn how to sing, dance, create characters, work as a team, improvise and present entire shows onstage.
For campers entering kindergarten or first grade, one-week sessions allow our youngest students to explore theatre-making with games and activities. In the process, they learn the basics of drama and on the final day of camp they get to show off their new skills.
For campers entering second through eighth grade, fast-paced, two-week musical theatre sessions give campers the opportunity to work with a director, choreographer, and music director to present a fully produced show.
Kids entering third through sixth grade have another option: a one-week “Improv Explosion” camp where they learn improvisational and storytelling skills while working towards producing an original piece of theatre. Read more »