JCC Drama School

Classes

DRAMATIC ARTS

THEATRE PERFORMANCE COMPANIES: KIDS AND YOUTH THEATRE

JCC Kids and Youth Theatre teaches acting and musical theater skills, with all students performing in a fully staged musical with sets, costumes, and lighting!  All students will be cast in the show!   Our performance companies offer children and teens the opportunity to shine in an environment of teamwork, with a focus on creativity and experiences that build self-confidence.  Extra rehearsals will be added leading up to the show.  Students in Kids and Youth Theatre will have an opportunity to take a Broadway workshop and see a Broadway show together! *additional fee for trip to NYC. 

Performances are open and welcome to the community! Tickets: $12 Member/$16 Public general seating. Tickets may be purchased in the performances section of this page.

JCC KIDS THEATRE

Grades 1-5

THE WIZARD OF OZ Youth Edition

Dorothy and her loyal companion Toto as they “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” through the Land of Oz, determined to reach the Emerald City, where the great and powerful Wizard of Oz will help them get home.

Placement auditions: 9/11 4-6pm (registration must be complete by 9/10)
Performances: 12/17 at 10:30am and 1pm
Fall Semester: Mon 9/11-12/18 4:30-5:45pm $750/$900 (The Wizard of Oz)
Full Year: Mon 9/11-4/15 4:30-5:45pm $1,440/$1,725 (The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast)

*All Kids and Youth Theatre students are highly recommended to add a musical theatre skill building class at the discounted rate of $195/$235 to further enhance the student’s skill in all aspects of musical theater performance.

JCC YOUTH THEATRE

Grades 6-10

Participation in JCC Youth Theatre is by teacher recommendations only.  Contact Allyson Carolan at 201.408.1495 | acarolan@jccotp.org for Youth Theatre requirements and details.

ONCE UPON A MATTRESS Youth Edition

Many moons ago in a far-off place, Queen Aggravain decreed no couples could marry until her son found a bride. Princesses came from far and wide to win the hand of the prince, but none could pass the impossible tests given to them. Until the “shy” swamp princess showed up. Would she be able to pass the Sensitivity Test?

Placement auditions: 9/11 6-8 pm (registration must be complete by 9/10)
Performances: 1/14 at 1 pm and 4 pm
Fall Semester: Mon 9/11-1/14 6-8 pm $750/$900 (Once Upon a Mattress)
Full Year: Mon 9/11-5/20 6-8 pm $1,440/$1,725 (Once Upon a Mattress and Into the Woods)

*All Kids and Youth Theatre students are highly recommended to add a musical theatre skill building class at the discounted rate of $195/$235 to further enhance the student’s skill in all aspects of musical theater performance.

JCC COMMUNITY CENTER

LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE

Love, Loss, and What I Wore By Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron Based on the book by: Ilene Beckerman.

Love, Loss and What I Wore follows fragmented stories about the nostalgic power of women’s clothing. A starry cast of women tell funny, wistful and universal memories about their families and loved ones through the prism of their closets. It won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience as well as the 2010 Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite New Off-Broadway Play.

Performances: November 12 at 6 pm

Tickets: $12 Member/$16 Public
General Seating

DRAMA CLASSES

Little Actors

Pre-School 4’s

In Little Actors, we stretch our imaginations and have cooperative fun! Students act out short stories and engage in activities which encourage physical and vocal expressiveness. Students build skills of confidence, communication, self-expression, language, listening, sharing and teamwork.

Mon 9/18-1/8 2:00-2:45 pm $395/$495
Mon 9/18-6/3 2:00-2:45 pm $800/$995
Thu 9/21-1/18 3:30-4:15 pm $395/$495
Thu 9/21-6/6 3:30-4:15 pm $800/$995

Musical Theatre

Students are given the opportunity to work on a variety of material from popular musical theater shows. Students will learn and implement musical theater performance techniques through scenes and songs. This class will further enhance the student’s skill in all aspects of musical theater performance. The class will culminate in a small performance for families during class time.

Musical Theatre 1
Grades K-2
Tue 9/19-1/16 4:00-4:45 pm $395/$495
Tue 9/19-6/4 4:00-4:45 pm $800/$995
Wed 9/20-1/17 5:00-5:45 pm $395/$495
Wed 9/20-6/5 5:00-5:45 pm $800/$995

Musical Theatre 2
Grades 3-4
Tue 9/19-1/16 5:00-6:00 pm $395/$495
Tue 9/19-6/4 5:00-6:00 pm $800/$995

Musical Theatre 3
Grades 5-6
Tue 9/19-1/16 6:00-7:00 pm $395/$495
Tue 9/19-6/4 6:00-7:00 pm $800/$995

Musical Theatre 4
Grades 7-8
Tue 9/19-1/16 7:00-8:00 pm $395/$495
Tue 9/19-6/4 7:00-8:00 pm $800/$995

Improv Acting

Get ready to let loose! Learn and build your ability to respond to the unexpected. Mental Agility! In Improv with Adam, everyone will gain confidence, conquer shyness and learn new valuable skills, unleash humor, while seriously having fun! Improvisation teaches us how to create NOW…on the spot. Here you can let some of the characters in your head out and create new ones. All will get better at staying present, in the moment, and trusting your natural instincts. Get out of your head for an hour. Vanquish fantasy thinking of tomorrow or yesterday. Less editing, censoring thoughts, and overthinking. Live through storytelling and self-expression, while feeling creative excitement and having a lot of laughs! Students enjoy learning theatre and improv activities, scene work, and monologue. From Broadway to Film and Television to Commercials, Radio shows, Cartoons, Video Games, and even stand-up comedy, this Emmy Award-winning instructor has done it all. Each class is freshly made weekly…by the students!

Improv Acting 1

Grades K-2

Wed 9/20-1/17 4:00-4:45 pm $395/$495
Wed 9/20-6/5 4:00-4:45 pm $800/$995

Improv Acting 2
Grades 3-4

Thu 9/21-1/18 4:30-5:30 pm $395/$495
Thu 9/21-6/6 4:30-5:30 pm $800/$995

Improv Acting 3
Grades 5-6

Thu 9/21-1/18 5:30-6:30 pm $395/$495
Thu 9/21-6/6 5:30-6:30 pm $800/$995

Improv Acting 4
Grades 7-8

Thu 9/21-1/18 6:30-7:30pm $395/$495
Thu 9/21-6/6 6:30-7:30pm $800/$995

Teen Acting

Grades 5-8

Teen Acting is for creative students looking to develop their acting skills. This class will focus on acting technique through acting exercises, ensemble work, monologues, and scene work. Students will use self-exploration to expand their performance ranges and take on more challenging roles with confidence.  Students will learn to make their characters more believable and bring real feelings to their performances.  The class will culminate in a small performance for families during class time.

Wed 9/20-1/17 6:00-7:00 pm $395/$495
Wed 9/20-6/5 6:00-7:00 pm $800/$995

Adult Improv Acting

Get ready to let loose! Learn and build your ability to respond to the unexpected. Mental Agility! In Improv with Adam, everyone will gain confidence, conquer shyness and learn new valuable skills, unleash humor, while seriously having fun! Improvisation teaches us how to create NOW…on the spot. Here you can let some of the characters in your head out and create new ones. All will get better at staying present, in the moment and trusting your natural instincts. Get out of your head for an hour. Vanquish fantasy thinking of tomorrows or yesterdays. Less editing, censoring thoughts and overthinking. Live through storytelling and self-expression, while feeling creative excitement and having a lot of laughs! Students enjoy learning theatre and improv activities, scene work, and monologue. From Broadway to Film and Television to Commercials, Radio shows, Cartoons, Video Games and even stand up comedy, this Emmy Award winning instructor has done it all. Each class is freshly made weekly…by the students!

10 Thu 9/21-11/30 7:30-8:30pm $150/$180

Private Dance, Voice and Acting Lessons

Available to students enrolled in dance dramatic arts classes
Ages 5-Adult

Dance: Private dance is for students who are passionate about dancing and inspired to excel in their art. It is an extension of a child’s initial dance training.

Voice: Vocal training is tailor-made to each individual singer’s needs and goals. Learn the proper vocal technique to increase vocal range and strength, create a beautiful tone and maintain a healthy voice.

Acting: For serious young actors to work on audition monologues or for scenes for films, plays and TV series.

1 hour lesson: $83/$100
45-minute lesson: $70/$84
30-minute lesson: $55/$67

For more information about private lessons, please contact Allyson Carolan at acarolan@jccotp.org | 201.408.1495