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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Members of the Claremont School of Theater Arts rehearse a scene from their upcoming production of Tales of Canterbury. |
School of Theater Arts turns 15
Beginning tomorrow, the young performers of the Claremont School of Theater Arts will be taking to the stage in a string of performances that will last until Sunday. Yet this is nothing new for the summer program that spans more than a decade long.
The Claremont School of Theater Arts is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, representing a milestone that has involved hundreds of youth being trained in theater since the 1990s.
“I am especially excited to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Claremont School of Theater Arts Program,’ said Cathy Seaman, producer of the Claremont School of Theater Arts. “We continue to experience a strong following in the community and were fully enrolled within 7 days this year. That phenomenon alone speaks volumes to the niche the program has built over time.”
Since it began in 1994, the mission of the theater arts school has been to expose youth to the world of theater. The program includes a variety of courses such as voice training, improv, scene study and stage combat. Students also learn the technical aspects of theater and are involved in the culminating performance that closes out the course each year.
Sponsored by the Curtain Raisers of Claremont and the Pomona College’s Department of Theater and Dance, the theater arts program holds a 5-week course each summer within Pomona College’s Seaver Theater Complex that gives youth ages 11-14 experience in multiple areas of theater. Many of the staff members were once participants themselves in the program.
“There are so many people that are responsible for the success and longevity of the program,” Ms. Seaman explained. “I’d like to pay homage to Joan Breslo and Suzanne Hall, the two visionaries that conceived of this creative endeavor many years ago. In addition, Pomona College is to be thanked for providing the facilities than anchor this theatrical experience.”
This year’s culminating show is entitled Tales of Canterbury, an adaptation of The Canterbury Tales literary work written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. The original work is a collection of stories that are told by pilgrims from all layers of society on their way to Canterbury.
According to the Claremont School of Theater Arts Artistic Director Olivia Parker, the Tales of Canterbury will be approximately 2 hours in length and will have some added material that makes the adaptation more modern than the 14th century classic.
“There are elements that have been added in from television and the movies,” Ms. Parker said. “Some of the tales are squished together to make it flow better and make it more age appropriate as well.” (story continues below)
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COURIER photo/Gabriel Fenoy
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| Young actors from the Claremont School of Theater Arts watch their fellow thespians rehearse a scene inside Pomona College’s Seaver Theater. |
In her first year as a participant in the theater arts program, 11-year-old Bethany Balchunas looks forward to bringing her role of “narrator” to life during the 5 performances scheduled through the end of the week.
“I haven’t taken acting classes but I have acted before,” Bethany pointed out. “It’s been really fun and I’ve learned a lot about acting. My favorite part about it has been being behind the scenes and performing. This feels more like the real thing than what I’ve done before.”
Along with the other staff members, Ms. Parker works to ensure that the experience that the students have is one that will cause them to further appreciate theater, which is why she is supportive of the program and has been involved for a number of years.
“The thing that we like to ensure is that every kid has a good time,” Ms. Parker said. “There’s plenty of self learning involved and we want them to have a love for theater. I believe that what we do here makes them like it because they get to have fun and do the functions of theater themselves.”
With 96 roles making up the theatrical production and just 52 students within the program, many of the performers will have at least 2 functions during the performances. For example, Isabel Fornal will play a widow named Dianne as well as a falcon dancer.
“A falcon dancer is a dancer that describes what the squire is saying [in the play],” the 13-year-old said. “So based on whatever he says, I have a dance for it.”
Thirteen-year-old Cassady O’Reilly-Hahn, who is in his 3rd year with the theater arts program, continues to come back each year not only because of the chance to perform but also the overall environment that the program provides.
“I like performing and I also like hanging out with my friends,” he said. “It’s really fun being here and I really like acting.”
Tales of Canterbury will run from July 24-27 featuring 7 p.m. performances on Thursday through Saturday at the Virginia Princehouse Allen Theater within the Seaver Theater Complex on the Pomona College campus. Matinee shows will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for children ages 2-12. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 607-4396.
—Landus Rigsby
