#TechTuesday with Scenes for Tween’s Seth Rosenke

Whether you long to write your own plays, swash buckle into battle, or belt it out like a Broadway star, this summer’s Scenes for Tweens line-up has a theatre adventure for you. Today we’re chatting with S4T Camp Director, Mr. Seth Rosenke:

Encore: Please briefly introduce yourself: What’s your background in theatre? How long have you worked at Encore and in which capacities?

Seth: I’ve been acting actively for 18 years. I hold an MFA in Acting from The Catholic University of America. I have been with Encore since the summer of 2013, where I started as an Education Intern. I have grown in my capacity with the company into a Teaching Artist and Camp Director for Scenes for Tweens.

Encore: What is the most interesting aspect of Scenes for Tweens summer camps?

Seth: I strive to imbue a sense of independent artistic voice in the students, allowing them to bring their own ideas to the stage and teaching them how to activate those ideas to aid in telling the story. I also strive to give students the skills to communicate those ideas in a collaborative fashion with their castmates and instructors. Essentially, the most interesting aspect of Scenes for Tweens is the ability to incept and collaborate.

Encore: What is your favorite #EncoreSummer memory?

Seth: I’ll reference question two. During the first ever Tragedy vs. Comedy camp, the students adapted two versions of Peter Pan for the stage, including a tragic version. When Tinkerbell died in the tragic version, the audience knew to clap to “bring her back”…but as part of the story, our Tink didn’t come back. Watching the actor playing Tink try to keep it together as the audience clapped, then started laughing alongside her was deeply rewarding!

Encore: In your opinion, why are the performing arts important for young people?

Seth: Theatre is where I learned some of the most important lifelong lessons I’ve ever learned, like humility, collaboration, and independent thinking. I have witnessed and experienced the impact the performing arts can have on one’s own voice, and it is my solemn goal to help each student of mine find theirs.

Encore: What are you most excited about for Scenes for Tweens 2019?

Seth: It’s always the same answer, every summer: the new ideas the young performers will expose me to. Also: Shakespeare camp!

Thank you again to Mr. Seth for sharing his experiences with us. Join us at Scenes for Tweens this summer to find your voice, explore diverse topics, and, most importantly, have a blast!