Why this Fall is “Our Most Exciting Education Session to date!”

What is unique and special about our fall sessions of classes that sets it apart from past seasons?

Caroline: There are so many things that are contributing to making this fall our most exciting education session to date. To begin, we have more offerings across the board for every age group, partly because we’ve begun to offer weekday classes at Theatre on the Run. Expanding from our previous Saturday class schedule means we can offer even more Encore fun for students, at times which fit their families’ busy schedules.

We also have some exciting new programs for students in high school and late middle school. Beginning this fall, Encore is offering master classes for high school students to provide our most experienced performers with a chance to really delve into specialized theatrical topics. Our first session will focus on Stage Combat, and we have a Dialect class lined up for the spring. Be on the lookout for weekday classes, too; we begin this fall with Voice for the Actor.

I’m also thrilled that so many of our camp instructors are returning to teach classes this fall. If you attended It’s Elementary, Scenes for Tweens and Teens, or Stage Door this summer, you’ll see some very familiar faces in our classrooms this school year.

What experience and skills can our students gain in the classroom that’s not provided onstage?

Caroline: Classes at Encore provide an ideal environment for students to play and explore. Theatre is all about discovery, and our classes offer that opportunity to every student, from grade Kindergarten all the way up through 12th grade. We’re even offering 4-week sessions this year, so students can try out new topics in a fun, fast-paced way.

What did you enjoy most about designing this year’s education programs?

Caroline: Adding variety to our class schedule and creating the journeys listed on our website and in our brochure. We have first-rate teachers at Encore, and this year we’re really showing off their abilities by adding more classes in areas like music and dance, and specialized topics like stage combat and Shakespeare.

The journeys were a really fun item to focus on, as our intention was to create a custom package for each student based on her or his particular interests. Through our summer camp survey this year, we learned that a huge number of students who attend camp do so because they’ve seen a show or attended an Encore class. How fantastic to be able to engage children in all areas of our programming–as audience members, students, performers and technical crew members!

What can parents and students expect from the line-up of classes and other educational opportunities this fall or year?

Caroline: More options, more class times, and more fun! For certain classes, we’ve also added more performance opportunities. You can expect to see our Show Choir perfom live at a wide variety of Encore events throughout the year in addition to their own end-of-session concerts. (Check them out first at our Book Fair at Barnes and Noble in Seven Corners on October 5!)

We’re also developing new ways to engage with students this year, like offering private voice and piano lessons. Private lessons are a fantastic way to deepen your appreciation for and understanding of a particular performing art while getting one-on-one attention from an expert teacher. No previous experience with the subject is required, so if you’ve always wanted to try singing or playing the piano, give us a call to learn more!

Early fall classes begin September 21, and our first holiday mini camp is October 10. Sign up today so you won’t miss out on the fun!