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2009 /2010 SESSION INFO POSTED |
17TH YEAR 
CLICK the links in red below
to download full
WINTER/SPRING SESSION INFORMATION.
Included is an application you can fill out and send in.
We will confirm by email.
2010 INFORMATION AND APPLICATION word document
(choose this link if you have word installed on your computer.
it may view differently depending on your browser settings,
you can adjust and save to view or print properly.)
2010 INFORMATION AND APPLICATION adobe PDF
(this document is best for printing)
If you are unable to download the information, CLICK HERE TO send us an email requesting a printed copy.
We conduct most of our communications by email, as we have sporadic office hours on days when classes are not ongoing.
Click the link to email us with any questions or concerns and you will receive a reply ASAP, artsoffice@gatewayplayhouse.com .
We do not have a registrar for the Acting School Division available in the Gateway Main Office on a full time basis and do not handle enrollments in person.
Please do not visit without an appointment.
Click here to be added to our mailing list.
This is where it all began and still begins.
Gateway began really, with the barn.
in 1950 or so....two sisters and a brother and a lot of inspiration.
in the picture above, you can see the white and gray structures way back there, behind the red. those are the "new buildings" built in the early 60's, the Main Stage Theater and stage house where we present our professional productions. but it is here, up front, where we live..and do the work of arts training... in the barn where it all began...and the various rehearsal studios on the eight acre campus of what is now known as the historic Gateway Playhouse, one of the top ten summer theaters in the nation and Long Island's Premier Professional Theater. if you want to get to know us a little better, you can scroll down and read the frequently asked questions. if you want to find out if there is a class for you, you can scroll down and read the class descriptions. if you want to register, you can download the information packet and fill out the application. you can always email us to find out if there is room in the class or classes you would like to take. one thing you should know.we are all about training. performing can be a joy, but to embrace it for everything it is, you have to study the art of it, just like any other art form. you would never wear toe shoes without learning first position, play a concerto without knowing your scales, or paint a portrait without studying figurature.
Click here to read BIOS on our 2009 teachers.
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SESSION DATES
SESSION I September 19 - December 15
SESSION II January 30 - May 18
At Gateway, acting lessons come in many shapes and sizes. Depending on you or your child's level of experience and/or interest, we have single classes (listed directly below.)
if you are looking for more involved programs, keep scrolling; you will find other options.
WINTER/SPRING CLASS DESCRIPTIONS-
For our youngest students - our first and second graders – who want to have some fun while learning to be comfortable onstage, we offer:
THEATER GAMES (grades 1-2) A basic acting class specifically geared for our little ones. Stage awareness and theater fundamentals are taught using all types of imagination and performing exercises. Character inventing, short speech writing, made-up commercials, and fairy tale enactments are some of what the class sessions entail. Students will perform in a short play or exercise at the end of the session.
Tuesdays from 4:30-6:00
For students who are just getting their "feet wet," so to speak, the acting class below is great for starters!
ACTING BASICS (grades 3-5, 6-8) Fundamental acting skills are taught through the use of serious and comedic improvisations and technique exercises. Script work is used as the class progresses. Students discover their unique voices and inner natures. Scenes or monologues are performed at the end of each session.
Saturdays from 4:45-6:15 for 3rd to 5th Graders
Saturdays from 4:45-6:15 for 6th to 8th Graders
Interested in building up your repertoire of audition materials? For high school students, this class is designed to help you grow vocally while learning to deliver an honest performance.
MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCE (grades 9-12) Students tap into their full potential and have their performances rise to a professional audition standard. Strong and unique audition pieces from our extensive library are chosen. During individual solo work, we focus on truthful expression and lyric interpretation, while perfecting vocal techniques. Students can build a repertoire of audition material.
(LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE for high school group- first preference will be given to students signing up for the full Sunday program.)
Sundays from 4:15-6:15
Or for high school students looking for an acting class involving both technique and script work, we have:
PLAY WORKSHOP/DIRECTING (grades 9-12) For the developing performer. We will work on A ONE ACT PLAY, focusing on playwright’s intentions, sub-text, character relationships and emotional commitment to the given circumstances. We will work on creating full and interesting characters and the characteristics, intentions, and goals of these characters within the given circumstances. The "One-Act"play is presented at the end of each session.
(first preference will be given to students signing up for the full Sunday program.)
Sundays from 4:15-6:15
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 3-HOUR PROGRAM
…for grades 3 and up!
This year we are offering a 3-hour program on Saturdays and Sundays for kids and teens at an accelerated level of interest, able to devote a little more time to their performing arts study. In order to participate in a program, students must take the hour IMPROVISATION and TECHNIQUE along with the Main Class of their choosing.
Saturday/Sunday Program
Class Descriptions:
TECHNIQUE and IMPROVISATION (grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) Essential knowledge of the many techniques used in Acting will be covered. For both beginning and advanced actors, this class will employ many techniques that will establish the teachings of Stanislavski, Meisner, Stella Adler, Suzuki, Alexander, Bogart and more. Improvisation and movement exercises will be used to build awareness, presence and physicality on stage.
BROADWAY SONGS (grades 3-5) Students work on acting (intention, expression and ease) singing (breathing, range, control and annunciation) and choreography while performing in group numbers from Broadway shows. A specific show is worked on and performed at the end of each session. Examples of shows chosen: Sound of Music, Hello Dolly, Beauty and the Beast, Oliver and Peter Pan.
SCENE STUDY/PLAY WORKSHOP/DIRECTING (grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) For the developing performer, we will work on scene study, playwright’s intentions, sub-text, character relationships and emotional commitment to the given circumstances. We will work on creating full and interesting characters and the characteristics, intentions, and goals of these characters within the given circumstances. A show of scenes or a One-Act Play is presented at the end of each session, depending on age group and class emphasis.
MUSICAL THEATER PERFORMANCE (grades 6-8, *9-12) Students tap into their full potential and have their performances rise to a professional audition standard. Strong and unique audition pieces from our extensive library are chosen. During individual solo work, we focus on truthful expression and lyric interpretation, while perfecting vocal techniques. Students can build a repertoire of audition material. (*For 9-12 graders, this class may be taken on its own, however preference will be given to students signing up for the 3 class program.)
COLLEGE PREP(for students preparing for college auditions) Monologues from classic and contemporary plays from our large library are chosen according to each student’s personality, type and strength. They are critiqued and coached to meet the standards of competitive College and University drama department entrance auditions. It is suggested, although not required, that students take an acting class as well, to continue to develop their skills. This class is only offered in the first session, as auditions are already happening by February.
COLD READING
(INTERMEDATE grades 7- 10, ADVANCED grades 9-12)
This class will work on scenes from currently auditioning TV series, pilots and feature films. Scenes will be emailed prior to class, enabling them to work at home with a set of guidelines and methods shared by their instructor. They will be coached based on their preparation and will advance to new scenes each week as their skill level progresses. They will learn how to prepare quickly in order to be competitive. (The ADVANCED section of this class is an accelerated class. The INTERMEDIATE section of the class has just opened. Acceptance will be based on prior participation, recommendation, or audition. Please email for updates before applying, as these classes fill quickly.)
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The Saturday programs are for students from 3rd through 5th grade and 6th through 8th grades. The Sunday programs are for high school students, in grades 9th through 12th, mainly, with one class for 7th-10th graders. Both the Saturday and Sunday program will enable the students to spend an hour warming up with the required improvisation and technique class, in which they will all be up and performing in many different exercises. The class will be divided into two groups, each with a different instructor. Along with this hour warm up class the students will be enabled to focus on their Main class of emphasis.
SATURDAYS --After the Improvisation and Technique class, for the next two hours, our 3rd – 5th graders can choose either Broadway Songs or Scene Study/Play Workshop. In the afternoon, our 6th – 8th graders can choose to spend their next two hours taking either Musical Theater Performance or Scene Study/Play Workshop.
For extra clarification…Any students, younger than high school age, who would like to take Broadway Songs, Scene Study/Play Workshop, or Musical Theater Performance, MUST be enrolled in the 3-Hour Program.
SUNDAYS--7th – 12th graders, after taking Improvisation/Technique, can take Cold Reading (two sections- Intermediate and Advanced) by enrolling in Program #3A or #3B. These classes are specifically for our progressive students and/or those who are professionally auditioning.
High school students, taking Sunday Musical Theater Performance or Scene Study/Play Workshop from 4:15-6:15, can enroll in Program #3C or #3D, which includes an hour of Improvisation/Technique from 6:30-7:30.
Students signed up for the 3-Hour program (#3A & #3B) will have the opportunity to stay another 2 hours to take an additional class at a discounted rate.
All the above and below information can be downloaded in our 2010 APPLICATION packet, in which is included an application to fill out and send in.
PLEASE SCROLL ABOVE FOR THE LINKS TO DOWNLOAD.
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2004 SHOWCASE CLASS |
2009 SUMMER COLD READING CLASS |
F.A.Q.'S
Frequently asked questions, but please, if we've missed something, email us.
Is there a show that you "put on"?
No, not within the acting school division. There is an open presentation within the last class of each session, where family and friends can view progress and class work, which changes with each level of study.
Can my child audition for a Main Stage show?
When we produce shows on our Main Stage, that require casting children, by this we mean children's roles, such as the young roles in Annie, or Sound Of Music, we audition our students first and then open the auditions to the public. Our Main Stage is a fully professional theater that employs members of Actors Equity and Musicians who are members of Local 802 and Directors and Choreographers that are members of SSD&C. Adult roles are cast from the talent pool in Manhattan. For example, if we were presenting GREASE, or JOSEPH, or even HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, we would cast the roles in Manhattan. Professional actors would be cast, not local high school aged performers.
Is there an opportunity to perform?
At Gateway we provide real skill training. We do not focus on a product, that may or may not allow all members of the production a fair amount of training. We'd rather have each individual student shine in their own scene, monologue or song. The Summer Children's Theatre offers a chance of performing, for those interested and through our long standing contacts within the industry, children being groomed in the school will have opportunities to audition for legitimate projects in Manhattan as the specific cases arise. This is not advertised, but is an opportunity that has often been available to our diligent and capable students. Please read the web page on our success stories. This year, the students will be able to audition for a production on the MAIN STAGE. The school edition of Les Miserables. The auditions will take place in May and the production will rehearse and perform late July, to mid-August 2010. More information will be available soon. Please email us: to be placed on the mailing list for information and indicate that you are inquiring about Les Miserables. Thank you.
Where do we go from here? Can my child get an agent?
We do offer a SHOWCASE program sporadically when we have enough competitive and dedicated students to show to our Agent and Casting Director contacts. We present those who have great potential for competing at a professional level to Casting Directors and Agents in Manhattan in the Spring. It is a very limited program. As mentioned above there are opportunities on an individual basis depending on our contacts, what projects they are working on and the ability and specific qualities and abilities of our ongoing students.
As far as where to go from here, we formulate the school to have many levels of training. Those who are already working in the industry take class as well as those who hope to be. We have cold reading classes for those who are auditioning. We have a college entrance audition class for High School Seniors looking to get into great drama programs. We have had a good success rate in placing many of our students in prestigious colleges/universities and many with scholarships. We have had many students fortunate enough to book jobs as well.
If my child took one session of classes, should she/he move up for the second Session?
No, not necessarily, and not often. Some students progress at a more rapid pace, which is decided by the staff here at Gateway.
If my child was in his/her school plays, or community theatre productions, should he/she take Advanced Placement classes?
Not necessarily. We are going to be blunt here, but you need to know our perspective. We do audition new students for upper level classes if they are interested. Some students have a natural gift. School plays are not training, however. The participants do attain experience being on a stage, but more often than not, the habits they pick up, from teachers who are not properly educated and fellow performers who may not be there for artistic reasons, sometimes social, have to be undone in our classes. There is a tendency to superficial acting/facial expressions, extraneous movement, wrong emphasis in the school type setting. Most school play directors are not professionals. Sometimes they have had no theatrical background. There are exceptions in some school districts, where students are fortunate to have real artists teaching them, but not many. We are always amazed that the gym teachers/coaches are always prior athletes, properly educated in the sport field, and yet the teachers assigned to produce/direct the school plays have virtually no criteria to meet when chosen for the task. Why is this? We already know there is a lot of focus and emphasis on sports in schools and that is where the money is spent. That's great, if you're an athlete. what about a performer/director/choreographer/set designer/costumer/lighting or sound designer/ or perhaps even an editor or a cinematographer in the making. How are all of these kids nurtured, who should have the opportunity to make as much of a valuable contribution to society as a developing football player? That is why there is such a need for proper training in this field. This study lends itself to all aspects of the arts, and bleeds into human behavior, tolerance, communication and global studies. Which brings us to.....
Why study the performing arts when it readies you for a career that may never happen?
Don't let anyone fool you with outdated theories on arts study and careers. Long ago, maybe sixty years ago when kids were in school, it was a fact that there was little work and very low pay work associated with the performing arts. Families discouraged the arts as a form of higher education study. But the old saying, go to college for a back up degree, has has become an old wives tale in our present environment and society. Yes, it will always be a crap shoot.... stardom, riches and fame. HOWEVER, not finding work in the field of entertainment is a thing of the past. If your child has an artistic leaning and is not only bent on making it big, training in the performing arts, can give them another sense, basically, a fine tuned eye, heart and mind, a more equipped set of communication skills, with which to enter many many fields associated with entertainment. With some further study in the specific fields, kids can become writers, editors, work in art departments, casting, make-up, costumes, grips, sound engineers, builders, agents, managers, work in advertising departments, programming, copywriters, script analysis, anchormen/women, talk show hosts, development departments, networks. Have you ever stayed through an entire credit list after a movie has ended? Count how many people are employed on a feature film. It's a staggering amount of people. Most to all of these people are paid very very well. And let's face it. Today your kids are computer savvy. Some of them are talented with graphics and flash animation, photoshop..... Some of them are already budding photographers and videographers. If your child is "heck bent" on performing only, they can always support themselves designing and maintaining web sites, data entry, they can work in offices to pay the rent and be using many skills that they already possess. Why go to school for something other than what you love? There is little necessity for this anymore. There are other jobs to procure as a means of sustenance, that will require skills they already have. Not saying college isn't important. It is most often very important, for social skills, change of environment, expansion of one's own personal horizons. Especially a liberal arts education, for discovery of studies and interests that you may never have the opportunity to find on your own in the world. You may be inspired to change your focus, dreams, aspirations based on the experience with a particular teacher, group or emphasis of study. You will most definitely become a more well rounded person, who can use your new found knowledge towards your art form. We always encourage our kids to go on to college, and not New York or LA right away for a shot at a quick success story. However, you don't have to have a major in economics or political science to fall back on if you don't become a "working actor." Unless of course, you want to major in those things. A degree in education is great so that you can be equipped to teach when the time comes or opportunity arises, but do study the performing arts if that is where your passion lies. You never know where it will lead when you follow your heart.
My child has performed in the Long Island Amateur Theater circuit as their means of "experience," are they advanced?
NO.
More FAQ's to come....keep checking!
