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Arts & EntertainmentKids’ acting classes go year-round at Armourby Ann Fletcherentertainment@huntersvilleherald.comDAVIDSON – When the town of Davidsonand Davidson Community Playersrenovated a 1960s Baptist churchat Armour and Watson streets and reopenedit as Armour Street Theatre inNovember 2008, they not only establisheda permanent playhouse for thetheater company, but they also openeddoors to year-round acting classes forkids.For the second consecutive year, 12-week winter workshops for youth of allages will meet at the theater through acollaboration of the town and The ConnieCompany, Davidson CommunityPlayers’ children’s programming subsidiary.The town and Connie Companyalso will offer courses this summer.“The Connie Company has been offeringworkshops for years, but it wasn’tuntil we opened the theater last yearthat we could start offering year-roundclasses,” Community Players’ ArtisticDirector Melissa Ohlman-Roberge said.“This is only the second full year.”Open to the public and small by design,classes are limited to 10 to 12 studentsper group. Students work withtheater professionals in intimate, affordablesessions geared for youth, from preschoolto high school, Ohlman-Robergesaid.“One of the things we offer that otherorganizations don’t necessarily offer isthe fact we work in an actual theater,”Ohlman-Roberge said. When classesend in May, students in each class offera low-key performance for family andfriends, called “sharing.”“Sharing is important but informal,”Ohlman-Roberge said. “We don’t put onthe pressure of trying to do a big show,but students do perform on stage undertheatrical lights. So they get a prettygood sense of what” a larger-scale productionfeels like.The class for preschool children (4-and 5-year-olds) is called “Introductionto Theatre Games” and involves basictheater games, storytelling and workingtogether. It meets Mondays from Feb. 1to May 17 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. Theclass costs $120.“Preschool is all about being able towork in a group and being able to followdirections and build comfort with beingin front of a group,” she said. “Most ofthe work is done as a group.”The next class for students, in school orhomeschooled, in kindergarten throughthe second grade is called “Theatre Playand Improv” and meets 12 Saturdays beginningJan. 30 from 10 to 11:15 a.m.Youngsters exploretheatergames, improvisationaltechniques andperformanceskills. Studentswork as membersof a team,but they’ll alsoget opportunitiesfor individualand smallgroup work ina casual atmosphere.The classfor students inthird throughfifth gradesworks on similartechniquesand meetsMondays from Feb. 1 through May 17from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. The class costs$140.For older students, from sixth to 12thgrade, a course called “Monologue andScene Study” meets Mondays from Feb.1 to May 17 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Studentswork solo and in pairs and trioson diverse, age-appropriate monologuesand scenes from American comediesCourtesy of Davidson Community PlayersYoung actors struck a pose during a previous summer workshop offered by TheConnie Company, the youth production wing of Davidson Community Players,and the town of Davidson at Armour Street Theatre.and dramas. Focus is on increased scriptanalysis, character development and actingskills with individual instruction in astudio format. The class costs $150.Online registration is available nowthrough Feb. 28 by clicking the “D-Rec”icon at the Davidson Parks and RecreationWeb site, www.ci.davidson.nc.us.For more information, call 704-892-7953. qCarolinas’ LargestTravel & Cruise ShowSunday, Jan 24 ● 11:00 AM - 4:00 PMCHARLOTTE CONVENTION CENTER ● 501 S. COLLEGE ST.(Corner of College and Stonewall)THIS JANUARY, IMAGINATION MEETS METAL!IF YOU LOVE STOMP... IF YOU LOVE CIRQUE...COME SEE THE SPARKS FLY!• Meet representatives from more than 30 CruiseLines, Tour Companies and Tourist Boards.• Free admission, great deals, packing demos,show specials, seminars and prizes.• Ride the light rail and present your ticket to beentered in a special drawing.For more info, please call Mann Travels 704-971-0859 or visitwww.MannTravels.com/travelshowServing Travelers Since 1979Corporate Travel/Foreign Currency 704.556.8311Call Now!Phones Open Sunday 866-849-9069ArboretumHickoryLake NormanPark Road8 Locations to Serve You704.541.0943828.464.6962704.892.9020704.556.8322MonroeRock HillStatesvilleTriad704.282.1063803.327.1156704.872.1333336.887.8747JANUARY 12-31 • KNIGHT THEATER704.372.1000 • BlumenthalCenter.orgGroup Sales: 704.379.1380www.huntersvilleherald.com The Herald Weekly • Jan. 15-21, 2010 • Page 35