Senior Corps members Sam Marks and Marc Fichera in The Comedy of Errors, 2007.

Tuition: $700

($125 discount for returning students and 2008 season subscribers)

• About the Program
• Attendance Policy
• Auditions

Or call 973-408-3980.

Senior Corps members performing a scene from Hamlet, 2006.

About the Program

The Senior Corps is a three-week summer acting intensive for high-school students who are serious about developing their skills as performers. The structure is similar to the Junior Corps, with an enhanced focus on Shakespeare and the individual actor. Admission is by audition/interview only (see below). Among the benefits of the program are an enhanced understanding of theatre both as an art form and as a business, a deeper awareness of the collaborative process, and a higher level of confidence in auditioning, public speaking and performing.

Senior Corps members in Henry VI, Part Three, 2007.

Members of the Senior Corps participate in daily classes (Monday-Friday, 1:00-6:00pm) in areas including movement, voice, stage combat, physical characterization, audition technique, Shakespearean scene study, and more, under the direction of The Shakespeare Theatre's Education Staff following the same principles used in The Theatre's professional training program. Participants also have the chance to meet with The Shakespeare Theatre's professional resident artists in master classes and discussions. Shakespearean monologue preparation is a major component of the program, and each student will leave with a rehearsed and critiqued monologue of his or her choice.

Senior Corps members performing a scene from Hamlet, 2006.

Each session culminates in an ensemble final performance of Shakespearean text— either a collection of Shakespeare scenes or a condensation of a single Shakespeare play— which allows the students to demonstrate what they have learned. In recent summers, the Senior Corps final project pieces have included portions of The Comedy of Errors, Henry VI Part Three, Hamlet, King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter's Tale, Much Ado About Nothing, and more. The final project is performed on a Saturday, so that parents, friends, and members of The Shakespeare Theatre's professional company can attend.

As young company members of The Shakespeare Theatre, Senior Corps students are encouraged to stay connected with The Shakespeare Theatre beyond their three-week enrollment. During the program, the students receive usher training, and are asked to volunteer in the front-of-house at least 2-3 times for the Shakespeare Theatre’s Main Stage and Outdoor Stage performances. Ushering provides students with an opportunity to see Main Stage and Outdoor Stage productions free of charge, and to continue to learn about the world of professional theatre. The members of the Junior and Senior Corps are some of our most active and dedicated volunteers throughout the year.

Attendance Policy
We at The Shakespeare Theatre believe that commitment and dedication are important components of the theatre education experience. Each student must attend all classes, workshops and rehearsals. Students may not arrive late or leave early. All students will be involved in the rehearsal of a piece to be performed at the end of each session, and their absence will impair the work of the group as a whole. Students will be excused only for illnesses, family emergencies, or pre-arranged conflicts.

Senior Corps member Jacqueline Huwyler in Henry VI, Part Three, 2007.

Auditions
Although extensive acting experience is not a prerequisite for the Senior Corps, dedication and enthusiasm for performing are. By participating in an audition process, applicants have the opportunity to meet program staff, learn about our teaching process, and ask questions to determine if the program is a good fit for them.

Auditions for the Senior Corps are by appointment only. Auditions are held from February-May, by appointment only. Please contact the Shakespeare Theatre Education Department at 973-408-3980 to schedule your appointment. (If you cannot attend one of the scheduled audition dates, we will attempt to accommodate your schedule when possible).
Students should prepare one memorized monologue from a published play, between 30-90 seconds in length. Though Shakespeare is preferred, the monologue can be contemporary or classical. No songs, please.
Students who will be out of state during the audition period may substitute a phone interview and references for the audition. Please call for details.

Once you have been notified that you are accepted (usually no more than a day or two after your audition), please return your completed enrollment form and tuition as soon as possible to guarantee your place in the program.

For more information call 973-408-3980.