Timber Lake Playhouse Receives Grant to Provide Apprenticeships for Teens
For the fourth year in a row, the Illinois Arts Council has awarded Timber Lake Playhouse a grant to create a paid apprentice program for area teens interested in pursuing careers in the theatre arts. TLP is accepting applications for the apprenticeship program through June 22
Timber Lake Playhouse, operating in its 59th season, hires performers, directors and designers from around the country each year. The apprentice program is designed to immerse pre-college teens from Northwest Illinois in all aspects of professional theatre production. Rather than volunteering time, the grant provides an hourly pay rate comparable to other summer work.
“With this summer’s closures, we have focused a lot of our efforts to online offerings and social media,” said Dan Danielowski, TLP Executive Director. “Teens with computer skills will be especially needed for this summer’s work at TLP.” The teens will be chosen based on an artistic statement, letter of recommendation and interview. Priority will be given to this year’s high school juniors and graduates, those already accepted to university programs and those who’ve demonstrated a clear commitment to pursuing a career in theatre. The program lasts ten weeks and provides experience in all aspects of running a theatre.”
“It is important for TLP to offer programming to area teens,” said TLP Education Director, Robert McFletcher-Jones. “We expect some very talented high school students to apply for these positions.”
Interested youth should send a letter of application with an artistic statement and a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with their work to admin@timberlakeplayhouse.org.
Watch Timber Lake Playhouse’s website for information on upcoming concerts and productions. TLP’s new Virtual Education Department recently announced their summer offerings. For more information, tickets, and to register for classes, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. You may also call the box office at 815-244-2035 Monday through Friday from 10:00 until 5:00. All performance dates and times are available online.
This project is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council.
IN THE WAKE OF COVID CLOSURES, TIMBER LAKE PLAYHOUSE ANNOUNCES NEW VIRTUAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), the professional summer theatre of northwest Illinois, announced its Summer Education Program with online and onsite offerings for ages 3 through adult. “I’m very excited with the lineup of courses we are planning for our patrons this summer,” said Executive Director, Dan Danielowski. “There are so many possibilities that there is really something for everyone.”
Classes at TLP range from modern dance, puppetry, scriptwriting, and private lessons to improv, hip hop, monologue study and discussions with actors presently working in Broadway productions. Education Director, Robert McFletcher-Jones and Danielowski had been looking forward to announcing a much improved and larger education program for this summer with many offerings for all ages. With the COVID – 19 virus and TLP’s subsequent cancellation or postponement of much of the summer’s plans, a lot of the education program had to be scrapped. “Then Robert came in the office and said ‘I have an idea!’” said Danielowski. “What has come of that is the most comprehensive Education Program TLP has ever offered.
TLP’s course offerings include private music lessons in contemporary and classical voice, piano, drums, guitar, bass and ukulele; interactive workshops in puppetry, dance, scriptwriting, improvisation, acting, monologue work, and discussion panels with Broadway stars and those who work in the profession. There are workshops for children as young as three years old through adult.
“Probably most impressive,” says Education Director, Robert McFletcher-Jones, “is our incredible teachers. We have some of the best performers, dancers, musicians, and actors who actively teach from around the country.” Teaching Monologue Exploration is Darlene Hope. Ms. Hope is a classically trained actress earning her BA in Theatre Arts from the University of South Florida and her MFA in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. She also studied extensively in London and Paris. Teaching Hip Hop dance is Rob Wilson. Rob is a Hip-Hop dancer who has danced with Cardi B, Offset, Drake “In My Feelings” Video, Ariana Grande, 2 Chainz and many more. Featured in our Broadway panel webinars are Shawn Bowers of Ain’t Too Proud to Beg on Broadway, Anna Noble in the Broadway Revival of Carousel and Tamar Greene who is currently portraying George Washington in the Broadway production of Hamilton.
“Since most of the doors of theatre houses are sadly closed,” said Jones, “these artists have become available to us. Our students will benefit from their years of experience, incredible skill sets, and relevant information they have to offer.”
TLP is still planning to hold two projects on site once the theatre opens in August. A two-week performance workshop where students ages 7 – 12 will rehearse and perform in Disney’s Frozen, Jr. will be held the first two weeks of August with performances on August 15. TLP will also stage their popular All Area Teen Production. This summer’s production is Bye, Bye Birdie. Watch for more information on both of these programs.
Register quickly as workshop classes are limited. “These workshops are extremely affordable,” said Jones, “especially for the quality of teachers and the immense amount of content students will receive in each class.” Visit the TLP website at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org to see the list of classes available this summer, or call the Box Office at (815) 244-2035 for additional information. Registration is open now and can be done online or through the Box Office.
