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Hilltown Youth Theatre Summer Workshop

A performing arts circus experience for aspiring actors, musicians, dancers and choreographers, and set designers.

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The Hilltown Youth Theatre Summer Workshop (July 11 - August 4, M-F, 9-4pm with select evening and weekend rehearsals) is the flagship of our youth programming. The Workshop provides a high quality, intensive arts experience for aspiring actors, musicians, dancers and set designers ages 10 - 18. Part of our mission to help performers exchange voices with guest artists and master teachers including: Ashfield’s internationally renounced Double Edge Theatre , Smith College Professor of Theatre and Afro-American studies Andrea Hairston's Chrysalis Theatre, Ty and Amy Lemerande of Knighthorse Theatre—"our mission is to make Shakespeare cool again”—International Theatre Award (ITA) winning director, performer and mask designer Joe Osheroff of Homunculus Mask Theatre and myriad other luminaries in the performing arts and social justice community.  We incorporate movement, puppets, mask making, voice work, circus arts and work on large apparatus (e.g., stilts, aerial fabrics, spools, flying trapeze, etc.).

Registration for the Summer Workshop here!

The program concludes with performances of a traveling, outdoor summer spectacle. Last season 800 theatergoers followed 70 performers, musicians, dancers and singers from scene to scene in the bucolic fields and woods of Charlemont Massachusetts. Past productions include original pieces of work and adaptations of literary classics from Shakespeare to C.S. Lewis (The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) and Tolken (The Hobbit) to J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan).
 
The workshops take place on our campus at the former Heath School, nestled between the shores of the Deerfield River and the foothills of the Berkshires. However, our outdoor, traveling summer spectacles are installed at Berkshire East Mountain Resort (see the About and Registration pages for dates and times). In addition to our aerial fabrics and flying trapeze, productions incorporate the outdoor aerial park, ziplines and chairlift at Berkshire East. All performers are encouraged to take advantage of the Mountain's adventure-based activities regardless of their age, role, skill level or physical abilities!
 
Since 2010, through artistic excellence, exemplary work with young people and a commitment to building a supportive community for youth, the Workshop has helped young people develop personally and artistically through professional caliber, community-centered theater. The program brings together student-performers from all over the region to train and collaborate on theatrical productions at a high level. It is part of an effort to use theater to create a larger sense of community that transcends buildings and school campuses and instills in young people a sense of place and appreciation of hilltown life and passion for the arts. 
The workshop takes place from mid July to the first week of August, M-F, 9AM - 4PM with select evening and weekend rehearsals; see the About or Registration page for specific dates and times.
The Workshop is located at the former Heath School, 18 Jacobs Rd. Heath, MA; performances will take place at Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont MA.
Tuition is $1000 for the three week workshop 
Generous scholarships and financial assistance are available.
 Monday - Friday 9AM - 4PM with select evening and weekend rehearsals. 
The workshop is for ages 10 - 18; we also offer a half-day littles & middles group for younger children ages 7 - 9.

No previous experience necessary.

Aspring actors, artists, musicians, dancers, choreographers, set designers, builders, circus artistes, writers, gamers, gymnasts, baseball, basketball, football, soccer and frisbee players and any other creative types or athletes that are tired of being stereotyped and pigeonholed, or told they have to choose between their many passions. 
For individuals we take into account how many years they’ve been in the program, their age, and what their past roles have been. (If they had a central role the summer before, they are likely going to be cast in a part where they will be, what we call, “ holding the center” so others can have a turn leading.) 
There are no auditions. Participants are also asked to provide us their top three choices for parts.
We have what we call casting workshops or casting “parties” for the first 2-3 days of the workshop. We train and perform together all day. Anyone can read for any part they choose. We create a fun, supportive atmosphere where everyone feels accepted, embraced and celebrated. Its not that we don’t recognize each others’s unique gifts and talents, but we are more interested in the chemistry between groups of performers and the strength of the work those ensembles create together. 
Yes! Please contact our volunteer coordinator with your availability and what skills you have to offer.  We are always looking for skills that include sewing, art, carpentry, lighting and any theatre background. 

Participates bring there own lunch, refrigeration is available.  The HYT provides a group snack. 

We take hydration serious. When it comes to safety, having participates stay hydrated and out of the sun is our number one priority. We spend all day outside and it gets hot in the middle of the summer. We provide shade tents. water, and homemade lemonade and other drinks infused with electrolytes for all participates. 

Complete Registration Form 

Generous financial assistance and scholarships available. Please email jonathan@crocker.com
 
If you have any questions contact us at Hilltownyouth@gmail.com

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The weather is warming!

Join us for our 2023 Outdoor, Traveling Summer Spectacle

Coraline

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Participant Love...

One of my favorite aspects of the workshop is the great range in age of the kids; the younger kids get to learn from (and with) the older more experienced participants. The older kids get to be mentors and role models to the newer folks. We live in a society that tends to be very age segregated, I love that this camp is not. In addition, you do an excellent job of modeling and teaching kids what it means to be creative, compassionate, expressive community members! My children took away an understanding of how fun, hard work and dedication can be combined to produce a high quality performance art piece  —CHARLIE FLYNN (parent)

I think you do an amazing job of harnessing the creative energy in any person and turning it into something beautiful. I will take away that being bold and putting yourself and your energy out into the world is a good thing.- LILLY(age 16, performer)

The thing the workshop does best is bringing campers together. Last year was my fifth year, and I saw my old friends and met new ones. Everyone from the workshop comes from a different background– despite this, everyone is tight-knit. Any divisions at the beginning of the workshop disappear very quickly. Which has led to some of my best friendships and hopefully will lead to more...I think the most important thing I’ve taken away from the camp has been a part of my personality. I’m not an actor, but I’ve had big roles in two of the productions. I’m not going to become a musician but I’ve led a lot of the music instruction. I’m not an acrobat but I’ve gone on the trapeze and stilts and silks. There’s never any pressure to try new things, but the option is always there and is always free of judgment. This is made possible by the staff and faculty who (both in and out of camp) are open to anything. This has encouraged me, someone who had typically stayed in their comfort zone, to branch out and be open to more not just in the workshop, but in my general life.—FRANKLIN SPECK (former workshop participant, assistant music director, age 18)

I think that my children will never be quite the same, and I thank you and your wonderful students for that!—JESSICA BIGGIE MD (parent)

You and the other gifted staff have made this a safe place for my grandchildren to take great risks with life-affirming results.—LINDA SARAGE, (grandparent)

Your work changes lives and gives the gift of theatre to so many young people in your rural community.—AMRITA RAMANAN (Director of Literary Development and Dramaturgy, Oregon Shakespeare Festival)

The faculty was amazing. I improved my acting skills and found a sense of community. Not only is it a great acting experience but it’s wonderful to be so connected with the outdoors, which is an opportunity not many people of my generation have or use.—ALEGRA S. (age 14) 

Check out Hilltown Youth Theatre Summer Workshop Gallery