Guess what? A recent study out of London came to the conclusion that engaging in the arts can help you live longer. Granted, our spring production classes are for youth ages 8-18, but this is great news for their grandparents, too. Thus, don’t enroll in ImprovEd Shakespeare‘s As You Like It for your Kids or yourself this new year, do it for our older adults.
WHY ‘AS YOU LIKE IT?’
Six years ago, ImprovEd Shakespeare‘s As You Like It became our eighth production. Additionally, it was the first play we took to the Texas Nonprofit Theatre’s Youth Conference. So why reprise it, instead of continuing our attempt to bring lesser known Shakespeare works to light? Forget Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It is one of the best Shakespeare plays for youth to perform. First, let’s talk about relevance…. Climate change? Duke Senior, exiled to the forest, demonstrates how to live a life of sustainability. Gender fluidity? In Shakespeare’s time, there would have been a boy playing a girl playing a boy playing a girl. Family issues? Let’s see how two brothers (or sisters) who hate each other figure out how to get along.
Besides which, the current crop of ImprovEd Shakespeare players hasn’t performed it, yet. Finally, it’s pretty darn funny. So what are you waiting for? Enroll now in ImprovEd Shakespeare’s As You Like It for Kids, our first production in the new decade.
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“All the world’s a stage.”
– As You Like It, William Shakespeare
Troupe |
Time |
Day |
Ages |
Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast A | Thursdays | 10 AM – 12 PM | Ages 8-12 | FULL |
| Cast B | Thursdays | 1 – 3 PM | Ages 13-18 | FULL |
Important: If you have a child with special needs or who has a physical impairment, please contact us directly to discuss our options.
REHEARSAL LOCATION
ImprovEd Arts Studio 10111 Oliver Dr., Austin, Texas 78737
Day |
Date |
Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday & Sunday | April 18-19 | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday & Sunday | April 25-26 | TBD | TBD |
Enroll in our newest play, ImprovEd Shakespeare’s As You Like It for Kids now.
Cost |
Type |
|---|---|
| $275 | Full payment – one child |
| $250 | Full payment – sibling |
| $100 | Monthly payment – one child |
| $90 | Monthly payment – sibling |
Important: Monthly payment is due on January 15, February 15 and March 15. Payments accepted: PayPal, check or cash.
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ABOUT THE AS YOU LIKE IT FOR KIDS CLASS
Since 2011, ImprovEd Shakespeare has worked with the Austin homeschool community. Rather than pursuing a wholly academic study, our focus, instead, emphasizes Shakespeare stories, including performance skills. To that end, we follow a non-traditional production process with attention to a play-based approach. By these methods, we aim to grow comprehension organically by layering skills and technique on each individual child. In particular, this system celebrates your child’s unique instincts and personality.
Additionally, performing with a Company of Players requires great trust in your peers. Therefore, within each rehearsal we concentrate on team-building, as well as theatre, improvisation games, scene work, and acting technique.
Finally, each production class premieres a signature ImprovEd Shakespeare script. Because of a truncated rehearsal process, as well as targeted family audiences, our performances run under an hour. Furthermore, in honor of a real Renaissance troupe, we emphasize costumes with few props, limited sets, lights, and sound. In addition to acting in the piece, the Company of Kids have the responsibility of running their own production. In fact, at a previous renaissance festival, one judge quipped, “It’s ‘Our Gang’ meets Shakespeare!”
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ANDEE KINZY, FOUNDER and DIRECTOR
Andee, pronounced like ‘Gandhi,’ Kinzy is the founder and director of ImprovEd Arts. She has been working with youth in theatre and film for thirty years.
She has a B.A. in Drama from the University of Texas. As an actor, Andee also trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and with Shane Ann Younts, Eric Loeb, Phil Gushee, Anne Bogart and Robert Wilson. Her background includes Suzuki and Viewpoints, Alexander Technique, Method Acting, the Meisner Technique and Improvisation.
In addition to acting, Andee directs original short films, including “What Is It About Hats? A Documentary About People Under the Brim.” While living in NYC, she was president of the nonprofit women’s film organization, CineWomen NY. Later, that project absorbed into N.Y. Women in Film and Television. Most recently, she produced, directed and edited “ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Global Hamlet.”
Through it all, Ms. Kinzy continued working collaboratively with her peers. Until one day, it dawned on her. She was the adult, and her ‘peers’ were, in fact, Kids. Never one to be swayed by expectations, Andee believes that every child’s experience with the arts is unique. Therefore, she employs a mishmash of methods culled from her training and expertise, to help every Kid individually shine.
Thus far through ImprovEd Arts, Andee has written, produced, and directed more than eighteen ImprovEd Shakespeare productions. She has led workshops on Shakespeare for Kids at the Texas Nonprofit Theaters Youth Conference, as well as in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Berlin, Germany, Bangalore, India, and Melbourne, Australia. As the creator behind the Girl Improved (short) Film and Theatre Festival, she empowers youth who identify as female to share their stories. Additionally, she creates videos for the Internet that document and illuminate the process of working with Kids and Shakespeare.
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THE FINE PRINT
CANCELLATION POLICY
- Cancellations will be refunded the amount paid, less a $50 processing/registration fee, and a prorated amount for any classes attended. After the second week of classes, there will be no refund.
- ImprovEd Arts reserves the right to cancel the class for insufficient enrollment. If this happens, all tuition paid will be refunded in full.
PHOTO CLAUSE
- All ImprovEd Arts rehearsals and performances may be photographed or filmed. Your participation constitutes your authorization for ImprovEd Arts to use your child’s photograph, voice or other likeness with and or without his or her initials, first name or pseudonym for purposes related to the mission of ImprovEd Arts, including but not limited to marketing and promotion in both print and electronic forms, as well as the Internet and in ImprovEd Arts videos.
MISSED OR CANCELLED REHEARSALS
- Because we are rehearsing for a performance, there will be no make-ups.
- Each rehearsal is vital. Therefore, plan to attend every class, barring any emergency situation.
- You will be notified by text no later than one hour before rehearsal start time if inclement weather causes a cancellation.
- ImprovEd Arts is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen personal belongings.
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SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL
Working with Shakespeare in education frightens many. Because Shakespeare experts, including professionals, surround us. Escaping them is difficult. This can be intimidating. Thus, feelings of dread usually accompany the act of presenting, but moreover be introduced to, the Bard.
For this reason, ImprovEd Shakespeare is here to help. Founder and Director, Andee Kinzy, offers the layman’s approach to Shakespeare.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/embed?listType=playlist&list=PL7xHO_u0s9tBSGNWSA2RmYJQx2VQ16cH-[/embedyt]
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SHAKESPEARE FOR TEACHERS AND DIRECTORS
If you’re an English teacher, a theatre director, or a well-trained Shakespeare advocate, here you will find inspiration, as well as techniques, for making our favorite bard fun for Kids. Accordingly, we present old, new and improved ideas for introducing Shakespeare to youth for the non-Shakespeare-academic. Among them, we include theatre games, improvisation, tips, tricks, plus activities for using Shakespeare in education.
SHAKESPEARE FOR KIDS
Since 2011, ImprovEd Shakespeare has been exploring the Bard with youth through theatrical performance. Our signature scripts are a mix of modern narration plus original Shakespeare verse. With a focus on the story, including an abbreviated script length, our productions entertain all ages. Moreover, our catalog goes beyond the oft-used Midsummer Night’s Dream, or Romeo and Juliet. We’ve discovered that young people find much to their delight among many of Shakespeare’s works. Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for family-friendly Shakespeare videos.
PERFORMANCES
Each fall and spring, ImprovEd Shakespeare develops a new production for live performance. In honor of the traditional Renaissance traveling troupe, during a period of a few weeks, we present Kid-friendly plays at various venues around town. Our Players, between 3rd-12th grade, gear themselves with playful, as well as engaging interpretations of works by the Bard of Avon. Suitable for all ages, each performance runs for about an hour.
Furthermore, these shows are always FREE. However, we gladly accept Donations! Additionally, visit ImprovEd Shakespeare, Shakespeare for Kids by Kids on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. And don’t forget to click on our BLOG for the stories behind these videos.
