BACKYARD SHAKESPEARE
When the plague hit London, Shakespeare hit the touring circuit and headed out to the countryside. When the delta variant hit Austin, ImprovEd Shakespeare moved to the backyard for in-person rehearsals of ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night for kids and teens.
Outdoors, masked and socially distanced. At least until we have a better grasp on this thing.
“Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.”
– Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare
Troupe |
Time |
Day |
Ages |
Enroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cast A | Thursdays | 10 AM – 12 PM | Ages 8-12 | REGISTER |
| Cast B | Thursdays | 1:30 – 3:30 PM | Ages 13-18 | REGISTER |
| Cast C | Fridays | 10 AM – 12 PM | Ages 8-12 | REGISTER |
| Cast D | Fridays | 1:30 – 3:30 PM | Ages 13-18 | REGISTER |
Limited to ten players per troupe. 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
Day |
Date |
Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday & Sunday | November 20-21 | TBD | ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Backyard |
Enroll in our newest play, ImprovEd Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night 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 September 1, October 1, and November 1. Payments accepted: PayPal, check or cash.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
OUTDOORS – All rehearsals and performances will take place outdoors.
SOCIAL DISTANCING – Social distancing of double-arms-length between participants will be strongly encouraged.
NO SICK STUDENTS AT REHEARSALS – If a student is experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, they will not be permitted to attend rehearsal that day.
STUDENT HEALTH SCREENINGS – We ask that parents certify prior to class that no one in the participant’s household is experiencing symptoms of, or has tested positive for, COVID-19, nor has anyone in the household been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to the beginning of rehearsals.
MASKS – Per the City of Austin’s COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines, masks are required if Austin is in Stage 4 or Stage 5. Masks are optional if Austin is in Stages 1-3.
VACCINE NOTE – The Director, Andee Kinzy, is fully vaccinated. If she is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, we reserve the right to move the rehearsal online that week.
ABOUT THE TWELFTH NIGHT FOR KIDS CLASS
ImprovEd Shakespeare has worked with the Austin homeschool community since 2011. Rather than pursuing a wholly academic study, our focus, 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-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 the truncated rehearsal process, as well as targeting family audiences, our performances run under an hour. 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!”
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 Film and Television Festival, she empowers girls and nonbinary youth to share their stories. Additionally, she creates videos for the Internet that document and illuminate the process of working with Kids and Shakespeare and writes narrative screenplays.
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.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImYJZT3wdBo[/embedyt]
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.
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.
