Core Program - Classes 

FAIRYTALE ADVENTURES (Pre-K)
Open a treasure box filled with fantasy and fairy tales.  Using theatre games, stories, movement and song, you will step into the magical world of make-believe.  Whether performing the noble actions of a knight, practicing the movements of a forest animal, or dancing like a princess, you will develop skills in listening, speaking, taking turns, and cooperation. Enjoy the magic of the adventure in a class sharing at the end of the semester.  

This class is offered at a choice of two locations:

At The Claremont Children’s School (ages 3-5):
Mondays: 3:00 – 4:00 pm
12 Classes: February 4 – May 5 (Schedule pending)
Tuition: $420 Register Online Now!
 
At The 92nd Street Y (ages 4-5):
Wednesdays: 2:00 – 3:00 pm
12 classes: January 30 – May 7 (No class on February 20, April 16 and April 23)
Tuition: $385/$355 (Parenting Center Members) Register Online Now!
Note: Financial aid is not available for classes held at Claremont or The 92nd Street Y.

IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND (Grades K–1)
Imagination takes flight in this fun and exciting class filled with activities that explore the expressive use of voice, movement, and feelings.  Discover your creativity and learn acting skills as you step into the world of drama.  The last class will be open to family and friends for a sharing.

Saturdays: 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
12 classes: January 19 – April 19 (No class on February 23 and March 22)
Tuition: $396 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

STORYBOOK THEATRE (Grades 2-3)
Open up a magic door to acting and adventure as you explore and perform your favorite storybooks. Through movement, improvisation, and scripted storytelling, characters from kids’ most beloved books come to life!  Family and friends will have fun watching you act out your favorite stories in a class sharing on the last day of the semester.

Saturdays: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
12 classes: January 19 – April 19 (No class on February 23 and March 22)
Tuition: $396 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

CREATIVE DRAMA AND MUSIC (Grades 2-3)
Explore singing, acting, movement, and self-expression while having fun and making new friends in this fun introduction to musical theatre.  Using creative scripts and both familiar and original songs, you and your classmates will work with a director/choreographer and vocal coach and have fun presenting performing in a final class sharing for family and friends.

Saturdays: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
12 classes: January 12 – April 12 (No class on February 23 and March 22)
Tuition: $432 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

MANY MINI MUSICALS (Grades 4-5)
This class provides exciting training for budding actors, singers, and dancers in a safe, creative environment.  Have fun learning skills in all three areas while rehearsing a selection of scenes and numbers from classic and current popular musicals.  Working with a director/ choreographer and a vocal coach, you’ll share your talents with friends and family in a musical revue at the end of the semester.

Saturdays: 10:30 – 12:30 pm
12 classes: January 12 – April 12 (No class on February 23 and March 22)
Tuition: $480 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

JUNIOR MUSICAL ENSEMBLE (Grades 5-6)
Take the next step in polishing your singing, dancing, and acting skills.  Under the guidance of a director, a vocal coach, and a choreographer, you’ll learn and strengthen basic performance techniques while rehearsing scenes and songs from Honk! Junior. In May, you and your fellow cast members will enjoy performing Honk! Junior in the City Lights Spring Performance Festival. 

Saturdays: 12:30 – 3:00 pm
12 classes: January 26 – May 3 (No class on February 23, March 22 and April 26)
Dress Rehearsal: Wednesday, May 7, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Performances: May 8th at 7pm AND May 10th 1:00pm and 3:00 pm
Tuition: $585 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

JUNIOR ACTING ENSEMBLE (Grades 4–6)
In this class you will gain fundamental acting tools and performance techniques. Theatre games, improvisation, and exercises will help you understand character and scene development, voice projection, and blocking. You will also heighten your comedic and dramatic skills while rehearsing new scenes in preparation for The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood in the City Lights Spring Performance Festival. 

Mondays: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
12 classes: January 28 – May 5 (No class on February 18, March 24 and April 21) 
Dress Rehearsal: May 12, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
Performances: May 16th at 8:00pm AND May 17th, 1:00 pm
Tuition: $520 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

COMEDY, COMBAT, and CREATIVE SCENES (Grades 4-6)
Get exciting, hands-on experience in acting, comedy, and stage combat!  This innovative class utilizes theatre games, scene work, improvisation, movement, and character development to teach you about acting, comedy, and stage combat. Your class will culminate in a sharing for family and friends where you will demonstrate all of your new talents and skills.

Saturdays: 3:00pm  - 5:00 pm
12 classes: January 19 – April 19 (No class on February 23 and March 22)
Tuition: $480 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

MUSICAL THEATRE REVUE (A: Grades 6-12) (B: Grades 7-12)
These classes bring the exciting world of musical theatre to life.  Working closely with a director/choreographer and a vocal coach, you will sharpen your singing, dancing, and acting skills. Using scenes and songs from famous musicals, you will rehearse ensemble and solo pieces and develop your acting skills with scene work and theatre games. Your class revue will be performed during the City Lights Spring Performance Festival.

Section A
Fridays: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
12 classes: January 25 – May 9 (No class on March 21, March 28 and April 25)
Dress Rehearsal: May 14, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Performances: May 16 at 6:00 pm AND May 17, 6:00 pm
Tuition: $585 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

Section B
Saturdays: 3:00 am – 5:00 pm
12 classes: January 26 – May 3 (No class on February 23, March 22 and April 26)
Dress Rehearsal: May 8, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Performances: May 9th at 8:00 pm AND May 10th at 7:00 pm
Tuition: $585 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

PLAYMAKERS’ WORKSHOP (Grades 6-8)
Using improvisation and creative writing exercises, you’ll awaken your inner dramatist as you work with a professional playwright to create original characters, scenes and stories.  Learn the secrets of dramatic structure, character-specific dialogue and active conflict as you craft an original play that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.  Your class will end in a fully staged production of your original play as part of the City Lights Spring Performance Festival

Tuesdays: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
12 classes: February 5 – May 13 (No class on February 19, March 25 and April 22)
Dress Rehearsal: May 15, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Performances: May 15th at 7:00 pm AND May 17th at 3:00 pm AND 5:00 pm
Tuition: $520 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

ALL ABOUT ACTING (Grades 7-9)
Join this class to develop and broaden your acting skills through improvisation exercises, theatre games, and challenging scene work.  With your scene partners, you will learn how to sharpen your creative imagination, investigate exciting and unusual characters and speak with clarity and ease on stage.  Your class will end with a fully staged one-act play as part of our Spring Performance Festival.

Thursdays: 4:00 – 6:00 pm
12 classes: January 24 – May 1 (No class on February 19, March 19, April 3 and April 23)
Dress Rehearsal: May 6, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Performances: May 3rd at 5:00 pm AND May 9th at 6:00 pm
Tuition: $520 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

NEW! ADVANCED THEATRE LAB (Grades 9-12)
Are you interested in trying your hand at directing, lighting and sound design?  In this advanced, student-driven workshop, you will learn how to make clear, active choices and direct your fellow actors as you interpret both published scripts and challenging found texts.  Learn to read a text, articulate a concept and bring it to life using the tools of the theatre.  We will experiment with the use of light, sound, stage picture, text, silence, mood, pace, rhythm, space and time to tell stories and communicate ideas.  The class will culminate in an evening of scenes and moments, conceived, directed and designed and run entirely by you and your classmates.

Wednesdays:  4:00 -6:00 pm
10 classes: March 12 – June 4 (no classes March 26, April 2 or April 23)
Tech rehearsal:  Thursday, June 5 (4:00 -7:00 pm)
Sharing: Friday, June 6 (7:00 pm)
Tuition:  $400 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!

NEW WORKSHOP! MAGIC TO DO
Have you ever wanted to perform unbelievable magic tricks like those seen on TV? This is your chance! In his all-new incredible introductory magic course series, professional New York City magician Michael Matson demonstrates and reveals the hidden secrets behind some of the world's most magnificent magic tricks. Sign up today to learn hpw to transform ordinary, everyday objects into extraordinary demonstrations of amazing magic through sleight of hand wizardry. Amaze your friends and delight your family with marvelous magic tricks such as turning water instantly to ice, makig a pen magically float in the air, causing money to vanish at your fingertips and much more!

This course is thoroughly taught through easy steps to follow, step by step explanations that reveal these closely guarded magical secrets and guide students to perform each magic trick successfully. Michael Matson's beginner's approach to instruction will give everyone the skill and confidence to perform mesmerizing magic tricks with almost any item that can be picked up! Are you ready to learn the secrets of impossible magic? Register now!

Thursdays:  4:00 -6:00 pm
Workshop dates: April 3, 10, 17 and May 1
Tech rehearsal:  Thursday, June 5 (4:00 -7:00 pm)

Tuition:  $125 + $25 application fee Register Online Now!