June 23 – July 26

Weeks one through four at the Center for the Arts Week One – Tues. – Fri. – June 23rd – 26th Week Two – Mon. – Thurs. – June 29th – July 2nd Week Three – Mon. – Fri. – July 6th – 10th Week Four – Mon. – Fri. – July 13th – 17th This is a five week program. These are NOT individual sessions to choose from. Performances Week Five – Performance week Held at St. Josephs Cultural Center. Specific schedule times for this week TBA. July 20th & Tues. July 21st - Dress rehearsals Wed. July 22nd – Matinee’ preview show for local summer schools Thurs. July 23rd – Opening Night, 6:00 performance Fri. July 24th – 7:00 performance Sat. – July 25th – 7:00 performance Sun. – July 26th – 2:00 Matinee’ performance, followed by cast party.

Attendance is essential with a large-group ensemble production of this kind. Please check your family calendar thoroughly to identify any potential scheduling conflicts, and let me know ASAP.

Little Players
Background Information & Programming Principles

·Founded in the summer of 2001, Little Players began as a three-week performing arts day camp and has since expanded to include more extensive summertime programs up to five weeks long, holiday programs, and after school classes.

·Our programs are available to kids ages seven to sixteen, offering exciting alternatives for personal enrichment, recreation, and self-expression.

This year’s 2009 summertime program will run for five weeks, and culminate in the production of a large-scale variety show. This unique opportunity allows ALL students to play multiple roles and express their many talents through a variety of options and performing arts genres.

Offering a variety of performing arts

In addition to the daily instruction, participants will also enjoy guest speakers and workshops in areas such as: Juggling, Break dance, Pop and Lock, Tap dance, Yoga, Health and Wellness, Stage magic, Line dance, Belly Dance, Hula dance, Contra dance, bongo drumming, stomp, Salsa dance, and more!

Contact Activities Director Shawnna Frazer for details on which of our performing arts genres will be offered this year.

Drama through memorized pieces, children’s poetry readings and performances, improvisational games, group activities, monologues, dialogues, scenes, one-acts, and full length plays.

Theatrical Dance is taught to be more Broadway theatrical then technical and so is likely to involve less detailed critique of form, and more incorporation of several dance styles within each piece. Participants are introduced to Modern, Hip hop, Jazz, Swing, Belly, Tap, African, Disco, Funk, theatrical dance, and more! We teach performance dance as a means of silly and fun expression. Our dances are child like and age appropriate, and often tell a story.

Other Genres Set design & construction, costuming, assistant directing, assistant choreographing, Lighting, Sound, props management, Special Effects.

·All participants will share the special experience of rehearsing and performing with complete theatrical lighting and sound.

·Although we do teach theater history, terminology, historical figures, and technique, we do not aspire to lead your child to a profession in any performing arts field. We teach the arts as a fun and enlightening mode of self-expression to be taken seriously, but enjoyed recreationally.

· Benefits and life experience gained from studying performing arts with Little Players include reduced or eliminated shyness, increased self-esteem, confidence, pride, public speaking skills, exercise, improved coordination and rhythm, accountability, and responsibility.

·Offering beginning and intermediate programs for kids ages 7 – 16 with limited class size for individualized attention.

---

Little Players Activities Director& Artistic Director
Shawnna Frazer

Little Players was founded in the spring of 2001 by 3rd generation, Nevada county resident Shawnna Frazer. Over the past 12 years, and throughout the school year, Shawnna has taught (and continues to teach) drama & dance for a number of Nevada county schools and organizations including: Chicago Park Elementary, Scotten Elementary School, Hennessey Elementary, Gilmore middle School, Union Hill School, Union Hill Charter, Nevada City Elementary, GVSD PTC, NCE PTC, & Echappe' dance studio.  

Through all this she has had the pleasure of sharing her love of performing arts with more then 2500 local kids.  Locally, Shawnna has directed 57 plays, all youth theater, and choreographed 32 theatrical dances, also with local kids.  In addition to drama and dance classes she also teaches elementary P.E., arts and crafts, and Rhythm and movement within our local schools.

Volunteer work includes Three years as director of The Dragon Squad Athletic Club for Kids (2001-2003), Guest teacher for a day, Taveuni Middle School in Fiji (2002), one year as assistant practice coach with Lyman Gilmore boy’s volleyball (2004), occasional Red Cross events and toy drives (2005-2006), and one year as high jump coach for Union Hill Track (2006).
Shawnna was educated at Nevada Union High School, Sierra College, and the University of California at Berkeley. Her breadth of coursework includes significant studies in Art History, Humanities, World Cultures, English and Literature, Cultural Anthropology, Human development, and Early Childhood Education.

Shawnna believes strongly that young people are often underestimated and so offers a safe and fun environment in which students can strive to achieve their all. She is an energetic instructor, and passionate about the quality of the experience she provides. It is her view that performing arts are a wonderful option for self expression and strives to help each and every student discover an element of the arts that will spotlight their individual interest and talent. Shawnna plans to continue, and expand her programs, long into the future.

For more information on our programs, or to enroll, please contact
Little Players Activities Director: Shawnna Frazer.
For information email .
PLEASE NO CALLS BEFORE 9AM or after 6PM