Oddfellows youth theater to begin

MIDDLETOWN — Registration is now open for classes and productions for young people ages 5to 20 at Oddfellows Playhouse Youth Theater in Middletown. Most programs begin the week of Sept. 17.

Programs for teenagers include the Teen Repertory Company, the Playhouse’s senior performing group, and Circophony, a circus training program for ages 12 to 19. This fall, the Teen Repertory Company will be producing Sophocles’ classic tragedy Antigone, directed by ARTFARM Artistic Director Marcella Trowbridge. Auditions are open to anyone ages 14 to 20 (must be in at least ninth grade), and all who audition and make the commitment to rehearsals and performances will be cast.

A free workshop will be offered on Monday in preparation for auditions to be held Thursday, Sept. 20, 6:30 to 9 pm. Performance dates are Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 to 8.

In addition to Antigone, teens may enroll in a series of Playwriting and Directing classes which will begin Oct. 7 and culminate in a New Plays Festival Feb. 1 to 2.

Circophony offers structured and rigorous circus training for teens. This fall students may choose from one-evening or twoevening-per-week options during two four-week sessions. Topics available include Contortion & Flexibility, Juggling (introductory and advanced), Partner Acrobatics, Stilting, Mini-Trampoline, Handstands and Physical Comedy. Students can select the specific disciplines in which they wish to train.

For young people ages 5 to 14, programs are broken into Stage One (ages 5 to 7), Stage Two (ages 8 to 11), and Stage Three (or Junior Repertory Company, ages 12 to 14). Classes are offered weekly starting Monday in an eight-week after-school session culminating in a “Share Day” on Nov. 10. A variety of classes are offered at each stage weekday afternoons starting at 4:30 pm and on Saturday mornings.

Stage Two performers can join Grimm and Grimmer, a miniproduction developed by the cast and director from some of the lesser-known stories by the brothers Grimm. Stage Three students can choose Filmmaking at our Fingertips, Intermediate Improvisation, or The Complete Actor. Middletown public school students enrolled in Monday through Thursday classes may opt to join “Oddbridge.” A school bus will drop participants at the playhouse after school and they can get a snack and engage in supervised arts activities until classes start at 4:30 p.m.

The fall program at the playhouse also features several special events. On Saturday at 2 p.m., Oddfellows presents Casey Carle in Bubblemania, a unique family show featuring comedy and magic with bubbles of all sizes and shapes.

The first Middletown Teen Talent Search will be held at the Playhouse on Saturday, October 6. Middletown young people ages 12 to 19 will have the chance to compete for cash prizes, culminating in a public final round at 7 p.m., hosted by Connecticut State Troubador Nekita Waller. ARTFARM’s Circus for a Fragile Planet will debut its new show at Oddfellows on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. This four person show uses circus to promote environmental advocacy.

For adults, Oddfellows is partnering with Russell Library and ARTFARM to offer a free daylong workshop with Congolese theater artist Toto Kisaku on Oct. 20. The workshop runs 10 am to 5 pm, lunch is included, and space is limited. Minimum age 16.

On Nov. 16 and 17, Middletown’s Vintage Players will present Vintage Ventures, a benefit performance for Oddfellows Playhouse.

For details about any of these programs, including tuition and financial aid, or to register, go to www.oddfellows.org or contact Oddfellows at info@oddfellows.org or call 860-347-6143. Oddfellows Playhouse is located at 128 Washington Street in downtown Middletown.