Saskexpress creates new opportunities
The Saskexpress Saskatoon Musical Theatre Studio is gearing up for Season 19, with some fun new programs and opportunities for anyone interested in musical theatre and dance.
“Triple threat skills of singing, dancing and acting is at the heart of all we do,” says director Lorna Batycki. “We believe that performance opportunities should be accessible to all and these opportunities should be about building confidence through creative arts. Anyone can perform with the right encouragement and support and we provide this with all the classes we offer. ”
This season includes a new adult musical theatre class to complement the already popular adult tap and adult ballet programs. There are also recreational and competitive options in musical theatre (which combines voice, drama and acting), jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop and lyrical, along with technical classes in voice, jazz, tap and ballet.
In addition to the new musical theatre class, the studio is offering entry level classes for teens interested in musical theatre and dance. This is a chance for older kids and teens to take part in something they perhaps didn’t do when they were younger, while still learning and performing with people their own age.
Saskexpress Saskatoon also offers performance opportunities with productions that rehearse throughout the fall and winter and then are performed in the spring. This year, the program has expanded to a Junior Troupe that will stage an age-appropriate production while working on improvisation and scene study skills, and a Senior Troupe who will perform Into the Woods, while also working on foundational theatre skills.
Also returning are the Saskatoon Mini Express and Expressions, auditioned groups that create a holiday show and a spring show and perform at events around the city and province. These casts work hard, learning several numbers that are combined into a performance that is written specifically for the students involved. Their holiday production, Christmas Time, will be show-ready by mid-november.
Saskexpress also has specialized programs for preschool performers with Creative Tots or Creative Kids classes. Foundations focuses on the core elements of musical theatre with jazz and ballet, while Rhythms brings together musical theatre with tap and hip hop.
Batycki believes musical theatre is all story telling through music and movement and she can’t wait to hear the stories that will be created in the coming months!
Registration for musical theatre and so much more is available now on line at saskexpress.com/saskatoonstudio.