The 2011-2012 YAW Program was funded, in part,by the National Endowment for the Arts / Art Works Program.

Summer 2011 YAW Program

The 2011 Summer YAW Program afforded 36 students the opportunity to learn the basics of acting and theatre etiquette, as well as the study of movement and playwriting. Incorporated into the weekly class curriculum designed by YAW Director, Heidi Dallin, was an introduction to the Laban Movement Analysis of Dance taught by Guest Artist Choreographer, Carol Burnham and play development and storytelling facilitated by 2011 Playwright in Residence, Richard Vetere.

Each Class Session worked on separate projects geared to their age and experience:
 The Children’s Class wrote their own fairy tales, “The War Between the Fruit and the Meat”, “The Tale of the Three Snowshoe Hares” and “How the Boy Saved the Town”, that was performed for friends and family at the final class.
 The Pre-Teen and the Teen Class had the opportunity to work on scenes from a new young adult play “BirdBrain” written by Mr. Vetere and gave YAW students the opportunity to work on the play prior to its publication.

For the final class, students performed scenes from “BirdBrain” complete with costumes and birdlike movements learned through the Laban Movement Analysis. The Teen Class also wrote and performed personal monologues on topics ranging from Justin Bieber to overcoming physical and emotional challenges.

The Summer 2011 YAW Program also included a Young Playwrights Workshop. Led by Richard Vetere, this Workshop garnered new students from colleges and universities (University of Pennsylvania and Colby College) into the YAW Program and allowed these students to learn the fundamental concepts of playwriting. Receiving valuable feedback from Mr. Vetere, they honed and crafted their own plays.

Additionally, four (4) YAW students were given the opportunity to perform in Gloucester Stage’s critically acclaimed 2011 production of “The Most Happy Fella” working alongside professional actors, singers and dancers. Many of YAW’s older students also became active in the day-to-day activities at Gloucester Stage as regular volunteer ushers for the 2011 Season.

Fall 2011 YAW Program

The 2011 Fall YAW Program, which was expanded to two days a week, allowed students of all levels to achieve a unique understanding of the fundamentals of theater. Special guest instructor, Professor James Petty of Stonehill College, taught each class stagecraft techniques and Carol Burnham of Windover Dance Company in Rockport provided the students with movement and dance classes.

Winter 2012 YAW Program

The 2012 YAW Winter Session, which was part of the 2011 – 2012 YAW Workshop Season, included an introduction to theatre basics such as theatre games, improvisation, movement, vocal and physical expression, character preparation, scene study, storytelling, writing and public speaking training taught by YAW Director, Heidi Dallin. The standard YAW curriculum was further embellished with special instruction in music and art facilitated by guest teachers Helen Lake Greene and Rockhaya Waring, respectively.

Helen Lake Greene is a UMass-Amherst alumnus (vocal major) and Music Teacher at the West Parish Elementary in Gloucester, MA. Ms Greene taught students basic singing techniques and the fundamental application of how to convey a story through song. Additionally, she coached students on stage deportment to build confidence in their singing and familiarize them with the structure of a Broadway Show Tune.

Visual Artist Rokhaya Waring is a graduate of Princeton University and a member of the Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester, MA. Ms Waring worked with the YAW students to develop their observation skills as they learned the five skills of perception, their ability to capture emotions, draw from life and tell a story with visuals.
For more information on Ms Waring visit her website at http://www.rokhaya.com

2011 “Holiday Delights” Stage Manager, Rosie Kenney, who is a graduate in Theater from Salem State University, offered a special class for the Teen Session on the basics of stage management.

December 2011 - Holiday Delights

Click below to view video footage and read more about GSC's 2011 Holiday Delights!

Good Morning Gloucester -
Behind the Scenes @ Holiday Delights

Gloucester Daily Times

"Family traditions take center stage in 'Holiday Delights' at Gloucester Stage"

The Boston Globe

"‘Holiday Delights’ in Gloucester tells a Christmas tale"

A tired Elf(Carter Donald) on Christmas Eve Santa's Workshop > Happy Holidays From the Elves and Mrs. Claus Mr. Fezziwig(Zachary Magee) and his daughter, Katherine(Grace Dolan) start the Fezziwig Ball with violin music from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Fezziwig Ball from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Dreidel Dancers celebrate Hannukkah Fan(Lainy Turner) takes Young Scrooge(Mark Turner) home as the Headmistress of Young Scrooge's school(Lily Gray) misses her home from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol Fan(Lainy Turner) & Young Scrooge(Mark Turner) Mrs. Claus(Jessica Ingaharro) and her Elf Assistants(Sedona Gillard & Olivia Osterman) try to make Lily (Lily Armstrong) understand the real joys of the holiday season