7th Annual NATIONAL YOUTH THEATRE FESTIVAL

• Times:
  Wednesday, July 18: 9:30am-4:00 and 6:00-11:00pm Thursday, July 19: 10:00am-4:30pm Friday, July 20: 9:30am-4:30pm and 6:00-10:30pm
• Prices:
  Tuition: $200 - includes a T-shirt, all workshops, activities, lunch and snacks daily, and dinner on Wedneday.
• Location:
  SCERA Center for the Arts
  745 South State Street, Orem, UT 84058

SUMMER 2012

NYTF offers fun and educational workshops from local, regional and nationally-recognized industry professionals. Participants will improve their acting, singing and dancing skills, learn about having a better audition - plus have a performance opportunity to show off what they've learned! Click here to dowload and print NYTF flyer.

AGES: 10-17

TUITION: $200  - includes a T-shirt, all workshops, activities, lunch and snacks daily, and dinner on Wednesday. Students should eat breakfast before they come each day. Students with food allergies will need to provide their own meals.  

Wednesday, July 18   |  9:30am-4:00pm and 6:00-11:00pm  The fun gets started with check-in, welcome and introductions. We'll then jump right into workshops on auditioning, costume design/construction.  After lunch, there is a workshop on improv and acting, followed by rehearsal for a NYTF production number that will be performed at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre Friday night.  In the evening, participants will enjoy dinner and games at SCERA Park - and then it's off for a night of fun and relaxation as everyone will attend the Celebrity Vocal Competition and a big-screen outdoor movie showing of ET: The Extra Terrestrial at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre.

Thursday, July 19  |  10:00am-4:30pm  After check-in, the kids will take workshops in character voice exploration and make-up design and application.  After lunch, the workshops continue with Character Discovery and Finding the Funny in Dialogue/Comedic Timing.  Right after that, we're up and moving with more rehearsal for the NYTF production number.  

Friday, July 20  |  9:30am-4:30pm and 6:00-10:30pm  It's the last morning to check in, and then off for another rehearsal of the NYTF production number.  After lunch, it's the headline workshop of the festival with acclaimed hip hop choreographer from the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, BENJAMIN ALLEN (see his bio below).  Then it's back to work at the final rehearsal for the production number.  Students then return in the evening for a quick rehearsal on stage at the SCERA Shell Outdoor Theatre, where they'll perform their production number as a pre-show prior to the mainstage musical production All Shook Up, which they'll stay and watch as the final activity of the festival. 

Want to see what BENJAMIN ALLEN is all about? Click hereto watch a video showing his hip-hop work with kids...it's a piece he produced, directed and choreographed.   




SPECIAL GUEST:  Benjamin Allen

Energetic, passionate, driven and heartfelt are the traits that have launched Benjamin Allen’s career as one of the most sought after dancers in the field.  After living in Los Angeles for ten years, Benjamin has gained recognition in the industry through his work in film, television and live stage shows. While attending Arizona State University, Benjamin discovered his love for dance and began training professionally to pursue his dream.

Benjamin’s vibrant personality and fresh originality brought dance to a new level with his own unique style that has inspired many people. He began teaching six years ago where he founded a non-stop funk class at Gold’s Gym. Shortly after, he began teaching with MUSE Dance Company and also holds the prestigious position of teaching at a top Los Angeles dance studio, The Edge Performing Arts Center. Most recently he created GROOV3, LA’s Hottest Dance Workout featuring a live DJ every class.

Ben Allen brings pure fun when it comes to hip-hop. Whether its beginners learning choreography for the first time or advanced professionals working on musicality and rhythm matching, Ben's routines offer perfect versatility to all students. His style draws from a "pop vibe", which provides isolated hits and smooth transitions. His music selections are upbeat and fun, giving his steps a groove and charisma that makes his combinations so addicting.

In the midst of a flourishing career, Benjamin created and founded Real Dance Productions. The company aims to unite communities and enrich people’s lives through dance by organizing different classes and events year round. Events include The Gym Crew Challenge, National Dance Day, Dance.Sweat.Give, GROOV3 and Hip Hop Tots. Please visit www.realdanceproductions.com.

In addition, Benjamin has been making his way into the hosting world. While training with world-renowned hosting guru Marki Costello, on camera personality Paul Ryan, and Suzanne Sena, Benjamin has done several reporting jobs for socal.com and co hosted Remix Rundown on thestream.tv.  Most recently he has had the privilege of being the on-camera talent for The Dish on Dancepulg.com. He also brings his energetic personality as the emcee for local shows like Dancescape, Posers and Get Loose. Destined for stardom, he is sure to be seen very soon on networks such as MTV and VH1.

While on high demand to dance in local stage shows, choreograph for emerging new artists and cover a story about the hottest trends, Benjamin continues to travel the world teaching master classes.  His credits include the movie RENT, Eclipse the musical, TV Land Awards and American Music Awards, national commercials with Miller Lite, Cingular Wireless, xbox and Subway, as well as TV shows like Scrubs, AOL’s Gold Rush, NBC’s The Sing Off and VH1’s “I Know My Kid's a Star.”  His Dance fitness movement, GROOV3, now in six locations around Los Angeles, has also caught the attention of Ellen, ABC News and Fitperez.com.




FESTIVAL DIRECTOR: Shawn M. Mortensen

Shawn is an accomplished director, choreographer and performer. He directed the Utah County premiere of Hairspray, and has directed and/or choreographed Smokey Joe’s Café, Swing, Disco Inferno, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Funny Girl and Disney’s Camp Rock.  He has performed lead roles in Seussical, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, A Year with Frog and Toad, Plaid Tidings, Disco Inferno and many, many more. Shawn also serves as SCERA’s Production & Programs Manager, oversees the entire SCERA Youth Theatre program and teaches youth and adult ballroom dance classes.

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TO REGISTER:  Register by phone at (801) 225-ARTS or pick up a registration form at the main office of SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 South State, Orem, open 10am-6pm weekdays or download and print summer 2012 registration form. Bring the completed form and full payment to our main office.  There is a $15 cancellation fee.