| If you or your organization
would like more information about the Bay Area
Shakespeare Camps (for ages 7 to 13), Teen
Shakespeare Camps (for ages 12 to 18), or The
Advanced Acting Workshop (for experienced performers only) please
call (415) 558-0888 or, if outside of the 415 area, (800) 978-PLAY.
Bay
Are Shakespeare Camp FAQs*
(*Frequently Asked Questions)
How long have you been doing Bay Area
Shakespeare Camps?
2008 will mark our 16th season of Shakespeare Camps! We've
gone from 1 camp in San Francisco to over 30 camps all over the
Bay Area, serving over 800 campers every summer.
(back to FAQ list)
How old should you be to attend Bay
Area Shakespeare Camps?
7 years old (or going into 2nd grade) through 13 years
old (or going into 8th grade) for our Shakespeare Players camps,
and 12 years old (or going into 7th grade) through 18 years old
(or going into college) for our Teen Camps. We leave it to the
parents' discretion to decide whether their 12 or 13-year-old
will most benefit from being the oldest in a younger camp or youngest
in an older camp.
The age criteria of 7 and up is based on a few different variables,
but its primary intent is to try and insure that the camper's
experience is a positive and enjoyable one. Campers must be 7
years of age at the start of the camp session.
If your child is 5 or 6 years old, please send us an email at
sfshakes@sfshakes.org to let us know you are interested in a new
program we're planning, Shakespeare Sprites. (back
to FAQ list)
Is it okay to go to camp if you've
never acted before?
Yes. Basic and Teen Camps are designed for beginning and
intermediate campers. Classes are small enough that our teaching
artists are able to work with each individual at his or her level.
(back to FAQ list)
What is the camper-teacher ratio at
camp?
Approximately 10:1. The maximum number of campers at each
session is 40. For a full camp, there will be 3 teaching artists
and 1 manager. Full camps frequently also have a teen intern.
Each group has no more than 14 campers with one teaching artist,
to ensure that everyone gets plenty of individual attention and
a speaking role in the final production. (Back
to FAQ list)
Who are the teaching artists
at Bay Area Shakespeare Camp?
Our teaching artists are working actors, stage managers,
directors, and designers. Most have extensive teaching experience
in other camps and programs. About a third have postgraduate degrees
in theatre. All our teaching artists attend our classroom management
and curriculum training sessions. At least one per site is certified
in First Aid and CPR. We do criminal background checks on all
teaching staff. We are very proud of the quality of our teaching
artists and curriculum. See the bios
of some of our teaching artists. (Back to FAQ
list)
What happens during a typical day
at Shakespeare Camp?
For the first half-hour, from 9-9:30 am, the whole group
meets together to do a warm-up. Then the group divides up into
smaller groups for three classes. Each class lasts for one hour
- 9:30-10:30, 10:30-11:30, and 12-1. Our lunch break is from 11:30-12.
At the end of the day, each group has a two-hour rehearsal for
the final performance, from 1-3 pm. If aftercare is offered at
the site, aftercare campers have unstructured play time from 3-5:30
PM.(back to FAQ list)
What are the morning classes?
In Shakespeare Players camps, the classes are Voice &
Movement, which helps each actor to learn to use their voice and
body to communicate characters and on-stage objectives; Discovering
Shakespeare, focused on learning more about Shakespeare's world
as well as how to speak his language; and Production & Design,
in which campers create their own props, scenery, and costumes.
In Teen camps, instead of Production & Design, we focus on
Audition Technique or Stage Combat. (Back to FAQ
list)
What should my child bring to Shakespeare
Camp? What clothes are appropriate?
A bag lunch (no food is provided), any necessary medication,
and afternoon snack if attending aftercare. Some sites have faith-based
food restrictions, which you'll be informed about in the confirmation
letter. We highly recommend bringing a large bottle of water,
and sunscreen for outdoor sites. We provide all worksheets, a
class folder, a script, and materials for prop, scenery, and costume
construction. Campers will sometimes volunteer to bring props
and costumes from home. Campers should wear clothes that are comfortable
to move in - skirts are not allowed unless shorts or leggings
are worn underneath. No sandals or flip-flops; closed-toed shoes
are best.
(Back to FAQ list)
What show will my child perform
at Shakespeare Camp?
In 2008, all the camps will focus on Shakespeare's late
romances, to facilitate comprehension of our Free
Shakespeare in the Park production of Pericles.
The youngest group (7-8 year-olds) will perform a collection
of scenes from different Shakespeare plays called Shakespeare's
Faraway Lands. All are lively scenes from Shakespeare's histories
and romances, with a focus on heroic quests, daring, and adventure!
Rebecca
Ennals, the camp director, will provide a summary of each
play which will be discussed in class.
The middle group (9-10 year-olds) will perform Twelfth
Night, the same show that was presented by Shakespeare
on Tour during the 2007-08 season.
The oldest group (11-13 year-olds) will perform The
Winter's Tale, a late romance appropriate to this age group.
Teen campers (12-18 year-olds) will perform either
Pericles (our show for Free
Shakespeare in the Park for 2008) or Cymbeline, another
late romance with similar themes. (A third show will be added
for larger Teen Camps.) Both shows are rarely performed, giving
our older campers a chance to add to their Shakespeare repertoire!
Faraway Lands is about 15-20 minutes long; the other plays
are abridged to 30-minute versions.
(Back to FAQ list)
Are there exceptions to this general
rule?
Yes. Some camps have fewer than 28 campers, so they are
broken up into only 1 or 2 groups. In these cases, younger campers
may be in either Twelfth Night or The Winter's Tale
instead of Faraway Lands, or all age levels may be together,
depending on the age breakdown. Also, if we have more than 14
in one age group, the campers at the younger and older ends of
the spectrum may be moved into the younger and older groups. (Back
to FAQ list)
Why does the youngest group perform
a selection of scenes instead of a full play?
We find that having only one or two short scenes to memorize
is easier for our youngest campers. The format of the piece also
allows the cast to work on choral speaking and ensemble work.
(Back to FAQ list)
How do you cast the camp shows? Does
everyone get a part?
During the first day of camp, the teaching artists will
describe the characters and action of the play and have campers
read aloud from the script. Intermediate campers, who can be heard
and understood, stand comfortably onstage, and seem energized
and committed, are likely to be cast in roles with a larger amount
of stage time. Beginning campers, who still need to work on the
above skills, will probably start with smaller roles. The teaching
artist usually decides on the casting that night and posts the
cast list on Tuesday morning. Every effort is made to give each
child an appropriate role for his or her level of experience and
comfort on stage. And yes, everyone gets a speaking role. (Back
to FAQ list)
What if my child is unhappy with
his or her role?
Most campers, even if they are initially unhappy with
their casting, find that they love their roles after a day or
two of rehearsal. We find that even if cast in a role that has
only one scene and a few lines, an actor with a good attitude
can make the most of it, and often becomes one of the most memorable
actors in the show! (back to FAQ list)
What is the disciplinary procedure
at camp?
Each camper is asked to sign an agreement before the start
of camp saying that he or she will agree to follow our basic camp
rules of respect for the teaching artists, respect for the site,
and respect for each other. During the first morning warm-up,
the teaching artists will go over this agreement and ask campers
to give suggestions for positive ways to support each other and
the productions. If a camper violates a camp rule, he or she will
first receive a warning, then a time-out with the manager, then
a parent call from the manager, then a call from the Education
Director and expulsion from camp. Major infractions will result
in immediate expulsion. We do not tolerate behavior that interferes
with other campers' enjoyment of camp. (Back to
FAQ list)
Do you accept campers with special
needs?
Yes. In the past we have had campers with autism, cerebral
palsy, Asperger's syndrome, diabetes, and other mental and physical
challenges. We find that most of these campers do extremely well
at camp. Those with severe challenges may need the on-site attention
of a parent or caregiver - this is decided on a case-by-case basis.
We ask that all parents of children with special needs indicate
this on the emergency form. The more we know, the more prepared
our staff can be.
(Back to FAQ list)
Is it okay to miss days during Shakespeare
Camp?
The campers who are able to attend every day of camp undoubtedly
have a more rewarding experience. Even a short absence can cause
your camper to miss out on a lot! Of course, emergencies and illnesses
happen, and we do our best to work with them. Parents and children
should remember that putting on a play requires a team effort
from all cast members, and absences hurt the production. Please
do not plan your vacation to overlap with the camp.
(Back to FAQ list)
What's the difference between
Teen Camp and the Advanced Acting Workshop?
The Advanced Acting Workshop is recommended for
actors aged 12-18 who have attended at least one camp and are
ready to work in a more intense and focused atmosphere. Students
entering the AAW should have a good grasp of scansion, comfort
with Shakespeare's language, and speak and move confidently on
stage. In the AAW, students work on a collection of unedited scenes
and monologues instead of a shortened 30-minute version of a play.
This allows them to immerse themselves in the language more completely
and also acquire material for future auditions. AAWs are limited
to 15 students with one college-level instructor. Students enjoy
a professional atmosphere with one-on-one coaching, instruction
from a certified stage combat teacher, and the company of like-minded,
self-motivated young actors. AAW students can expect to have a
lot of material to memorize and occasional outside homework assignments.
This year, we are asking that interested young actors attend an
audition/interview with our resident teaching artists in April
to demonstrate their skill level and interest in the program.
AAW auditions for 2008 are on May 11 at the SF Playhouse, 533
Sutter Street, San Francisco. Please email Rebecca
Ennals for an appointment. After May 11, please email her
for more information.
Teen Camps are more similar to the regular Camps. In Teen Camps,
campers are in a larger group, and no experience is required.
The camp ends with a final performance of a 30-minute Shakespeare
play. There are frequently advanced actors as well as beginning
and intermediate in Teen Camps; sometimes advanced actors enjoy
participating in both programs since they are quite different.
(Back to FAQ list)
What do you do in Aftercare?
This depends on the site. At outdoor sites, there may
be time to play on the playground or with a Frisbee, etc. At indoor
sites, we may be able to show G-rated films of Shakespeare plays
or documentaries on Shakespeare's life. At most sites, there is
time to continue with Production & Design projects, learn
lines, and play theatre games. We try to keep aftercare fairly
loosely organized. Campers have had a very structured day and
often appreciate the free play time.
(Back to FAQ list)
My child loved camp! Can we sign up
for a second session, or will it be too repetitive?
Although the basic curriculum remains the same from session
to session and year to year, a different teaching artist may have
a different approach, and campers frequently benefit from multiple
sessions in one summer. If your child is signing up for multiple
sessions, let us know and we'll try to put him or her into a different
show or with a different teaching artist so that he or she will
have a new experience in each session. (Back to
FAQ list)
How can my child best prepare for
camp? Do you recommend any books or videos?
Although it's fine for campers to walk in without having
read the plays or seen any Shakespeare, it's always an advantage
to have a little prior experience with the language. Please see
our Amazon reading list for books
and videos we suggest for our campers. (Purchasing through this
list helps the Festival - a percentage of the cost goes back to
us, helping us to provide camp scholarships for kids in need.)
And please support live theatre - aside from our own Free
Shakespeare in the Park production, there are also numerous
live Shakespeare productions for the whole family all over the
Bay Area every summer. (Back to FAQ list)
My child has been attending camp for
many years, and wants to take the next step. How can s/he become
an intern?
Interns should be former campers at least 14 years of
age. Please send a letter of interest indicating availability
and location preferences and a resume of work experience to Education
Associate Kristin Clippard at kclippard@sfshakes.org.
Interns are paid with 50% off enrollment in the Teen Camp or Advanced
Acting Workshop of their choice. (Back to FAQ list)
Do you have scholarships?
Yes. We offer need-based scholarships on a case-by-case
basis. Please submit a letter stating your need with your enrollment
form, indicating how much you are able to pay and attaching any
documentation that may advance your case. We have never had to
turn away a camper with genuine financial need, although we may
have some restrictions on which camp sessions are available. (Back
to FAQ list)
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