Acting Out: Super Summer studios to host youth ensemble classes

We've all seen children acting up, but Super Summer Theatre instructors Rhonda Carlson and Kevan Patriquin are asking youths to act out — intentionally — through their new series of musical theater classes.

"We're making sure they get the tools they need for musical theater, so that they really understand how the art form works," said Carlson, who is married to Patriquin. "What we're trying to emphasize is the need for training for the real artistic process."

Acting Out at Super Summer Theatre Studios, 4340 S. Valley View Blvd., Suite 204, is offering the class Youth Musical Theatre Ensemble Jan. 9 through Feb. 13 for students 11 to 15. Participants will receive intensive individual and group training in all facets of musical theater, including music, movement and acting. Geared toward training the performance artist, the class will expand the actors' repertoire of songs, monologues and scenes.

In the fall, Carlson and Patriquin held auditions for the class. About 30 children showed up, and 11 were selected for the first class: Isabella Baker; Reese Carter; Gabrielle Cooke; Gary Easton; Madison Garman; Elliana Karris; Joelie Mountain; Morgan Nieser; Grace Riedy; Ava Rogers; and Addie Wagner. Many, if not all, have been on stage before, but Carlson and Patriquin said that was not considered imperative.

Isabella, 11, was most recently in Signature Production's fall production of "The Secret Garden" at the Summerlin Library & Performing Arts Center Theatre, 1771 Inner Circle Drive. She's also been in two other Signature shows: "Mary Poppins" and "Les Miserables."

She called acting her "favorite thing in the world."

"The things I learn with the (Super Summer Theatre) program are great things for character development and learning how to get more in-depth. When I'm in my shows ... it's more in-depth, so I'm learning more what my character is about, trying to find who I'm talking to, what I'm feeling," she said.

In the classes, Isabella said there's a lot of movement and acting out scenes, but it's also focused work, singing and improvisations. The instructors have the children understand the perspective of their character and why they're having the conversation.

"In January, we get to do our own scripts and do our own choreography," Isabella said. "It's going to be really, really fun. (The instructors) are amazing. Whenever they give you direction, it's, like, 'Whoa, that just made it a ton better.' "

No experience? No problem, Carlson and Patriquin said. They're also interested in spotting potential.

Future auditions are planned for ongoing six-week sessions with a summer break likely.

Carlson and Patriquin have solid backgrounds to back up their credentials.

Carlson has directed or been the musical director for more than 200 productions across the U.S. and England. She has taught the performing arts at The Boston Conservatory, Boston University and The University of Southern Maine. She recently toured Europe to promote her book, "What Do I Do With My Hands?: A Guide to Acting for the Singer," and held performance workshops and classes in England, France and Poland. Her musical "Dear Emma" has received critical acclaim from the LA Times, and her play "Fly Over Land" won the Larry Corse Prize for Playwriting.

Patriquin is the vice president of creative development for Imagine That! Design and Production Inc., 2250 E. Tropicana Ave., and has been performing, directing and producing for more than 30 years in productions at Broadway-Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center, Disneyland, the White House, the MGM Grand, Dreamworld-Australia, The Venetian, Bally's, Sands Macao, China and regional theaters throughout the U.S. Patriquin starred on the Strip in "EFX Alive!" and was a double and stunt coordinator for the now-closed "Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular." Patriquin also wrote and directed multiple productions, including the original show "Crystal," which premiered at the Sands Macao. Patriquin was most recently headlining in "The Phat Pack" at the Plaza and Bally's.

Carlson and Patriquin said they are able to work with each youth and help develop his or her skills.

The classes will teach song presentation, how the craft works and how to move effectively and will arm students with a repertoire for future auditions. The classes will culminate in a performance of a variety of numbers but the show may not be open to the public.

Patriquin said musical theater training is different from regular stage acting.

"When music is involved, you have a finite amount of time," he said. "You don't have the liberty of time to take an exorbitant amount of time to present a scene or monologue. The music compresses the time for what you have to present, so it requires a really strong technique. You have 16 measures to compress all this acting and emotion into a finite amount of music. You have to get all of that material — the feeling and expression — and have the feeling of the movement. A lot of what we do revolves around improvisation."

Carlson added that students are encouraged to be risk-takers, stepping outside their comfort zones in class and putting their own stamp on a piece.

"When they're young, kids can get away with being cute," said Carlson, "but when they hit that transitional age, those things don't work anymore, just being cute or endearing. This age is when you transition to the older, the adult roles."

The cost is $240 for six sessions, and the classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the studios. Auditions are by appointment only and can be scheduled by emailing rhonda.carlson28@yahoo.com. Visit supersummertheatre.org/acting-out or call 702-579-7529.

— To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.