Young Actors Grow with Performance Opportunities
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006
For more information, please call GTC at 847-775-1950 or use our Contact Page.
The Gurnee Theatre Company's OnStage Academy continues to discover and develop local talent that will be featured in area theatre performances in August and September.
In September, two young actors share the role of "Thor" in GTC's main stage production of Larry Shue's hilarious farce, "The Nerd." Jimmy Farley, 10, of Gurnee, and David Prunty, 9, also of Gurnee, alternately take the stage in the role beginning September 8 and running through September 30 at the Wishing Star Theatre in Libertyville. Both actors have studied at GTC's OnStage Academy.
"Having been the instructor for these two boys, I can tell you they have a passion for performing. They have imaginations that are easily engaged and inspired by this material," says Doug McDade, GTC's Artistic Director and one of the Academy's instructors.
"The Nerd" director Richard Schneider adds, "In casting the role of Thor we were looking for a boy with imagination, presence, and focus. Even in adults, the development of these skills comes from experience—and it was obvious very quickly that both of these young actors had experience."
The OnStage Academy's goal is to discover children who have a passion to perform, and nurture that talent and develop their skills. "Ideally, we would like a group of young performers to build a youth ensemble. They may choose not to continue in the entertainment industry, but the skills and experience they gain will help them excel in life and in their careers," says McDade.
In addition to casting Prunty and Farley in its mainstage production, GTC will showcase other students from the OnStage Academy in a performance of Shakespeare's "As You Like It" as adapted for stage from "Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children," edited by E. Nesbit. The performance takes place on August 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Gurnee Days. Gurnee Days is held in the village center (Viking Park and Peterson Park in downtown Gurnee).
The fall session of GTC's OnStage Academy begins the week of September 11. Sessions are offered for three different age groups:
Grades 6 through 8 • Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Grades 3 through 5 • Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Grades 1 and 2 • Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost is $125 per student. Registration forms are available at www.GurneeTheatre.com, or call GTC at 847-775-1950 to have a registration form mailed or faxed to you.
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NOTE: To download high-resolution images, right-click the links below.
Photo caption for GTC_The_Nerd_1.jpg: Actors Jimmy Farley and David Prunty, both of Gurnee, share the role of "Thor" in The Gurnee Theatre Company's mainstage production of Larry Shue's "The Nerd," opening September 8 at the Wishing Star Theatre in Libertyville.
Photo caption for GTC_The_Nerd_2.jpg: Actors David Prunty and Jimmy Farley, both of Gurnee, put on their "Thor" faces. The boys share the role of "Thor" in The Gurnee Theatre Company's mainstage production of Larry Shue's "The Nerd," opening September 8 at the Wishing Star Theatre in Libertyville.
