BUILDING CHARACTER ONSTAGE

The Children's Theatre Company is dedicated to Building Character Onstage. While experiencing an exhilarating introduction to the incomparable magic of theatre, children develop a keen sense of citizenship alongside their artistic achievements. CTC promotes theater as a tool for active and analytical learning (rather than prescribed and passive), combining collaborative performances alongside professional artists with an innovative character and ethical education curriculum that emphasizes a culture of inclusivity and service through arts. Children’s Theatre is theatre by kids for grown-ups -- fostering in young performers a profound conviction that they are the voices of positive change in society.

HOME VISIT
At the onset of enrollment- parents will be setting goals for the character development of their child. Parents will also select a day (by mid-season) for a 'Home Visit with CTC Staff and Associate Directors.

To strengthen "partnership with parents" the CTC staff and associate directors are required to submit weekly evaluations on the progress of their students. These twin processes are designed to create a more affirming and supportive sense of community and subsequently, a more encouraging environment for growth and transformation of the child/ youth.

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CTC is not only dedicated to producing and presenting high quality theater, but is rooted in the belief that:

1.	Parents are not incidental but integral to the growth and development of children and artists.
2.	Audiences are not bystanders but stakeholders in the “village” that raises the child.
3.	Artists must encourage an inclusive approach that nurtures not only confident, creative and caring performers, but also those who are keen to share the stage with their peers rather than to claim it for themselves.
4.	The arts have a special capacity to elevate and educate, by harnessing and supporting the inherent nobility of children- early in their development.

I. DIVERSITY, INCLUSION: The Role of Theater Redefined
As a tool to understand and value diversity, the CTC performing and visual arts program provides opportunities for young performers to recognize, share and celebrate cultural identity and diversity (whether race, religion, gender or class) and to gain an understanding of the human condition and a respect for diverse cultures. Performers are required to develop specific skills that not only advance their knowledge, skills and understanding of the drama, dance, music and visual arts, but will also learn to consider the implication and application of speeches and essays by the world's "peace-makers" from writers and philosphers, to playwrights, poets and comics, from Ghandi, Einstein, and Martin Luther King, from Moses to Buddha and Krishna to Christ, Muhammad, and Baha'u'llah.

II. CTC STAGES: Developing the Artistic Language for Young People’s Theatre:

Built around four age groups / production teams: Group 1 (4-7 yrs old); Group 2 (8-10 yrs old); Group 3 (11-14 yrs old); and Group 4 (15-18 yrs old); CTC aims to create the circumstances in which each production team can explore the nature of theatre: what is this medium? what is this event? Heightening wherever possible the special quality of the live performances; testing the possibilities of poetic logic and language; of working through image, sound, symbol and metaphor; offering challenging juxtapositions of differences in culture, ethnicity, race, gender and spiritual traditions within a theatrical context.

CTC continues to experiment with performer / audience relationships, pushing the boundaries instigated by a new form of post-show Q & A- represented by post-show reflection upon action and action upon reflection.

III: Developing the Processes and the Practice of Making a Children’s Theatre for Positive Social Change:

CTC aims to act as a catalyst for creativity; a place where children can develop their skills, take risks and collaborate with professional artists, while considering the world which they will someday inherit.

We aim to continue to:

1.	Examine and exhaust the possibilities of a new common language of children’s theater, one dedicated to elevate, educate and stimulate both the child and their artists’ purpose in the arts.
2.	Create a continuity of approach, through the work of the CTC Collaborative Lab and augment our relationships with playwrights, actors, dancers and directors-in-residence.
3.	Experiment with opening up our processes to pupils and teaching artists providing the opportunity for their voices and experiences to resonate within our finished product.
4.	Prioritize the sharing of our creative methodology and materials to educators and theater makers and community developers.
5.	Actively build the artistic community of the Children's Theatre Company, re-employing artists and offering opportunities for growth.

DRAMA
As part of exploring the characters, the plays and the ãperformerâs instrumentä, each CTC production will explore movement and music, along with still and moving images. Each CTC performer will examine the issues that confront society at the dawn of a new century, whether weaving a story of unerring passion for the beauty of life or exposing the cheapening value society can put on it. Culminating into a full length play, one-acts, adaptations or musicals, the acting / drama program highlights the spirit and determination of humankind in the face of crisis, poverty, and war while sustained in flights of humor and roots of optimism.

As part of its wider commitment to involving children in the companyâs research and development program, at the heart of the acting program and final production will be an investigation of childrenâs own beliefs and images.

Entering into the acting program at five years old, the young actor begins the program with imaginative play, enjoying group-acting exercises. Building sequentially through a structured program exploring improvisation, scenes from novels, plays, and films- actors of all ages learn simple analysis of the script while physicalizing the character. The director-in-residence assigns speeches, group scenes, monologues & musical numbers while exploring the different styles of acting. Special emphasis is on building self-confidence while learning and reviewing the skills of live performance.

MUSIC THEATRE
Cast participates in the 'CTC Chorus,' where they enjoy the challenge and fulfillment of singing with professional musicians, vocalists and composers. The music reflects the ethnically rich and diverse membership and will be songs will be drawn from various cultures and languages including 'sign
language'; all serving as a poignant reminder
of the world around us.

 

ART EXHIBIT
From sculpture, mask-making, book-making, in which the cast learn to explore their creativity & expression through three-dimensional form to photography, the cast create art projects, illustrating the themes and stories performed on-stage; bringing our season theme-message (ie UN Human Rights Day, World Environment Day) to life in the form of art. All the art projects are finally 'curated' as a three week exhibition in the lobby/gallery- WITH AN OPENING GALLERY NIGHT: HOT CHOCOLATE HOUSE (refreshments served by the cast!)

 

DANCE PERFORMANCE
The Dance program will incorporate elements of West/East African & Jazz with various Hip-Hop styles; A mix of jazz, funk and high energy with diverse combinations ranging from hip-hop, club techno, latin, and R & B. The sessions will use different genres of music besides Hip-Hop, though Hip Hop is the primary musical influence. The breakdown of all dance sessions includes a warm-up focusing on strength, stretch, isolations, and breathing, followed by a variety of movements, dance combinations and choreography highlighting basic grooves and techniques of various dance forms. This is a high impact & eclectic dance program where the final performance piece will be a collaboration of professional dancers with the youth performers.

Awakening the young body's potential for graceful and controlled movement, as well as structured improvisation, in these rehearsals the cast will learn self-expression and body awareness through simple and challenging dance combinations and warm-ups using music and stories that illustrate social / ethical concepts. Past productions include the Gumboot Dance a presentation for UN HUMAN RIGHTS DAY honoring the South African miners who created the 'dance' form.

 

CREATIVE WRITING
Perceiving, interpreting and writing about the significance of current events in light of an appropriate historical perspective. Thinking creatively, systematically and strategically in search for solutions-while finding an artistic expression of that perspective through creative writing.

 

 

THE MISSING LINK:
CHARACTER, ETHICAL & SPIRITUAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

With over 12 CTC Communities nationwide, and providing in- and after-school programs in numerous public schools, CTC has successfully integrated a culture of learning, combining the State Learning Standards for the Arts with its own innovative pedagogy towards character, moral and ethical education. Distinguished for synthesizing a multi-disciplinary theater and visual arts program, culminating into full theatrical productions, while exploring the SIX C's: Collaboration, Critical thinking, Citizenship, Current affairs, Community Service, and Character building- CTC utilizes the United Nation's theme-calendar (ie: Race Unity Day, Human Rights Day, World Habitat Day, World Religion Day etc,) and a Bahá'í inspired curriculum (spiritual-education.org) ( Promise of World Peace ) which has a strong foundation in religious tolerance, as a framework to inspire professional artists to create materials that serve as catalyst to amplify the child's receptivity to social, ethical and spiritual literacy- which is so often considered the missing link in education today.

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