Skill-Fest Schedule
Skill-Fest Session Descriptions
Skill-Fest Registration Form

The Skill-Fest is coming! Beginning Sept 4, and for three weeks before rehearsals begin for The Tempest, we will offer a Skill-Fest - six sessions covering a variety of topics on theater and on Shakespeare in particular, plus a World Percussion workshop that will leave you breathless. Keep reading for a description of how it all works, the fees, and the registration process.

The Skill-Fest is open to the Voyagers community and to other homeschoolers as well as to Shakespeare company members. Only a few sessions will focus specifically on The Tempest. Pick and choose sessions that appeal to you, as well as those that might stretch you a bit – we want to provide a safe place to try something new!

The Skill-Fest is part of the company’s educational mission - it's a way to explore many aspects of classical theater. Perhaps you consider yourself an actor, but are curious about how set design choices are made for the shows that you’re in. Maybe you’re a “techie” who has no intention of ever appearing onstage, but would like to see why it’s such an effort for the actors you work with to “project.” Interested in stage management? Our producer, who has been a professional stage manager, says knowing more about any aspect of theater, on or off-stage, applies to you. Curious about Shakespeare, but not ready to commit to the full production? This is for you! If you are joining the company, some topics may not have a clear or direct connection to the role you ultimately assume in The Tempest. That's fine!

For actors seeking a larger speaking role, we encourage as much participation as possible in the Skill-Fest. Anyone who wants a large technical role should likewise plan to do as much experimenting and learning about theater and actors as possible. We work together better when we understand what the other person is trying to do. And it helps to know more about what we are doing ourselves.

We understand that some company members will have late summer travel plans that conflict with the Skill-Fest, and that the Not Back to School Camp overlaps somewhat. Those are two reasons the full Skill-Fest is not mandatory for participating in the production of The Tempest. The other reason is that once you've tried one session, we think you'll come back eagerly.

Participating in one of the September 12 World Percussion workshops with Tony Vacca is required for performers and strongly recommended for tech staff. See below for more details about this exciting event. One World Percussion workshop will be open to all Voyagers members, and to the general public if not full.

For those whose full focus is technical theater, one session: Who's Who Backstage - will be required. (A later workshop on lighting, not part of the Skill-Fest, will be offered to train all those at Voyagers who want to be certified to run lights.)

Registration for the Skill-Fest begins August 10. A full list of Skill-Fest sessions can be found here:

Skill-Fest Schedule

Tony Vacca World Percussion Workshops

We are very pleased be co-sponsoring a day's worth of percussion workshops with Tony Vacca, World Percussionist, on Sept 12, 2008. Tony is a Northhampton artist who combines elements of traditional African and Afro-Cuban rhythms with the American born tradition of innovation, creating a sound that is both elegant and slamming. Tony will be bringing a balafon ( a giant West-Aftrican wooden xylophone), numerous rattles, tuned bells, claves, two-toned cowbells, djembes and a mulitude of other hand drums, and the biggest collection of Paiste gongs you are likely to see. And most of them, we'll have a chance to play!

You can read more about Tony at http://www.tonyvacca.com/

The day includes three workshops being offered on Friday, September 12, at Voyagers 530 Main Street, Acton, Mass, followed by an evening concert open to the public.

The Voyagers Shakespeare Company is co-sponsoring this event with the All Together Now Chorus, a homeschoolers' family chorus based in Littleton. Here's the schedule for the day:

• 10:00 - 12:00 Workshop dedicated solely to the All Together Now Chorus.

• 1:00 - 3:00 Workshop dedicated solely to the Shakespeare Company

• 4:00 - 6:00 Workshop open to all, including ATN or Shakespeare members who can't make their designated time.

The time of the evening concert is still being determined - it will be at 7:30 or 8:00.

This workshop is not just for the kids - adults may also attend and participate. It will be a lot of fun, but it's serious, too. If parents know their children are not likely to participate by playing instruments, those children may attend at no charge, but must be able to sit quietly next to their parent. This option is really for the smallest of children. Children will not be able to roam the Voyagers building freely during the workshops, but will instead need to participate in the workshop, or take the babysitting option outlined next. We are considering having a separate room at Voyagers designated for their use, and hiring a teen from the Shakespeare Company to ensure that the kids are busy, happy, and stay in that room. Parents using that option will pay a reasonable amount for the babysitting.

Skill-Fest Fees

All sessions of the Skill-Fest, including participation in one World Percussion workshop, are included for company members participating in The Tempest.

NOTE: Younger siblings are free to take the Skill-Fest sessions called Will for the Youngest. Younger siblings may participate in other sessions if space is available. There will be a fee for younger siblings who wish to participate in the World Percussion workshop - contact Mary Kate at mk.adamisampson@gmail.com for more details.

Fees for those not in The Tempest are as follows:

$15 for all or any part of each 3-hour Skill-Fest - Thursdays 9:00 - 12:00 (Sept 4, Sept 11, Sept 18)

$10 for all or any part of each 2-hour Skill-Fest - Mondays 3:15 - 5:15 (Sept 8, Sept 15, Sept 22)

Friday, Sept 12 World Percussion Workshops: Voyagers members will pay $15 for each adult and for each participating child, with a fee of $20 for the general public.

Skill-Fest Registration

Members of the Fall Shakespeare company are automatically registered for the Skill-Fest. After August 10, Voyagers members who are not part of The Tempest company may register for the Skill-Fest here:Skill-Fest Registration Form Print out the registration form, fill it in, noting the dates which you want, and mail it to the address noted on the bottom. Note the registration deadlines: August 28 for Skill-Fest, and Sept 5 for the Percussion Workshop alone.

After August 17, non-members may register for the Skill-Fees at the same location above.