YOUNG PEOPLE'S THEATRE
 & EDUCATION PROGRAM


ATTENTION ALL RALEY'S AND BEL AIR SHOPPERS

The Woodland Opera House Young People's Theatre is now affiliated with Raley's and Bel Air Stores Quality of Life Scrip Program. Pick up a Raley's/Bel Air Quality of Life card from the Opera House box office and you can help to support our youth programs. The card is free and when you present it at the time of purchase a % of your total dollars spent will be automatically credited to the Opera House Young People's Theatre. If you already have a Quality of Life card you can go to www.raleys.com and add the Opera House to your donation list. Call the box office at 530-666-9617 if you have questions about this scrip program.
We appreciate your support.

 

DOWNLOAD THE FALL YPT & WOH EDUCATION PROGRAM :

YPT & Education Program Brochure
Application Form
Release of Liablity (required)


To register for classes call 530-666-9617

Youth Summer Theatre Camp—Show Biz Kidz

No auditions.
An introduction to musical theatre performance. Students will spend 4 weeks studying musical theatre technique and will be given an equal opportunity to shine on stage in a musical revue to be performed at the Opera House

August 1-3. 
Classes are held Monday through Friday July 7 through Aug. 1. 

Ages 8-10: 9:00-12:00 & Ages 11-18: 12:30-3:30.
Tuition is $250. 

Register early. This camp fills up quickly.
Call 530-666-9617 to register


Now Registering 
RISING STARS !  Performance Workshop

This performer’s workshop is an opportunity for budding actors to develop characterization and acting skills. No auditions. The workshop will end with  performances on the Woodland Opera House stage. All students will have speaking roles in the collection of one acts to be performed.     

Ages 8-16 Tuition is $180

Summer Session:
June 2—June 26    
Mon., Tues. and Thurs. 4:30-6:00   
Performances:
June 27 at 7:00 & June 28 at 2:00              

Fall Session: 
Sept. 4-Oct. 9
Mondays and Thursdays  4:30-6:00                Performances: Oct. 11 at 2:00 & Oct. 12 at 7:00

Call for information about our:  Home-School Rising Stars Program (For Home school groups of  8-10 students. By appt.)

 

FALL REGISTRATION begins June 2

Acting Academy- New Classes-9 Week Sessions

CREATIVE DRAMA: Experience the joy and magic of self-expression through the use of theatre games and exercises. This class will develop the young actor's creativity and confidence on stage.

FALL SESSION: Sept. 16-Nov. 11 Tuesdays: 3:30-4:30  
Ages: 7-10   
Cost per session: $90

ACTOR’S WORKSHOP:  Students will explore the art of acting through theatre games, improvisation, characterization and scene study

FALL SESSION: Sept. 16-Nov. 11 Tuesdays: 4:45-6:15
Ages 11-18                           
Cost per session: $130

MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSOP:  Develop your skills as a vocalist and dancer while working on numbers from popular Broadway musicals. Sessions will conclude with the Holiday Dance Program Open House, Dec. 19 on stage at the Opera House.

FALL SESSION:  Oct. 16-Dec. 18 Thursdays: 4:00-5:00
Ages:  7-10
Cost per session: $90                

FALL SESSION: Oct. 22- Dec. 17 Weds:   4:00-5:30
Ages: 11-18                                  
Cost per session: $130

Private Voice Lessons  

Learn the proper techniques of singing with instructor Ray Fisher. Lessons are Saturdays by appointment. CLICK HERE for more information.

Ages 13- Adult.    Cost: $120 for four ½ hour lessons per month.

Dance Education Program-Sept. through May

Pre-Ballet  ages 4-6   Mondays- 2:45-3:30 or Weds.-3:45-4:30
Ballet I    ages 4-6   Weds. 4:45-5:30

Ballet I   ages 7-10- New Students   Weds. 5:30-6:30
Ballet I    ages 7-10 Returning students Mon. 3:45-4:45

Ballet II   ages 7-10 Thurs. 3:45-4:45
Ballet II  ages 11+ Thurs. 4:50-5:50

Ballet III/Int.  ages 7-10 Tues. 3:45-4:45
Ballet III/Int.  ages 11+  Tues. 4:50-5:50

                                                                            
Advanced Ballet  ages 11+ Thurs. 5:50-7:00

Tap/Jazz   ages 7-10  Fri. 3:45-4:45
Tap/Jazz   ages 11+  Fri. 4:50-5:50

Jazz II  returning students  Mon. 4:50-5:50 Tap II  returning students  Tues. 6:00-7:00

Tap III   returning students  Mon. 6:00-7:00

Dance Program Open Houses will be Dec. 19 and April 28. Each class will showcase a dance number on stage at the Opera House.

Call 530-666-9617 to register for classes. Class sizes are limited.
Register early.
 
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YPT AUDITIONS

See main Auditions page for more information. Call Angela Shellhammer at 666-9617 for information.

 
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About Angela Shellhammer
WOH Education Director

Ms. Shellhammer, a long-time area resident, recently re-located to California from Idaho. Prior to moving, she served as Drama Instructor at Woodland High School and as Director of the Youth Summer Theatre Camp at the Opera House. Ms. Shellhammer has an extensive background in education and theatre. She graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University with an emphasis in Dance. She owned and directed the Yuba City and Chico franchises of The Sunshine Generation Children's Performance group for twelve years. "We had a very strong field of candidates to choose from, but Angela's teaching and directing experience, and her wonderful rapport with children were deciding factors", noted Jeff Kean, WOH Executive Director. . With the hiring of Ms. Shellhammer, the Woodland Opera House Board of Trustees has placed Young People's Theatre at the forefront of their programming plans for the next five years. The Board has recently finished a six-month self-study and planning session. The number one programming issue from that study was increasing opportunities for young people to participate in Opera House productions and to expand educational initiatives. Ms. Shellhammer will offer a comprehensive theatre education programs for young people ages seven to college age including after-school classes and weekend workshops. She will also direct the Young People's Theatre program giving performance opportunities for youth throughout the year. Young People's Theatre began at the Opera House in 1996 and the program produced many successful shows. In addition to plays involving young actors, the Opera House brings in professional companies to perform for school children in their Outreach program, offers classes after school and in the summer, and offers technical support for area school productions. "We will be building on existing programs and adding some exciting new ideas. We will also be starting a parent's support organization as we have had in the past with great success." Kean said.

 

About Shideh Balali
WOH Jazz Instructor

Shideh Balali  is a Dramatic Arts, Dance major at UC Davis and has extensive experience with Jazz, Hip Hop and Middle Eastern Dance.  Shideh has danced professionally in music videos including; “Who Is She 2 U” with Brandy, and “Can I Talk To You” with  Peetey Pete. (Jazz Instructor)

About Eva Sarry
WOH Dance Director & Ballet Instructor

Eva Sarry trained extensively at the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco, the San Francisco Ballet, American Conservatory Theatre, and Pacific Ballet where she worked with choreographers such as John Pasqualetti, Sue Loyd, Carlos Carvajal, and Larry Grenier. She also performed in the long running San Francisco show “An Evening at La Cage”.      (Director of Dance, Ballet Instructor)

Amy Vyvlecka
Tap Instructor, Performance Workshop Director

Amy Vyvlecka holds a BA in Theatre performance from San Francisco State University.  Her studies inlclude a year at the University of East Anglia in England.  She is the recipient of two Elly Awards for theatre performance, as well as nominations for choreography and scenic design.

Ray Fisher
Voice & Piano Instructor
Ray Fisher's Voice & Piano Studio Web Page

Ray Fisher is a native of North Carolina.  He studied piano with  Mildred Oxenham and Wayne Gill in Halifax, NC beginning at age 9.  At  the age of 15, he began touring professionally in Christian, Country,
 and Pop bands and left home to move to Atlanta, GA at age 18 in  pursuit of a musical career.  He toured with the Christian band, The  Nelons, for five years and was nominated for a Grammy as part of that band in 1982.

 While living there, he continued his piano studies with Gordon Raines and began studying voice with Olga Loveland.  He gave up touring in 1986 at the ripe old age of 25, but continued studying voice with
 Kathleen Tochia of Capitol Opera Sacramento after moving to Northern California in 1988.  After Kathleen moved to Pennsylvania in 2002, Ray began studying with Geneva Houx and most recently Alicia Lippman.

 Ray believes in teaching the basic vocal technique focusing on things like breath control, pitch, pronunciation and tonal placement.  These base components of singing can then be translated into any musical style, but his primary background for vocals is musical theater.  Ray has performed in over 40 productions and his favorite roles include Marcello in the opera, La Boheme; Daddy Warbucks in Annie, Sweeney in Sweeney Todd, and Horton in Seussical the Musical.

 He has now expanded his teaching schedule to include classes in beginning piano technique.

 In his "real" life, Ray is a business systems analyst, a certified Project Manager, and also holds a California real estate license.  He believes that learning is a lifelong process and continues to round
 out his performing arts with occasional acting lessons from Charlie Holliday; and he is currently taking filmmaking and screenwriting classes at ARC and Sac City College.

For more information about Opera House educational programs or to contact the Education Director call WOH at 530 666-9617 or email to operahouse@afes.com