Drama Department
Drama Department - Core Philosophy
The emphasis of South Shore Conservatory’s Shoestring Players drama program is on teaching students how to feel at ease in front of any audience, rather than on producing full-scale theatre presentations.
Story play for the younger child; structured improvisation and scene study for the older child and the
young adult and adult student are at the core of the "drama studios" at the Conservatory. Students work on monologues and scenes from contemporary selections to Shakespeare.....comedy to the classics, sometimes creating their own material under the tutelage of a writer/coach. Workshop "open-class" sharing of work occurs only when the student is ready.
Drama Department Chair - Ellen Kelly
Ellen Kelly is a graduate of the Speech and Drama Department of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. where she received a Master of Fine Arts degree.
While residing in New York, Ellen worked for the renowned Henry Street Settlement. She was a resident member of the theatre company there and taught in the theatre school. She was also actively involved in arts programming in the recreational division of the Settlement, nurturing her firm belief that arts bring people together. She is licensed by State of Massachusetts in secondary education. She has taught in public and private schools and summer camps up and down the East Coast.
For several seasons she was a member of the summer company at the Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, performing in over thirty productions and directing several. Ellen earned her Equity card at Flat Rock and was the Director of the apprentice company. While living in New York she worked with many experimental theatre companies, performed off- Broadway with an improvisational theatre revue for which she also wrote special material, did free-lance stage managing, editing and technical writing. She was an acting/speech coach for the Senior Dramatic workshop with a studio in Carnegie Hall.
Drama Department - Class Offerings
Curtain Going Up
Ellen Kelly
For children aged four to six. Structured creative, dramatic exercises and games are fun for children and help to develop clear speaking and listening skills while stimulating natural creativity.
10 weeks
$100
| Hingham: Saturday, 9 - 9:30 am | Duxbury: Tuesday, 3:30 - 4 pm |
Act I (Beginning Drama Workshop)
Ellen Kelly
Self confidence and creativity are developed through improvisation and theater games. There is no success or failure factor. The emphasis is on doing and learning to express oneself without fear in front of an audience. 10 weeks
$190
| Hingham: Saturday, 9:30 - 10:30 am | Duxbury: Tuesday, 4 - 5 pm |
Act II (Intermediate Drama Workshop)
Ellen Kelly
For those who have completed Act I or new students who have had some experience (after evaluation). This group will move into limited scene study, working on posture, voice and stage movement for further ease and confidence before an audience. 10 weeks
$190
| Hingham: Saturday, 10:30 - 11:30 am |
Act III: Music Theatre Revue
Ellen Kelly, Tom Boyer, Lorna Jane Norris
Middle and high schoolers are invited to participate in this performance-based class, dedicated to the training of the young performer in all facets of the musical theatre form...singing, working with an accompanist, and acting. During the 10-week workshop, young performers will be coached by a vocal expert, musical director and acting teacher. The finale of each workshop will be a cabaret style revue.
Session starts September 13, 2008
10 weeks
$275
| Hingham: Saturday, 12 - 2 pm |
Improv Class For Teens
Improv Asylum
Teens 14 and up. Whether your background is in theater, sports, making jokes with your friends or making funny observations to yourself, this 8-week improv class allows anyone to immediately tap into the creative side that every individual has within him or herself. Improv Asylum is New England’s leading professional improvisational theater company, and its alums have gone on to careers in comedy, on stage and in television.
First eight-week session begins September 1, 2008
Second eight-week session begins January 10, 2009
$275
| Duxbury: Saturday, 11 am – 1 pm |
Beginning Improv Class For Adults
Improv Asylum
Whether your background is in theater, sports, making jokes with your friends or making funny observations to yourself, this 8-week improv class allows anyone to immediately tap into the creative side that every individual has within him or herself. Improv Asylum is New England’s leading professional improvisational theater company, and its alums have gone on to careers in comedy, on stage and in television.
Duxbury: Wednesday, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
$275
| First Session - begins September 17, 2008 | Second Session - begins January 7, 2009 | Third Session - begins March 25, 2009 |
Continuing Improv Class For Adults
Improv Asylum
See description above
Duxbury: Monday, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
$275
| First Session - begins September 15, 2008 | Second Session - begins January 5, 2009 | Third Session - begins March 23, 2009 |
Speak Up, Speak Out, and Speak for Yourself
Ellen Kelly
This user-friendly workshop eases reluctant speakers into public speaking situations with others, and helps those who may want to brush up on their interviewing skills. Exercises and games concentrate on problem-solving, taking time to listen, react, relax and enjoy. Individual needs and concerns are taken into consideration when constructing the workshop.
Drama/Speech Instruction for Adults
Preparation for auditions, and individual or small group coaching in speech and drama are available by appointment with Department Chair Ellen Kelly.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for private lessons for children whose families can document financial need. Application forms are available in the office and as a downloadable Word Document and must be filled out and returned prior to the first week of the semester. All applications will be considered by the Scholarship Committee, which meets before each semester to grant assistance. Recipients of scholarship aid must reapply each semester. The deadline for Fall 2008 financial aid applications is August 8, 2008. The deadline for Spring 2009 financial aid applications is January 9, 2009.
South Shore Conservatory admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights and privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.