After-school enrichment programs for kids in songwriting and acting will be offered by The Ridgefield Playhouse beginning the week of September 20. Emmy award-winning musician Kevin Briody and Broadway and TV actor, writer, director Beau Gravitte will each teach an eight-week class in songwriting and acting respectively for various age groups.
It’s back to school and after school with two new enrichment programs at The Ridgefield Playhouse starting the week of September 20. Emmy award-winning musician Kevin Briody will teach songwriting, and Broadway/TV personality, actor, director Beau Gravitte will teach a Baylor Master Class in acting. These new offerings geared to students are part of The Ridgefield Playhouse 10th anniversary season.
With support from The Janis and Alan Menken Foundation, “Songwriting with Kevin Briody” will teach students how to structure their ideas in music, melody, lyrics and instrumentation and culminate in each student recording an original song. Eight one-hour sessions offered Mondays from September 20 to November 15 (with no class on Columbus Day, October 11) are geared to two age groups: Classes for 6th – 8th graders are 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.; classes for 4th – 5th graders are 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The teacher is Ridgefield’s own Emmy award-winning musician Kevin Briody, considered one of Connecticut’s most talented songwriters known for composing music that is narrative, filled with vivid imagery yet cinematic in scope and filled with useful concepts. The songwriting class is $240.
The Baylor Master Class in acting will be taught by actor/ writer/ director Beau Gravitte whose Broadway credits include “The Light in the Piazza” and television appearances on “The Good Wife,” “ Gossip Girl” and “Law and Order SVU”. Gravitte is a member of the Board of Directors of The Actors Studio in New York and will be using his professional experience to teach the fundamentals of character development, focusing on finding the truth in fun and creative moments on stage. Eight one-hour and forty-five minute sessions will begin Tuesday, September 21, and run through November 16 (no class on November 2, Election Day). Classes for 6th-8th graders (12 years or older) are 3:30-5:15 pm, and 6:00 -7:45 pm for high school students. Because class size is limited, auditions are mandatory. Prospective acting students should prepare a short monologue; auditions will be held Tuesday, September 7, 3:30-5:30 pm at the Playhouse. Cost for the Baylor Master Class in acting is $360.
For more information about The Ridgefield Playhouse, call the box office at 203-438-5795 or go online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. The Ridgefield Playhouse is a not-for-profit performing arts center located at 80 East Ridge, parallel to Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.
