Community Corner
DRAMA KIDS OF RICHMOND WON 2009-2010 NATIONALSUPERIOR PERFORMANCE AWARD!
Drama Kids of Richmond is growing and needs experienced teachers for the next school year. Candidates must have: - Teaching experience - Stage experience - Improv experience - Love for children - LOTS of Energy - Flexible and positive attitude - Available in the afternoons and/or evenings. We provide training, lesson p...lans, a fun work environment and great pay. For more info, visit www.dramakids.com/va2 or contact Amy at dramakidsrichmond@yahoo.com
I am Amy Lollo Hurt, and I am the director/owner of Drama Kids International of Richmond. I am a Richmond native growing up in Varina where I graduated from Varina High School. I went on to receive my B.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in Theatre with an emphasis in Performance/Directing. I have been active in the theatre community for over 10 years acting, directing, and teaching. I am very proud to be able to bring this amazing accredited program to the communities that I call home.We serve students throughout Henrico and Hanover Counties, as well as students in the City of Richmond. Drama Kids of Richmond has been successfully making a difference in your kids lives for over six years now. We know that drama dvelops kids and we take great pride in our program and are committed to making sure your child receives an excellent experience. In order to grow, students need to gain independence and self-esteem, yet work as a team. They want to be challenged, but feel supported and praised for their efforts. All of these qualities are wonderfully built through drama and in particular, through our internationally recognized Drama Kids program
We are always accepting new enrollments for our 2010/2011 School Year. Registration can be done on-line by clicking on our "class schedule" button or by calling (804) 955-8062. It's never to late to get YOUR child involved!.
Classes meet at a variety of convenient locations to help fit the busy schedules of today's families. Our exclusive program format allows new students to join almost anytime during the year. Even better, tuition is prorated based on remaining class schedules!
Interested in bringing Drama Kids right into your child's school or pre-school? Talk to your school administrators or PTA representatives and spread the good word about Drama Kids!
Joining Drama Kids is a very rewarding experience. One that your child will be able to take with them and use as they grow into doctors and teachers, pilots and police officers, managers and engineers. You can be assured that they will gain the courage to speak up for what they believe in, clearly and confidently. Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to speaking with you soon.
Amy Lollo Hurt, Director/Owner
INSTRUCTOR BIO'S
Amy Lollo Hurt (Director/Owner) is a graduated of Virginia Commonwealth University having her B.F.A. in Theatre with an emphasis in Performance and Directing. She has taught drama to such schools/programs as: Performance Plus, SPARC, The Steward School and was a drama teacher for Drama Kids of Chesterfield from 2006-2009 until she moved on to become the Director of Drama Kids of Richmond. Amy is also a local director having directed Sorry, Wrong Chimney for Henrico Theatre Company and The Fantasticks for Fort Lee Playhouse, to name her favorites. Some performing credits include: How To Succeed In Central VA, It Only Took..., The Pool of Bethesda (The Found Theatre), Private Lives (Henrico Theatre Company), The Shape of Things (Richard Newdick Theatre), and was a troupe member of ComedySportz from 2000-2002. She is currently the founding member of Firehouse's Sketchprov LIVE which will open to the public September 21, 2010.
Ashley White (Instructor), a native of Halifax County, VA, began her passion for acting at the young age of ten. She began by participating in various church productions and then moved up to the big stage. During her undergraduate studies, at Ferrum College, Ashley majored in Dramatic Arts and starred in productions such as: Animal Farm, Cricket on the Hearth, Talking With, and Greater Tuna. For her senior year project, she researched, wrote, directed and starred in a one woman show: Glitz and Glamour: The Story of Susan Strasberg. Since graduating from college, Ashley has gone on to act in several plays for Mystery Dinner Playhouse. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Teaching at Mary Baldwin College, concentrating in Elementary Education and Special Education. Ashley is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her dramatic knowledge and experience with students while teaching for Drama Kids International which she began in 2009.
Walid Chaya (Instructor) is a BFA Theatre Performance major from Virginia Commonwealth University, rated the #1 School of the Arts by USA News & World Report. Recently, Walid participated in the American Theatre Wing's SpringBoardNYC summer theatre intensive in New York as the director candidate. Some previous theatrical performance and/or directing credits include The Who's Tommy, High School Musical: On Stage, Seussical the musical, The Nerd, Extremities, The Wiz, and his original commedia musical, The Facebook. In addition to performance and directing, Walid also teaches childrens theatre through FCPA and Spirit Productions and works with kids in middle/high schools with Fairfax County Public Schools. His most recent works include directing "Annie" and "Aladdin" (Summer 2009) for Providence Theatre as well as "Black Comedy" and "Facebook, the commedia musical" (Fall 2008) at Shafer Street Playhouse in Richmond, VA.
Cheryl Fare (Instructor) is a performing arts professional and educator, with an MFA in theatre from Virginia Tech, and undergraduate degrees in Theatre and Sociology from the University of Mary Washington. She has years of professional theatre credits all through the mid-Atlantic region as a performer and stage manager, including locally at Theatre IV, Barksdale Theatre, Dogwood Dell, Ashland Stage Company, and SPARC. More recently, Cheryl has worked as an on-screen acting talent in TV commercials, industrial and feature films; a published singer/songwriter; and has served on the adjunct faculty in theatre at Randolph Macon College. Cheryl is currently the Director of Theatre Programs and the Director of the Youth & Family Ministry at Unity Christ Church of Bon Air.
In the News
Wacky Tacky Kids; Village Publications - (2009-02-18)
Most children are reminded by their parents and teachers to sit down, be quiet, and listen.
These three simple rules, on most days, can seem daunting to adults and unattainable to the children.
Take a peek into Drama Kids, a new class offered in Chester, and you will see kids standing up, speaking clearly, and using their imagination.
Beverly Pruzina, Director of Drama Kids of Chesterfield, is both animated and excited when talking about this unique drama club.
“Our mission is to build children’s self-esteem through drama activities.
Every week we motivate children to use their voices, articulate their thoughts, project their voice and most importantly, we make it fun.”
Hearing laughter from the 5-8 year old class, I observed children giggling while performing a silent dance drama. They were pretending to be laundry.
A “sock,” “pants,” and “skirt” were receiving praise for following instructions and improvising.
Instructor Amy Lollo sees shyness turn into smiles when she tells them to be wild laundry. Lollo ends each class by telling parents something positive their child did in class.
Pruzina wants parents to know this is not your typical drama club.
“We don’t practice for weeks for one play. We give kids opportunities every week to express their thoughts with ad-libbing. We teach them how to think on their feet and speak in front of an audience.”
She says this is not just for children who have been bitten by the acting bug.
Pruzina believes the skill sets they learn will help them in any profession they choose.
“This is about setting the stage for life. We want them to present themselves well. We want them to be confident. We want parents to encourage their introverted children to try out our program.”
Pruzina is thrilled to offer this club in the heart of Chester.
“Chester has such a hometown feeling. When I think of Chester, I think of the festivals, the families that know one another . . . I think bringing this to those families just make sense. Even the Chester Christian Church has been wonderful letting us rent this facility. They helped us bring this program to the community and helped us keep the costs down.”
Drama Kids is an international program that began 27 years ago in Australia. Since then, it has grown to 1,000 locations in 15 countries. All use the Helen O’Grady drama techniques and all use experienced teachers specifically trained for Drama Kids.
Currently, the Chester location accommodates children from ages 5-17 with three separate age-appropriate classes.
Anyone wishing to discover more about Drama Kids can go to www.dramakids.com or contact Amy Lollo Hurt.
© Copyright by Village Publishing LLC
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Real Stories from Greater Richmond
Parents
Loved It!Thank you so much for taking Maddie this Spring. She has loved every minute and cannont wait to sign up for next school year. Maddie really likes you!
Because of his Drama Kids class and teacher, my son James loves Mondays and now refers to them as Red Letter Days! Why Red Letter Days! He says it is a phrase his Third Grade Teacher uses when kids have an AWESOME DAY! He really is enjoying this drama time and all of the different plays and skits each week!
Thank you,
Elizabeth Ronald
The audition was a success! Denton was cast in the part of King Roger for the show, Twinderealla at the Playhouse at Fort Lee, after singing, reading, and DANCING! Thanks so much for your advice this week and all the groundwork you have provided for Denton in DramaKids.
Shannon
Denton is a 2nd year DKI Acting Academy Student
has been for Shannon & has really helped her to focus on what she wants to
do - be on stage! She recently tried out for her 1st open call for Annie at
Theater IV with hundreds of other kids. Although she didn't get cast, she
came away from the audition just as confident as when she walked in! She
also went to Maryland to participate in a Kids in Ministry festival with the
praise team from our church Clover Hill Assembly of God. Shannon was not
only confident & poised on stage but also used the skills she has learned at
Drama Kids to enhance her performance & her stage presence really showed how
far she has come!
You have birthed a true desire in Shannon to perform & to use the talents
she has been given for God's glory!
I just wanted to let you know that Alex (primary) was very set against coming this evening. I really pushed her because I know she really wanted to, but is shy at times. Anyway, by the time class was over her face was totally lit up and I wanted to let you know how much she appreciates your positive feedback at the end of class. She really does take your comments to heart.
Thank you for being so supportive,
I just want to reiterate to you both what a wonderful experience Drama Kids
has been for Shannon & has really helped her to focus on what she wants to
do - be on stage! She recently tried out for her 1st open call for Annie at
Theater IV with hundreds of other kids. Although she d
- Kelly Dugan -
