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Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage
Old Globe Theatre
Conrad Prebys Theatre Center
Students perform with the Summer Shakespeare Studio, 2016. Photo by Douglas Gates.
The Old Globe’s Summer Shakespeare Studio is a four-week program that gives rising 9th – 12th graders and recent graduates a unique opportunity to not only develop foundational skills for reading, interpreting, and performing Shakespeare’s plays, but also to cultivate their own artistic voice through storytelling and creating original material.
Students receive an intensive curriculum of acting, movement, music, and text, as well as training in voice and speech and stage combat. Participants explore original writing as a part of understanding text and verse forms. There are also regular master classes with Globe artists and staff, many of whom are among the leaders in their fields. Students deepen their understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare’s writing and use his work as a model for investigating and engaging with their own experiences.
The final presentation at The Old Globe will combine scenes from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with original material generated by the students.
The Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio is generously supported in part by the following sponsors:
California Arts Council
City of San Diego
Qualcomm
ResMed Foundation
Student sponsorship support is provided by:
Pamela Farr and Buford Alexander
Phyllis and Dan Epstein
Kamaya Jane
Las Damas de Fairbanks
Barbara and Mathew Loonin
Janet Klauber and Jim Melli
Sing Your Song, Inc.
Peggy Ann Wallace
Elvina Adams (Movement and Dance Instructor, Choreographer) is a San Diego-based choreographer who blends her dance background of hip hop, contemporary, Bollywood, tap, and folk dance into the unique style it is today. Teaching for almost 10 years, Ms. Adams works with youths and adults to help foster self-worth through dance. This year’s students have greatly inspired her, and she is honored to be back to create for The Old Globe once again.
Melissa Alcazar (Music Director) is a professional multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles. Ms. Alcazar performs five nights a week at The Shout! House and has been a featured pianist at Copley Symphony Hall in downtown San Diego, Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A., and Abelardo Concert Hall in the Philippines. She manages her own music studio and is the President of the Board for HEAL, a not-for-profit organization aiding the homeless. She received her M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts. melissaalcazar.com.
Lisa Berger (Director) is a director and teacher. Her San Diego directing credits include the workshop of When It Comes and the reading of Skelton Crew at The Old Globe, as well as work with La Jolla Playhouse, Backyard Renaissance Theatre Company, Cygnet Theatre Company, New Village Arts, Compass Theatre, Stone Soup Theatre Company, Diversionary Theatre, University of San Diego, UC San Diego, and Canyon Crest Academy. She received her M.F.A. from the University of Montana and is a graduate of The William Esper Studio in New York City. She currently teaches at Mira Costa College, City College, and University of San Diego. She is co-artistic director of Meisner/Chekhov Integrated Training Studio.
Ray Chambers (Acting Technique and Verse Instructor) has acted and directed across the country since first training with Craig Noel at The Old Globe. He is Head of Acting with The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program.
Julian Coker (Youth Mentor) is excited to support the Pam Farr Summer Shakespeare Studio. Born and raised in San Diego, he is currently attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts to pursue a degree in acting. His passions for theatre, teaching, and Shakespeare motivated his desire to work as a youth mentor for the program. He is beyond proud of all the phenomenal work this ensemble has done, and he hopes you enjoy the show.
Ariana Lopez (Youth Mentor) is delighted to have this opportunity with the Arts Engagement Department at The Old Globe. She is currently a student at Southwestern College majoring in Communications and Theatre Arts. As an actress in her high school career, she ventured into choreography, scenic design, costume design, and hair/makeup. She also volunteers with San Ysidro High School’s theatre department.
Patricia McGregor (Special Guest Teaching Artist) has twice been profiled by The New York Times for her direction of world premieres. Her recent credits include Measure for Measure (Globe for All), Good Grief (Center Theatre Group), Hamlet (The Public Theater), The Parchman Hour (Guthrie Theater), Ugly Lies the Bone (Roundabout Theatre Company), and brownsville song (b-side for tray) (Lincoln Center Theater). Her other credits include Spunk (California Shakespeare Theater), The House That Will Not Stand (Berkeley Repertory Theatre), Hurt Village (Signature Theatre Company), and The 24 Hour Plays (New York). She co-founded Angela’s Pulse Collective and attended Yale School of Drama, where she was a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow and the Artistic Director of the Yale Cabaret.
Jessie Medofer (Production Coordinator) is a stage manager for theatre and
events. Regionally, she has stage managed with La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla Music Society, McCarter Theater, San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, and Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre. Ms. Medofer was a Nominee/Ticketing Assistant for the Emmy Award-nominated 70th Annual Tony Awards, and she has collaborated with New York theatres Page 73 Productions, Ars Nova, and Piper Theatre Productions. Last summer, she was the Assistant Stage Manager for Sandaime Richard at the Singapore International Festival of Arts. She holds a B.A. from Brown University and an M.F.A. in Stage Management from UC San Diego.
Erika Phillips (Assistant Director) is originally from New York City and has worked as an actor throughout the United Kingdom and the United States. In San Diego, her work has expanded to directing, playwriting, and teaching, and she is thrilled to return for her second summer at The Old Globe. Year-round, Ms. Phillips co-leads the Globe’s Reflecting Shakespeare program, an acting and rehabilitation program with maximum-security inmates at California State Prison, Centinela. Ms. Phillips is passionate about theatrical work that empowers young people to find and value their unique voices.