1. Whatcha Say? Workshop: Multidisciplinary theatre arts workshop focusing on African American theatre with three 30 minute rotating components – Theatre History, Acting Basics, Performance – operating simultaneously, culminating in performances created by the students attending

Whatcha Say will be arranged through public and private schools as part of the CBTC Midwest Regional Black Theatre Festival (this year April 1 – 11, 2004).

2. Art Spark Program: Classes in Dance, Theatre, and Creative Writing given at the Frank Duveneck Art & Culture Center for East Covington inner-city children. Program is on-going from last year. Classes are taught on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday after school, and Saturday mornings.

3. Theatre Arts Classes: Classes in Theatre, Music, Tap Dance, Costume/Make-up, Creative Writing are taught on Saturdays, 9:00am – 1:00pm, at the Arts Consortium.

Those enrolled in the classes may become part of the CBTC Children’s Theatre Company, which creates and performs in productions at the end of the school year, and at the biennial Midwest Regional Black Theatre Festival in April.

 4. Wonderful World of Writing Workshop: Literacy-based workshop introducing various written forms and their basic structure, context, comprehension, expression, editing, and presentation. Also includes reading lists and suggested reference material.
5. History of Dance Workshop: Workshop introduces a variety of dance styles throughout history. It focuses on the creative process and stage presentation. Students also learn importance of conditioning and stretching, dance techniques, and expression, as well as an appreciation for dance and cultures from around the world. 6. NAMCAP (Namibian Cultural Awareness Program): This is a multimedia workshop that presents different cultures and history of the African nation of Namibia. It helps dispel myths about African peoples and broadens children’s global awareness. It provides professional and home video of traditional and modern music and dance, and day-to-day life in Namibia. Children learn to sing a song in a Namibian language, and are given the chance to handle items in an authentic craft arts collection.

7. Auditions: CBTC holds “Kids Only” open auditions each year for the season. As always, CBTC promotes diversity, and welcomes children from all backgrounds to audition in acting, dance, singing and musical instruments. We will involve all children who audition in a CBTC production, either in performance or theatre tech.

Last year, Disney Theatrical Productions asked CBTC to host national auditions for the Broadway and National Touring Company productions of The Lion King. As a result of this successful audition, a local boy joined the Lion King tour, and one of CBTC’s own was called back for both The Lion King and Hairspray in New York.

8. CBTC Children’s Theatre Company: CBTC reserves one production in its Theatre Performance Series each season for its Children’s Theatre Company. The Company is comprised mostly of children enrolled in the Theatre Class. Others not in the class, who have auditioned or who are involved in other Imagine That activities, are also involved in the production if interested.

The production is child-driven, as the children are in charge of all aspects of production: acting, directing, technical theatre, costumes, choreography, writing, set design, etc. The production is either an original work developed during Theatre Class and/or other classes, or is a revision of an established children’s piece. Adult CBTC personnel provide direction and assistance where needed.

The production is performed at the Midwest Regional Black Theatre Festival, or at the end of the school year during those years the biennial Festival is not held.
9. Outside Professional Workshops: CBTC hosts workshops held by outside theatre professionals. Workshops in topics such as Puppetry, Auditioning, Acting, etc., are held at the Festival, or during the season, at different venues, when the biennial Festival is not held.

10. Special Performances and Events: Children either perform in or attend special performances (by CBTC or other arts organizations) and events. As just one example, last year, CBTC held special performances – A Raisin in the Sun and the Children’s Theatre Company’s Other Cinderella – at Taft High School. 1,157 students from a total of 8 schools attended these performances, and 30+ CBTC children performed in them.

There were many performances and events last year that children either attended or performed in as part of CBTC, such as African Culture Fest, Black History Month, Fine Arts Sampler, and as guest soloists for Black History Month events and other special high-profile events.

11. Literacy Takes Center Stage (LTCS): LTCS is a new literacy program being co-developed by CBTC and the Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School as a component in the America’s Choice National Education pilot program. Beginning this 2003 – 2004 school year, LTCS will integrate theatre arts into Taft High School’s Ramp-Up to Advanced Literacy curriculum, and will also be included in Taft’s core subject classrooms. This is an on-going program that will also provide research data for the National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) in the field of adolescent literacy.

Taft High School students will become involved in creating a production for the Festival. The production will be an adaptation of a literary work included in the school’s literacy curriculum. The Festival will provide creative, performance and technical theatre opportunities for these students.

 12. Kids And Theatre (KAT) is a summer collaborative project with the Summer Arts for Youth (SAY) program held each summer at the Arts Consortium. KAT is designed to develop campers’ skills in a variety of theatre arts disciplines, while putting their creativity to good use in producing their own musical play.