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Kentucky Shakespeare Creates National Performance and Voice Institute in the U.S.

NPVI TO BE HOUSED AT ACTORS THEATRE LOUISVILLE

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kentucky Shakespeare will present an international collaboration with Canada's National Voice Intensive for professional actors and educators, next summer. The first-ever National Performance and Voice Institute (NPVI), a two- to five-week program, will be housed at the nationally acclaimed Actors Theatre Louisville (ATL).

Brantley M. Dunaway, Kentucky Shakespeare's producing artistic director, said the Louisville-based institute will add an educational component for teachers (Kindergarten through College) so they can learn alongside professional stage and screen actors. Kentucky Shakespeare is the largest arts education organization in the Commonwealth.

According to a 2005 survey by the Kentucky Arts Council, only 6% of teachers responsible for arts and humanities curriculum feel they receive adequate professional development training and only 12% of teachers responsible for implementing theatre and drama curriculum are qualified to do so.

"This is not just a Kentucky phenomenon. This is pervasive throughout the country," said Dunaway. "We saw a need and our goal is to establish NPVI as an international model for teaching teachers to teach the arts. Our teachers may also receive education credits for their work."

NPVI is expected to attract educators and professional actors internationally for this intensive training program which is split into two, four and five-week programs, including:

    --  Movement & Body
    --  Voice (Fitzmaurice, Linklater, Skinner)
    --  Text Analysis
    --  Scene Study
    --  Curriculum Development (EDU only)
    --  Mask (Lecoq)
    --  Scene Study & Monologue
    --  Performance, Casting & Auditioning
    --  Teaching Practicum & Mentorship (EDU only)
    --  Combat Certification from The Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD)

This international faculty has refined the program over the past 25 years, integrating investigations of Shakespearean and other text with vocal, physical, intellectual and imaginative practices.

This prestigious group of instructors represents a number of award winning and internationally renowned organizations such as:

Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC)

Stratford Festival

Oxford University, London

Carnegie Mellon University

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

Pasadena Playhouse

Steppenwolf

Columbia University

National Institute of Dramatic Art (Australia)

Space is very limited. March 21 is the deadline for applications. For complete bios on the instructors and for more information, click on www.npvi.org or call Kentucky Shakespeare at (502) 574-9900.

SOURCE Kentucky Shakespeare