Hellenic American Academy

2009 - After School Drama Class

The new year for the highly successful after-school drama program will start on Monday, October 5, 2009, at 3:15 pm.

Four classes will be offered for Academy and non-Academy students.

Mondays 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm ages 6 to 9
Tuesdays 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm ages 10 to 14
Fridays 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm ages 9 to 13
Saturdays 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm ages 11 to 18

Classes will be held in the Academy's Auditorium and during the first 3 months will consist of instruction on the basic elements of the theatrical art through body and voice exercises, theatrical games and simple scenes study.

During the rest of the months each group will rehearse an age appropriate play to be performed in mid-May of 2010

Tuition for drama classes is $250 per year, payable upon registration

Click here for the Cultural Programs registration form

Every year, the Hellenic-American Academy offers an extensive and comprehensive after school Drama program, open to all students, under the instruction of its Theatre and Cultural Programming Director, Takis Theotokatos. As you know, this program has been extremely successful, having produced more than 10 plays since its inception with many performances in and out the Chicago area. It has won the University of Crete competition for Greek-American schools in the U.S. and has been invited to participate in its Student Theatre Festival twice, where it won multiple awards including best play and several best performances by individual actors and actresses.

The after school Drama Program has the following goals:

Teach the kids the basic elements of the theatrical art which include development of voice and body, stage presence, role playing and developing and projecting the dramatic atmosphere of specific characters, scenes or plays.

Have kids memorize, understand and perform long parts in the Greek language, which will enhance their grasp of the language.

Create an environment where the kids have fun while they are learning and creating.

Participate in a real production of a play at the end of the school year with the appropriate sets, props and costumes.

The participating kids, even the youngest ones must be able to read Greek; and for a more sophisticated production of a play, the support and the help of the parents, are indispensable. Technical matters and matters of promotion must be undertaken by the parents for a successful performance.

The program has several groups of 6-10 students each formed according to age. The fee is $250.00 per Academy student, for the whole year. (Students who do not attend the Academy Schools may join at the rate of $350.00 per student) Each group meets once a week for one to two hours on days to be determined by the length of the play at the start of the school year.

Presently, (February 2008), the after school drama groups are rehearsing at full speed their end of the year productions which will take place at the Academy’s auditorium in mid May. The featured one, by the oldest kids will be submitted for participation to the Crete Festival.

If you wish to register your child/ren for next year’s program, please pick-up a registration form at the Academy’s office (1085 Lake Cook Rd, Deerfield, IL) or call the Academy at (847) 317-1063. Limit for each age group is ten students. The age groups are: 6-8 yrs, 9-10 yrs, 11-13 yrs and 14-18 yrs. The session days for each group for next year, will be announced by August 2008.

To find out about our Ongoing & Scheduled Events click here.