Oglebay Institute’s Performing Arts Department offers a series of youth theater classes each semester. Classes explore character development, stage presence & movement and voice control in a grade level based progressive format. The youth theater program is the perfect supplement to classroom teaching, allowing young thespians to hone their skills outside of school in a real theater environment.
Spring 2023 Class Registration Opens Wednesday, February 22.
Acting Is Believing
Explore the basics of acting. Exercises in improvisation, character development, voice & movement help students find truthfulness in acting. Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 3-5
Meets: Saturdays, 11am-Noon
Begins: March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructors(s): Tim Thompson
$90/$80 OI members
Becoming the Character
An introductory look at methods of acting in order to properly develop characters for the stage. The ideal class for beginning actors who want to take their craft to the next level and truly become one with the role they are portraying. Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 6-9
Meets: Saturdays, Noon-1pm
Begins: Sat., March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructors(s): Alexander Hill
Alexander holds a bachelor’s degree in theater arts and is the theater teacher at Wheeling Country Day School. He has appeared in television shows, commercials, music videos, and films. He toured nationally with “ZooZoo,” a movement and mask theater show and has performed in numerous stage shows. He was a member of the New York City-based improv company “Faceoff Unlimited” and helped create “Batsu!”—the live Japanese improv game show, currently in its tenth year.
$90/$80 OI members
Let’s Sing! Vocal Performance and Technique
Take your performing to the next level!! We will focus on building our ‘singer’s toolbox’ through the exploration of vocal tools and techniques. We will then learn how to apply those tools with individual solo song work. Please come prepared with two songs you know very well and are excited to work on in a supportive environment! Students will leave this class a stronger singer and more confident performer! Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 6-12
Meets: Saturdays, 12-1pm
Begins: March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructor(s): Chelsey Keding
Chelsey Keding holds a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music.She spent ten years performing in NYC and touring internationally in Israel, Russia, and Mexico with the show “Voca People.” As a member of the Grammy-nominated group “Broadway Inspirational Voices,” she sang at Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. She taught acting at Marietta College and has been operating her own voice studio in the Ohio Valley for the last seven years.
$90/$80 OI members
Private Acting Classes
This class is for middle and high school thespians who are passionate and serious about acting. Students will work on monologues as they get one-on-one instruction about how an actor prepares, rehearses, and performs for the stage. Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 6-12
Meets: Wednesdays, 3-3:45pm, 4-4:45pm
Begins: Wed., March 22
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructor(s): Tim Thompson
$150 for 8 – 45-minute sessions
Musical Theater
Turn your performance into flair and pizzazz! Learn to “act to melody” and make it seem natural. And of course, singing and dancing take center stage! This class will be lots of fun! Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 4-9
Meets: Saturdays, 1-3pm
Begins: March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructors(s): Erin Gallagher Bond
$135/$120 OI members
Puppet Theater
Students will construct several types of puppet characters, learn how to manipulate them, give them appropriate voices, and finally make up stories in this exciting form of theatre. Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades 3-5
Meets: Saturdays, 1-2pm
Begins: March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructors(s): Dave Henderson
$95/$85 OI members (includes $5 material fee)
Theatrical Play
Begin to explore the natural creativity, unique talents and potential children possess in an exciting and challenging form of play. Held at Towngate Theatre.
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Ages: grades K-2
Meets: Saturdays, 10-10:50am
Begins: Sat. March 25-May 20 (No class April 8)
Duration: 8 weeks
Instructors(s): Tim Thompson
$90/$80 OI members
