manhattan experimental theater workshop for h igh school s tudents

m a n h a t t a n e x p e r i m e n t a l t h e a t e r w o r k s h o p

may 1 1 th — june 15 th 2013

a program of theMANHATTAN ARTS CENTER

what is mxtw...The Manhattan Experimental Theater Workshop (MXTW) is a program of the Manhattan Arts Center. It is a 5-week workshop in May-June for high school students. Part classroom and part production company, participants study various styles of avant-garde theater, then write and perform original pieces under the influences of the styles they have studied.

For the past 25 years, the MXTW has provided a creative outlet for the wickedly intelligent young artists of Manhattan, KS. In the first two weeks participants get a “crash course” in experimental movements of the twentieth century by reading and discussing plays. During this time participants also learn exercises and techniques for using their voices and bodies to help them understand how the plays they read could be performed, and to prepare them to stage and perform their own new work over the last three weeks of the session.

At the end of the two weeks, participants choose which style of avant-garde theater they would like to continue to explore and the target story. The participants are then put into small groups based on which writers they liked.

Participants also work together as a group to choose a “target story.” Each group uses the target story as the beginning point for writing their own piece of theater in the style of the experimental author or movement they have chosen to explore in their small group. A good target story should be well known as part of our culture and contain images or ideas that the participants feel need to be challenged. Target stories in recent years have included Cinderella, Icarus, Oedipus Rex, Exodus, Frankenstein, Aladdin, Orpheus, and The Judgement of Paris.

For the next three weeks, participants meet roughly three times each week for three hours with their small groups and twice each week for three hours with the whole workshop company.

The small groups work together, exploring the target story using their chosen style, writing and staging a new piece of theater. The whole company continues to meet and creates additional pieces that they will perform together.

On the last two nights of the workshop, participants perform the pieces they have written in front of an audience and get a chance to see what other groups in the workshop have written and prepared.

am i elligible? You are eligible, if you are currently in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.

This workshop is designed for any student interested in art, writing, or performance, including music, dance, theater, forensics, and so on.

Students unsure of their talents in performance, but whose creativity leans more towards writing or idea crafting, should not be scared of applying. A number of participants have actually had their first experience of performing in front of an audience in the workshop.

You don’t have to have done any theater before the workshop. In fact, we will use skills you may have that are not usually found in mainstream theater. Gymnastics, choral singing, dance, martial arts, musical performance, public speaking, juggling -- anything that can be done in public as a performance -- may be helpful in experimental theatrical explorations.

MXTW is an opportunity

for high school students to create something totally

original and impressive.

We create a place where we can truly test our own limits

and how far we can stretch them.

We teach flexibility of mind and body.

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why join mxtw?“Your individual work is always respected, your ideas always encouraged. Since coming to my college, I have met graduates of magnet arts programs and liberal arts high schools, but no one can attest to having an experience with depth of the one I have had as a former company member.”

Kearsten CrossMXTW alumna

“The workshop maintains a balance of creativity and creative discipline that I don’t think is available anywhere else for artistic youth in Manhattan...As an individual, the workshop has given me opportunities to interact with people I never would have known, and has also gently pushed me to extend myself beyond my ‘comfort zone’. I would have to say that the most overwhelming fact about the MXTW is that it’s fun. I’ve loved every one of my three years of participation.”

Kevin TerryMXTW alumnus

“Last year I was a freshman, and I did experimental for the first time. It was so fantastic I enjoyed it so much...It has really changed my views on how to express myself and made me realize that there is more than one way to think and to act.”

Amanda PaezMXTW alumna

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how do i apply?visit mxtw.wordpress.com and click on apply

OR send an email with the following info: name, address, phone number, email, age, year in school last completed, interests, and any neat abilities.

As well as a description of a performance you have done: This can be anything you have done in front of an “audience” of some kind and of which you are proud. Don’t worry if the performance was not “significant” to others.

We want to know what it meant to you. If you really can’t think of a performance, write about something creative you do, have done, or plan to do and why it is important to you.

Send all of that to our director:Gwethalyn Williamsgwethalynw@gmail.com

for more info...VISIT:mxtw.wordpress.commxtw.orgmanhattanarts.org

FACEBOOK PAGE: MXTW

TALK TO:Linda Uthoff – MHS Drama TeacherAshley Flinn - MHSE Computer Lab Aide

RECENT PARTICIPANTSTrevor BashawAlex BraseIlana BudenowskyJordan CorsaultHaleigh CrossMacy LancetaAshtin LeeLora PellegrinCecelia Potts-MooreAnnie Spence

cost?Cost for workshop: $50Scholarships are available based on need, don’t let this keep you from applying!

There are no essays to write, you just need to let us know you need one. You don’t need to pay with your application or before the first workshop.

APPLY SOON! Spots can fill up fast.

2013 MXTW SCHEDULEIf you are interested in participating, but already know you will have to miss some sessions, please contact our director, Gwethalyn Williams at gwethalynw@gmail.com or 785-550-1312 to discuss possible options for your participation.

We want as many people as possible to be able to participate! You can balance MXTW and a job, or other summer activity (for example, many of our participants have done the summer musical).

Session 1: Sat, May 11, 2:00-5:00PM Session 2: Sun, May 12, 3:00-6:00PMSession 3: Tue, May 14, 3:30-6:30PMSession 4: Thu, May 16, 3:30-6:30PMSession 5: Sat, May 18, 3:00-6:00PMSession 6: Tue, May 21, 3:30-6:30PMSession 7: Thu, May 23, 3:30-6:30PMSession 8: Sat, May 25, 2:00-5:00PMSession 9: Sun, May 26, 6:00-9:00PM

The mornings and afternoons of May 25 and 26, we will start work on building our set.

For the last three weeks, small groups will meet on a schedule set by each group so as to work around work, school, and family obligations.

Whole Company Meetings:Session 10: Wed, May 29, 6:00-9:00PMSession 11: Sat, June 1, 6:00-9:00PMSession 12: Wed, June 5, 6:00-9:00PMSession 13: Sun, June 9, 6:00-9:00PMSession 14: Wed, Jun 12, 6:00-10:00PM

Performance: Fri, June 14, 5:30PM (call)- 10:30PM

Performance and party: Sat, June 15, 6:30 PM (call) - Midnight

Strike: Sun, June 16, 11:00AM-4:00PM

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