New arts classes for children and adults, including sketch comedy, calligraphy, printmaking, beat making, theater, pre-K creativity and more are happening this fall at ArtPlay.
ArtPlay, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, provides lifelong learning through the arts to people of all ages. With engaging weekly classes in spring and fall, summer camps, and fun, educational events for the whole family, ArtPlay connects the community with the arts.
Registration is open now. Class fees begin at $110, with a UAB discount available when registering by phone. Explore ArtPlay’s offerings online at www.alysstephens.org/classes or call 205-975-4769. Private instruction is also available in a variety of instruments, as well as group classes provided by local teaching artists.
Classes on offer for the fall 2017 session are:
Pre-K
Me & You & Paint & Glue for ages 2-3 years with guardian, with teaching artist Alley Bulka. Class meets Saturdays from 10-10:45 a.m. Sept. 9-Oct. 28. Join Birmingham’s favorite “Wacky Nanny” and create new masterpieces through simple visual arts projects. Cost is $135 for one child and guardian.
Creative Movement for ages 3-5, with teaching artist Mary Foshee with accompanist Barbara French. Class meets Tuesdays from 10-10:45 a.m. Sept. 5-Oct. 24. In this class, students will use their imaginations to bring stories and characters to life through movement to live music and rhythms. Activities in this class will promote body and sensory awareness, physical fitness, and self-esteem. Cost is $130.
Creative Wacky Wonders for ages 3-5, with teaching artist Alley Bulka. Class meets Saturdays from 11-11:45 a.m. Sept. 9-Oct. 28. This mixed-media art class with Bulka, known as the “Wacky Nanny,” focuses on imagination and creation. Children will be led through fun visual arts projects that will open their creative minds and allow their ideas to come to life. Cost is $135.
Elementary/Middle
Intro to Musical Theatre Part 1, for ages 7-12, with Red Mountain Theatre Company. Class meets Thursdays from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 7-Nov. 9. Sing and dance in Broadway-style numbers while discovering the rich history of the American musical theater tradition. Learn to become a triple threat by honing skills in acting, singing and dancing. Cost is $130.
ArtPlay Kids Acting, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Darrell Revel. Class meets Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. Sept. 9-Nov. 11. Actor and educator Revel will guide participants through the basics of theater games, improvisation, monologues, scene work, stage makeup application, and voice and diction. Cost is $160.
Shakespeare for Kids, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Elise Mayor. Class meets Mondays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 11-Nov. 13. Local acting favorite Mayor carries students on a journey with her favorite playwright, William Shakespeare, as they act their way through scenes and explore a wide array of interesting characters. Cost is $110.
Printmaking, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Nina Willis. Class meets Mondays from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 11-Nov. 13. Join summer camp favorite Willis as she guides young artists through the art of printmaking. Students will explore nature, pop art and more. Cost is $130.
Hip Hop Dance, for ages 7-12, with teaching artist Antonio Mincy. Class meets Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 5-Nov. 7. Join Mincy as he uses his training in hip hop, break dance, and popping and locking to explore one of the dance world’s most exciting forms. Cost is $160.
High school and Adult
Ballet Basics for Young Actors, for ages 12-18, with teaching artist Melissa Turnage. Class meets Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Sept. 6-Nov. 8. Young actors are introduced to classical ballet, fundamental positions and movements to build their foundation for dance. Cost is $130.
The Acting Studio for Young Actors, for ages 13-17, with teaching artist Susan McCain. Class meets Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 6-Oct. 25. McCain follows legendary Lee Strasberg’s design, beginning with sensory work and focusing on nailing that tricky audition piece. Cost is $155.
Musical Theater Workshop with ArtPlay and Theatre UAB, for ages 12-18, with UAB Department of Theatre Head of Musical Theatre Valerie Accetta, MFA, and teaching artists from Theatre UAB and the Alys Stephens Center. Class meets one Saturday a month, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 23-May 5. Young actors can join Theatre UAB and ArtPlay to build an audition book, develop a character, create a resume and explore tech. This workshop will be held one Saturday a month and will culminate with a showcase and a trip to New York City in March/April (trip costs not included in registration). Included in the workshop registration price is an opportunity to see two Theatre UAB and one Alys Stephens Center production. Cost is $410.
Comic, Character, Creation, for ages 13-18, with teaching artist Bo Hughins. Class meets Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 6-Nov. 8. Students will learn the basics of cartooning and rendering characters from caricatures to comic books by recreating existing characters or designing one from their own imagination. Cost is $170 and includes materials.
Improvisational Comedy for Teens, for ages 14-18, with teaching artist Chris Davis. Class meets Mondays from 5-6 p.m. Sept. 11-Nov. 13. This class will teach the fundamentals of long-form improvisation, including how to create strong characters, play at the top of one’s intelligence, and build strong comedic scenes together out of thin air. Cost is $110.
Rhythm and Moves, for ages 16-adult, with teaching artist Ashley Booker. Class meets Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. Sept. 6-Nov. 22. This fun and unconventional dance class contains lively choreography with a colorful blend of styles influenced by street dance, new style and popular music. Cost is $170.
Beat Making, ages 13-18, with teaching artist La’Shondra Hemphill. Class meets Mondays from 4:30-6 p.m. Sept. 11-Oct. 30. The workshop introduces students to four steps of beat production: digging, sampling, sequencing/mixing, and song arrangement exclusively in FL Studio 12, using MIDI controllers to create a polished song from start to finish. Cost is $110.
Calligraphy and Lettering, ages 16-adult, with teaching artist Bo Hughins. Class meets Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 7-Nov. 9. Join Hughins to learn basic calligraphy techniques and amazing new ways to turn everyday envelopes, signs, letters and notes into pieces of art. Cost is $190 plus materials.
Beginning Knitting, for ages 16-adult, with teaching artist May Kaiser. Class meets Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 6-Oct. 11. Beginning knitters will learn to follow patterns and create their own while using common knitting stitches. Cost is $140 plus materials. Sign up for Beginning and Intermediate Knitting for a discounted rate of $200.
Intermediate Knitting, for ages 16-adult, with teaching artist Mary Kaiser. Class meets Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 18-Nov. 22. Advanced knitters will develop skills such as fitting garments using shaping techniques, knitting in the round, garment construction and advanced blocking. Cost is $140 plus materials. Sign up for Beginning and Intermediate Knitting for a discounted rate of $200.
The Acting Studios, for ages 16-adult, with teaching artist Susan McCain. Class meets Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 6-Oct. 25. McCain follows legendary Lee Strasberg’s design, beginning with sensory work and focusing on nailing that tricky audition piece. Cost is $170.
Memoir: Better than Fiction, for ages 16-adult, with teaching artist Tina Braziel. Class meets Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 5-Oct. 24. Students will study memoirs and spend time generating and crafting their own. Cost is $140.
Adult Ballet, ages 18 and up, with teaching artist Melissa Turnage. Class meets Wednesdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Sept. 6-Nov. 8. This one-hour class is the perfect break from the workday to celebrate health and find inner joy through this classic dance form. Cost is $135.
Improvisational Comedy for Adults, ages 18 and up, with teaching artist Chris Davis. Class meets Mondays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 11-Nov. 13. This class will teach the fundamentals of long-form improvisation, including how to create strong characters, play at the top of one’s intelligence, and build strong comedic scenes together out of thin air. Cost is $170.
Latin Social Dance, ages 18 and up, with teaching artist Sergio Rodriguez. Class meets Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon Sept. 9-Nov. 11. Led by Cuban dance master Rodriguez, this vibrant class will teach various Latin social dance forms, including salsa, merengue, bachata and cha cha. Cost is $130.
Sketch Comedy in the Ham, ages 18 and up, with teaching artist David Perry. Class meets Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 7-Nov. 2. Learn basic improvisation, acting and writing techniques, and study the works of previous sketch comedy groups. Participants will leave the class with a writing portfolio and a strong understanding of both sketch and production. Cost is $190.