Interview With
Joyce A. Presutti
Our history is 91 years old this year. Walter and Maude Hartwig started the Manhattan Theatre Colony in 1927 first in Connecticut and New Hampshire, and continued when they settled in Ogunquit in 1933 where they renamed the program The Colony Theatre School. Due to the demand of summer programs for young students, we began performance camps for ages 5-18 in 2000, we have had camps each season since, this year will be 23 years, reaching 1,000’s of students through the years. Besides our Seacoast students, many families plan their vacations to Ogunquit around our performance camps. We formed the Ogunquit Playhouse Arts Academy to continue the legacy of Walter Hartwig by infusing a strong educational component to our already highly successful performance camps. Students have the opportunity to study with Broadway professionals and Teaching Artists from some of the most prestigious Universities and Colleges both here in the United States and London. We have students from as far away as Hawaii, and when we had our online camps during the pandemic, we had students from North America and as far away as the Dominican Republic.
We are located on the Ogunquit Playhouse campus in the beautiful ocean-side town of Ogunquit, Maine.
- Ogunquit Playhouse Arts Academy is a profound tool for students of all ages to exercise their imagination and evolve their skill sets. Our programs strive to increase self-confidence, strengthen collaborative skills, learn professional etiquette, and enable students to achieve their personal best. Ogunquit Playhouse has a long history of bold artistic expression, with programming taught by working theatre professionals and a staff ready and willing to honor and celebrate our student’s unique and powerful creative voice. We believe the most beneficial way to learn and grow in the performing arts is to closely follow the procedures of professional theatre. Learning how the creative process works in the professional theatre is the best way to prepare students who have a true interest in the performing arts and who are looking to further their education in the Arts.
- Our goal is to instill in our students a professional outlook and work ethic. Our mission is to motivate, challenge, and prepare them for what they’ll face in life – not only in auditions and performance, but in college applications, job interviews, and competing for promotions. Our standards help develop confident and focused young adults.
We offer one, two and three-week performance based camps. Each session concludes with a performance. We engage students from ages 5-18 and specialize in allowing our students to grow and learn at their own pace. No experience is necessary and all students are accepted into our programs. In each program, students will engage with our professional directors, choreographers, music directors and teaching artists in a variety of disciplines. From learning how to read and understand a script, how rehearsals work, and putting the final touches on a show to theatre games, and improvisation. Our older students have the opportunity to attend our main stage shows and technical rehearsals, meet our casts and be included in workshops that range from audition preparation, finding an agent, contract negotiation and finding the best college to attend to further their studies.
We specialize in including our students in all aspects of the professional theatre. With its 91-year history, the resources as a professional renowned theatre here at Ogunquit Playhouse are vast and we take every opportunity to use those resources to create the most professional and exciting programming possible. From our professional set designers, lighting designers and costume designers to our directors and choreographers who join us from Broadway and some of the best regional theatres in the country.
We recruit our staff both locally and from New York City. Our professional staffing each year includes our Education Director, Associate Education Director, Directors and Choreographers, Dance Captains, Production Stage Managers, Assistant Stage Managers, Music Directors, Associate Music Directors, Local and Main Stage Crew, Set Designers, Costume Designers, an Audio Supervisor, Props Designer, Costume Supervisor and Wig Designer.
Each year students return to experience the chance to work with top theatre educators and professionals from the Broadway community. Once a student joins the Arts Academy, they are considered “Playhouse Family” and are welcomed into a nurturing and safe environment that allows them grow into their own unique artistic vision. We also offer a generous need based Scholarship program that parents can access on our website.
We offer one, two and three-week performance based camps for students from 5-18 years old. Cost run from $400 to $950 depending on the age and length of camp.
Our enrollment for summer and fall began Monday, February 6th and will continue if spots are still available
As soon as we begin registration (enrollment) as camps tend to fill up quickly.
Register here http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/education
We offer opportunities to perform in our Professional Main Stage productions when the need arises. This past season 13 of our students performed as the elves in Elf, right alongside the professional company. As we continue to grow the Academy, we will be offering Workshops for parents of students looking to become part of the professional world of theatre and the best way to encourage and support that vision. We also will be offering unique opportunities to local students to experience Hands-On experience in our technical and production departments. Aspiring producers will have a chance to join our Young Producers Initiative, learning the business of show business from inception to a fully realized production.
Ogunquit Playhouse Arts Academy
www.ogunquitplayhouse.org
http://www.ogunquitplayhouse.org/education
