The Program
The Participants
The Teachers
The Goals
Our Summer 2013 Intensive
Past Summer Programs
Note to Students, Teachers, and Parents
The Program
Now in its 27th year, BAYFEST Youth Theatre’s Summer Intensives provide youth-theatre training, performance and cultural exchange opportunities for talented young performers ages 13-21 from around the US and some foreign locations. The program is structured much more like a professional-level training and performance program than a “summer camp” although many fun recreational, civic and press events are always part of the experience. Ability to pay is never a factor in our acceptance decisions, and many participants receive scholarship and other fundraising assistance.
The Participants
BAYFEST participants are between 13 and 21 years old, have not already attended university / higher education, and are chosen by audition and recommendation from schools and drama programs. BAYFEST ensembles (usually no more than 25 participants) include participants from a wide range of backgrounds, and it is the experience of really getting to know each other that is always one of the most rewarding parts of the program.
The Teachers
BAYFEST’s teachers and directors are all working theatre professionals, who create a truly intensive and stimulating atmosphere in which fun and hard work combine to challenge the young participants to the highest level of individual achievement.
The Goals
BAYFEST’s primary goal (in addition to intensive performance training in theater games, improvisation, clowning, dance/movement/body work, voice and speech, stage combat and LOTS of fun) is to focus the participants’ enormous creative energies to increase self-confidence, physical and communication skills, and to foster a sense of group responsibility. Although we are always looking for talent and a genuine interest in performing when we audition students, we primarily look to find young people who will truly benefit and grow from such an intensive ensemble experience, regardless of their future potential as professionals. It is an experience which provides them with skills and new ways of perceiving that will help them to deal more effectively in addressing the complex issues facing them in their families, schools, and communities.
Summer 2013 Program
BAYFEST returns to sunny San Diego for our Summer 2013 Program. We are delighted to announce that our 4-week-long summer intensive will be held at La Jolla Country Day School. For more information, please see our Summer Intensive page and download our brochure for more information.
Past Summer Programs
BAYFEST’s international summer intensive programs have been held all over the world: some of the places where we have been in residence include New York, London, Washington, DC, Vermont, Seattle, Newcastle on Tyne, North Wales, Los Angeles, San Diego, California, and, most recently, Sandpoint, Idaho. All participants are together for the entire program, which often has included international travel. Ensemble members participate in a wide variety of civic, public relations, recreational and social events in addition to the intensive rehearsals and performances of a fully mounted production. These have included A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a masked commedia version of Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters, the musical Working, a program of American short stories, The Rake’s Progress, and many company-devised pieces. By the end of the program BAYFEST groups always form an extremely close and dedicated ensemble ‘family’. For all involved, it is a great experience, and many longtime friendships have been made.
Note to Students, Drama Teachers, and Parents
The BAYFEST program is for young people who are talented, motivated, and would benefit from this kind of intensive, ensemble theatre-training experience. This might be the ‘star’ of your school or program who does well in everything, but it also might also be a someone who has difficulty in other areas, but gravitates toward the theatrical and the artistic and needs lots of one-on-one encouragement. Please feel free to recommend students who fit the description, and contact us if you have any further questions at: info@BAYFESTyouththeatre.org