Berkeley Rep Announces 2009 Family Series

After the holidays have passed, Berkeley Repertory Theatre will still have a gift for local families: free activities throughout the year. Its monthly Family Series continues in 2009, promising family fun for everyone. The classes take place in the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre at 2071 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley, near bus lines, bike routes, and parking lots - and only half a block from BART. There is no cost to attend; Berkeley Rep suggests instead that each family bring a book as a donation for the library at the nearby John Muir Elementary School.

"With a different theme each month, Berkeley Rep's Family Series means everyone can play," remarks Rachel Fink, director of the School of Theatre. "Toddlers, children, teens, parents, and grandparents all participate in these free workshops, forging bonds, learning teamwork, and nourishing a supportive and creative family environment. So why don't you come out and play?"

The Family Series is held monthly on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM:
* January 11 - Action for the Stage: Prepare to move and laugh by finding the actions that propel different characters through their tales. Discover how animals, people, masks, and trees - yes, even rocks - have their own rhythms and personalities. Free the body and dance into imagination. Recommended for ages four and up.
* February 1 - Language, Poetry, and Rhythm: Rediscover language by sampling hip hop and its power as a storytelling tool. Create characters that come from this fluid zone of rhymes, beats, and outrageous energy. Learn to play with words, rhythm, and movement to create truth on stage. Recommended for ages seven and up.
* March 1 - Art Sampler: Celebrate Art History Month with music, movement, painting, sculpture, and more. Uncover different ways of telling a story - then put them all together to turn the room into a giant collage. Recommended for ages four and up.
* April 5 - Fools, Clowns, and Jesters: Make merry this April - slide, fall, wander, chase, hop, strut, somersault, and jump along the whimsical path of the clown. Families play games that spark the imagination, tickle the funny bone, and provoke the jokester throughout history. It's time for April's fool! Recommended for ages four and up.
* May 3 - Target ® Story Builders: Every year, Berkeley Rep brings this program to classrooms throughout the Bay Area - now Story Builders comes home to the Theatre. Bring a storybook to life in only 90 minutes. Parents and children work together as an ensemble using dialogue, physicality, and improvisation to create an original performance. Recommended for ages four and up.
* June 7 - Summer Fun: Learn how to turn a day at home into a day of laughter with family games, puppet-making, and more. Tell stories, develop acting skills, and make new friends. Slip into vacation mode with off-the-cuff fun that kids and parents can replay all summer long. Recommended for ages four and up.

The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre provides a wide array of programming for individuals of all ages. In addition to this Family Series, the School offers theatre classes for youth and adults; Target ® Story Builders, a drama workshop for elementary-school classrooms; the Student Matinee Series for middle- and high-school students; the Playmaking Project for high-school students and incarcerated youth; in-school residencies; teacher training; and a variety of outreach activities that encourage lifelong learning. The School also hosts the Teen Council, which allows youth to participate in all aspects of the dramatic process: on stage, backstage, and in front of the stage. Housed in the Nevo Education Center, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is supported by the Mosse Foundation for Arts and Education. For more information, call 510.647.2973, e-mail school@berkeleyrep.org, or click berkeleyrep.org/school.