Classes

Learn performance fundamentals or expand your existing knowledge in one of our classes!

Pretend Play (Ages 4-6)

$150 + convenience fee
Saturdays 10:00am - 11:00am
October 12th - November 16th *No class on Oct 26

Students will get the first hand opportunity to learn about theatre through playing pretend and guided to create a performance based on a picture book.

Led by Maddy Caudill

Maddy is an elementary teacher in Lexington who loves everything theater. She graduated from the University of Kentucky and has lived in Lexington most of her life. She has been involved in many community theater shows over the last few years and has had a passion for teaching and acting since she was little. Maddy just finished her first Woodford Theater show which was Miracle on 34th street. She is so excited to be a teaching artist at Woodford Theater.

Creating a Character with Improv! (Ages 10-15)

$150 + convenience fee
Saturdays 11:00am - 12:00pm
October 12th - November 16th *No class on Oct 26

Students will learn the essence of character building through improv games, activities, and script prompting. A joyous and silly way to learn!

Led by Esther Neel

Esther is a freelance theatre director and artist based in Lexington, Kentucky. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts with a concentration in Scenic Art from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. She has worked in many areas of theatre from directing and teaching, to painting and props. Some of the local organizations she has worked with include Lexington Children's Theatre, UK Opera, and Leeds Center for the Arts. A few of her favorite shows she has directed include Peter and the Starcathcer, Charlotte’s Web, Holes, and The Cat in The Hat.

Esther has a passion for working alongside young artists to create compelling, imaginative theatre through collaboration and honest storytelling. For a look at her work you can visit estherneel.com She is thrilled to be a part of the creative process at Woodford this season!

Advanced Acting (Ages 15-18)

$150 + convenience fee
Saturdays 12:00pm - 1:00pm
October 12th - November 16th *No class on Oct 26

Students will dive deep into working as an actor under the guidance of the instructor. Scene work coupled with classical acting exercises that will expand any actor's range!

Led by Forrest Loeffler

Forrest is a Lexington based actor, he received his formal training at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois where he received a BFA in acting. Over the past several years he has worked with various regional and community theaters in and around the bluegrass, including Leeds Center for the Arts, The REP, Athens West, Pioneer Playhouse, Studio Players, Woodford Theater and Adventure theatre. Some of his favorite roles include Leo Bloom in The Producers, Clifford Anderson in Death Trap, Orin Scrivello D.D.S. in Little Shop of Horrors, and BLACK STACHE! in Peter and the Starcatcher. You may have seen him most recently in The Music Man as Marcellus Washburn. He currently portrays Abraham Lincoln with Kentucky Chautauqua Humanities and will be starring in The 39 Steps this summer with Pioneer Playhouse.

Musical Theatre Dance - Intermediate (Ages 10-17)

$150 + convenience fee
Saturdays 10:00am - 11:00am
October 12th - November 16th *No class on Oct 26

Students need only have a basic understanding of Dance and will be guided to expand their dancing abilities and increase their dance repertoire through professional instruction

Led by Taylor Greatbatch

Taylor Greatbatch is the Lead Teaching Artist with the Woodford Theatre Young Artists, and has happily spent thirteen years employed as a professional AEA actor and freelance artist! Greatbatch studied Musical Theatre, Production Stage Management, and Digital Media Informatics from both the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati & the School of the Arts (SOTA) at Northern Kentucky University. Career highlights include The American Theatre Wing, Inside Broadway, Chashama, DreamYardNYC, Signature Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, FiveOHM Media, SITI Company, Maine State Music Theatre, Fulton Theatre, and productions - Seussical, Lend Me a Tenor, Pygmalion, A Chorus Line, Singin’ in the Rain, and Beauty & the Beast. He is also a selfishly proud Eagle Scout and alumnus of the Kentucky Center Governor’s School for the Arts, Broadway Dreams Foundation, and SpringboardNYC.

Acting Original Scenes (Ages 7 - 10)

$150 + convenience fee
Saturdays 9:00AM - 10:00AM
October 12th - November 16th *No class on Oct 26

Students will perform in scenes, learn the basics of acting using their body, voice, and imagination - then WRITE and STAR in their own pieces!

Led by Sarah Dorrell

Sarah Dorrell has experience in various production aspects of the theatre world, including production roles in 3 Woodford Theatre productions in the last year. Her personal growth journey has recently led her to taking a leap of faith back onstage! She has a significant amount of experience in working with youth and has joined the WTYA teaching staff this season! Sarah is thankful for this opportunity working alongside genuine, talented professionals that better our community together. She believes in the therapeutic power of sharing stories authentically and vulnerably: a powerful experience for storyteller and story engager alike.