Ellen Warkentine, left, and Jasper Oliver, right, in rehearsal for The Garage Theatre’s 2009 production Cannibal! The Musical. Photo by Eric Hamme.
7:11pm | In the beginning of May, when Bixby Knolls staple Jammin’ Music moved into its new, larger space at 4228 Atlantic Ave., the expanded possibilities were obvious.
And so it is that this summer Jammin’ Music & Arts (note the name change) is a go-to source for children’s arts workshops.
Perhaps most unique — and certainly the most ambitious — among these is the eight-week musical-theatre workshop being taught by Long Beach theatre mainstays Jasper Oliver and Ellen Warkentine. It’s not simply that between now and mid-August the pair, who have worked together on Alive Theatre’s What King Kong Dreamt and The Garage Theatre’s outstanding Cannibal! The Musical, will be teaching kids ages 7 to 17 the tricks of the trade: the eight weeks will culminate the performance of a new musical conceived and performed by the students themselves.
And if things fall right, there may even be a post-workshop performance of the new creation at the Expo Building.
Says the Jammin’ Music & Arts description of the workshop: “Acting exercises, improv, drama/comedy technique and vocal/musical theater training will all be covered, but students will also be introduced to writing and workshopping ideas into scripts for an experience that goes beyond the typical youth theater experience!”
Attempting such a feat is a bit of a high-wire act, since musical theatre is a highly collaborative art form, with a number of moving parts. But, says Oliver, “The increased risk factor has the potential of an increased reward in the end.”
To enroll or obtain more information — including on three separate, single-week musical-theatre workshops — call 562-490-0222 or visit JamminMusic-LB.com.