Teaching Teenagers Shakespeare, Publicity, and Aspecting Class

So, I survived the teenagers last week. It was a great opportunity to do the internship with Cal Shakespeare. I got to watch 6 different teachers work with one group of 15 kids, actually 11-13 year olds, I think. They were the difficult class of the four groups of kids at the camp. Smart kids, very creative kids, and actually good people, not mean-spirited. But could they focus or stand still or remember anything we told them for more than 5 minutes? Hell no. It was astonishing to see. They really don't have control at that age. Oh, and the need to be cool, and not embarrass themselves in front of each other. The non-committal reciting of lines, while staring bored off into space. But I know they enjoyed acting and doing things cause I saw them in improv class too, and other exercises. It was hilarious to try to get the requisite Shakespearean young lovers to touch. They resolutely stood 5 feet from one another until the second to last day. Finally they'd hold hands. Oy. But I am so glad I did it. It was an opportunity for me to see what it was like to work with kids, watch teaching/directing techniques, and make contacts with other theater people. More tactics in the ongoing search for work. I think they couldn't figure me out. Blessed that I am with looking so young, I think they couldn't figure out where to place me in their box of categories, as most of the other interns were high school kids. I obviously spoke with intelligence and guided the kids with experience. But why is she working for free? So how old is she? And what is this "ritual theater" company we've never heard of? I was glad I got to go out with them for drinks on Friday afterwards and talked us up some more and said we've been around for 10 years. I handed out Equus cards to one and all. Speaking of, I should put the blurb here. I don't think I have yet: ******************************************************************** Magical Acts Ritual Theater*************** presents***********************Peter Shaffer’s Tony award winning play************************* Equus**********************************directed by Angelique Heddings **********************************August 25, 26, 27 8pm***********Aug 28 2pm************************Ashby Stage***1901 Ashby (at MLK) Berkeley************************************* After a young man commits a shocking act of violence, a brilliant but disheartened psychiatrist unravels how sex, religion and unhappiness brought the boy to the mystery that is Equus. It features several familiar faces to theater from around the Bay Area, including Robert Young, known to many as Charles Dickens each winter at the Dickens Faire. ******************************************** Call 510-523-7754 for reservations or purchase tickets on www.ticketweb.com.************ $25 General Admission************* Student, Senior or TBA Nomads Discount at the door only********* Credit cards through ticketweb only.********** Cash and checks accepted at the door************** ********!!**!!******* This play contains full nudity and is not recommended for audiences under 18. ********************************** Magical Acts has been performing new works and classic for over ten years, seeking to do theater that transforms the audience and the performers. Go to www.magicalacts.org for more information about us! ******************************************************************* I think since I have a free account I can't format this so it looks pretty. But come one, come all. And make reservations soon. We're already booked for almost half of the seats. This is unprecedented for MART to have this many reservations. I spent most of the weekend walking around neighborhoods hanging posters. I plan on doing more today and tomorrow. It's a good way of getting exercise. And sending press releases and public service announcements and posting things on lists..... Publicity is hard work. ---------------------------------------------------------- On a final note, I begin teaching the Reclaiming Aspecting class tonight at my house. I'm really excited to do this. It will be great to do this work. Something to distract me from all the angst in my soul, that makes me feel good about what I do. Oh, and as two nights of playing games this weekends prove, I'm one mean werewolf.