SHAKER HEIGHTS - It's one thing to be known as the supreme, top-level performer in grade school and in college, who normally lands the lead role for a stage production. But to be a young thespian who spends at least 3 weeks training alongside more students also accustomed to landing lead roles, well, that's a different story.
And consequently, that kind of environment can be expected at Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute, a conservatory-style program that is part of Hathaway Brown School's Performing Arts Department in Shaker Heights. The institute has already developed a reputation for challenging its participants to the brink of their artistic potential. Courses are generally offered in the summer and winter for young actors, actresses, dancers and other students in Northeast Ohio. HBTI's initial launch was in the summer of 2013 and had an enrollment of 170, though recently, Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute announced that it's back again for season 2, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2014.
Some students enrolled at HBTI already attend Hathaway Brown School. Last season, quite a few students flocked to HBTI from as far as Lorain and Geauga counties, and even from Columbus.
"The talent level that comes to this program is partly what makes it so unique," says Bebe Weinberg Katz, Associate Director for Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute.
In addition to providing an atmosphere that stretches students past their comfort zones, although in a fun and engaging way, youth who register for HBTI can also look forward to receiving instruction from high-quality, professional actors, dancers, and directors who have pretty lengthy resumes, reviews, and honors.
For starters, there's Fred Sternfeld, Executive Artistic Director for HBTI, who has professionally directed more than 100 theater productions. He's also earned plenty of awards and honors for "Best Musical" and "Best Director." In addition, Sternfeld's work has been applauded by media critics. His website, FredSternfeld.com lists more information about his accomplishments.
Prior to joining HBTI, Sternfeld spent 8 summer seasons directing and creating programs at the Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory in Mayfield Village. One of his former students from the FPAC, Isabela Moner, is now a cast member in the television show, "Growing Up Fisher." Other HBTI staff are known, too, for training students who have gone on to perform on Broadway, at prestigious schools, and on television.
According to Sternfeld, Hathaway Brown Theatre Institute teaches more than acting, music, and dancing skills. “Aside from the theater training aspect, it builds confidence, teaches them to work in groups, and work toward a common goal with a lot of collaboration,” said Sternfeld. “A lot of life skills are taught.”
And like Sternfeld, Weinberg Katz has an extensive resume, with much expertise in choreography and dance instruction. Currently, she teaches dance and movement courses at Cleveland State University, but she's also taught at the Jewish Community Centers of Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Baldwin-Wallace University, and at other private and public schools. She's directed and choreographed numerous productions.
During her years of teaching dance movement at various institutions and even at HBTI last summer, she has repeatedly observed a strange, unexplainable occurrence among her students. Let's just say a good name for it could be, “The Day 4 Phenomenon.”
Here's how Weinberg Katz describes the scenario: Day 1, students usually enter her dance class motivated and determined to learn new techniques; Day 2, students drag into dance class slowly, feeling sore from long periods of stretching and movement they endured on Day 1.
As for Day 3, Weinberg Katz says, “Everyone is laying on the floor. They've hit the wall.”
Then comes Day 4, the most mysterious day of all. But, prior to Day 4, Weinberg Katz usually makes a promise to her students. She tells them, “Don't worry, just get through three days, I promise you the light bulb is going to go off on Day 4,” said Weinberg Katz.
And unbelievably, it does. The soreness and exhaustion miraculously go away, and confidence is in full force.
"I don't know why Day 4 works, I'm not sure. I wish I knew the scientific or the neurological reasons it does, but something clicks. I think from the physiological perspective they start to develop a neuro-muscular pathway.”
Weinberg Katz said she normally loves that first week, because of the phenomenal change that takes place. “It's like you've unlocked something and there's no going backward. I've seen it in girls and I've seen it in guys.”
Another staff member who is an integral part of the HBTI teaching team is Bob Russell, one of the master instructors, and he can cite much experience in professional acting and directing. He teaches acting and theater courses at Kent State University's School of Theatre and Dance. Students at HBTI have the benefit of receiving college-level instruction from Russell's vast knowledge about “Michael Chekhov” and “Konstantin Stanislavski” techniques.
About these methods, Russell says, “It utilizes actors' imagination and their mind, as well as their voice and body for the creation of emotional truth and realistic characters on stage.”
In addition to Russell, Weinberg Katz, and Sternfeld are key Hathaway Brown full time faculty members such as Performing Arts Department Chair Jenny Burnett and Drama Department Director Molly Cornwell, who have played vital roles in the institute's success.
Though even more staff teach at HBTI, those hired to teach instruction depend on student enrollment. Or, in other words, the higher the enrollment, the higher the number of staff members.
HBTI has a curriculum comprised of 2 levels. The 1st level, called Prime, caters to children who are entering 1st through 4th grade. Prime provides activities geared toward drama, dance, and acting. Yet sometimes, when the little youngsters want to blow off some steam, they're allowed to enjoy the playground, and maybe even play a game of kickball. According to Weinberg Katz, Prime is a great starting point for young children before they begin the professional, challenging training. “It's like a sampler, they have some singing they have some acting, they play games, arts and crafts, there's no audition,” she said. “It gives them the opportunity to try something.”
The 2nd level ranges from youth entering 5th grade to young adults in college. Students generally spend 6 hours each weekday in classes such as Acting for the Camera, Monologues and Cold Readings, Stage Combat, and Acting Characterization, just to name a few. As for dance classes: Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, and Partnering. The list of course offerings is far more extensive than what's listed here.
"In a typical acting class, students are taught a toolbox of skills to help them figure out how to make well thought-out acting choices, which is a core skill taught within the curriculum," says Sternfeld. “We're always trying to teach the kids to use themselves in the role and approach the characters to be truthful on stage, to develop three dimensional characters. We give them a character analysis worksheet so they can build a back story about their character,” he said. “They can figure out what their character's life off stage might be, what their character's hopes and dreams are.”
HBTI students also have the option to audition for stage productions. Last year, 2 productions were available for auditions: The King and I and Jekyll and Hyde. This year, however, 3 instead of 2 productions will be available for auditioning. They include: A Chorus Line, Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
And here's a little side note about the quality of those productions: according to Sternfeld, both Jekyll and Hyde and The King and I were nominated for Broadwayworld.com awards.
From day one, children and young adults are told they will be treated as professionals, which is a method of preparation for the real world of theater. “At the first rehearsal for the show we tell the kids we're going to approach this as if it is a professional production, the same way as if we were going to be directing a show at an adult professional theatre,” explained Sternfeld. “And they liked that, they want to be treated like actors and not like children, which is one of our trademarks. We're teaching them how to rehearse, how to come prepared, how to retain what they have learned.”
And concerning HBTI's environment, almost any student in the institute can count on joining a supportive team, sort of like a family. “The kids are so supportive of each other,” says Weinberg Katz, who recalled her childhood days of classical ballet training as an environment that was competitive and unfriendly. And, as a matter of fact, she refuses to teach her own students in that way. Which, of course, just may be the reason “the atmosphere is very supportive of the faculty and the kids themselves,” she says. “To me that's the best thing about this environment. Everyone wants to be there.”
Both Sternfeld and Weinberg Katz even encourage shy students of all ages to join the institute, like the quiet ones, for instance, who may have some trouble with courage and confidence.
“We mostly want them to feel good about themselves and we want them to be successful. There's a place for every skill level,” explains Weinberg Katz. “I can't promise the child who is terribly shy will win a Tony Award, but I know we can give them a positive experience.”