Housing Authority Spring Break Camp

Our Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) Spring Break Camp is this week at four sites: Meadowbrook, Shadowbend, Booker T. Washington, and Goodrich/Manchaca Village. Our talented Teaching Artists are hard at work painting murals, making puppet shows, and filming movies with HACA students. We also have several hard-working volunteers lending a hand at the HACA sites this week.

It has been a treat working with these volunteers over the last nine months. A b Jordan McDole, Marett Hanes, Margarita Hutchinson, Margaret Burke, Ajia Wallaceig thank you to, and Elexia Lowe for donating their patience, dedication, and 180 hours to HACA this year!

P.S.: My favorite big hairstyle is Sylvie Vartan. See you at the  Big Hair Country Fair on March 24th at the Salt Lick Pavilion. Proceeds support Theatre Action Project. For tickets visit: TAP Big Hair.

Tuning in to TAP TV

by Erik Weasenforth, Marketing Associate VISTA

Yesterday I got to the opportunity to attend Theatre Action Project‘s (TAP) Spring Break Camp featuring TAP TV at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hyde Park. I also got to see the great things the campers were learning from our wonderful Teaching Artists and volunteers. Kids were creating posters, brainstorming ideas, rehearsing lines, and learning how to behave on a film set as well as operate cameras.

The most important things campers learned was about the content of the stories they were filming. Caroline Reck led them also through a warm-up game that taught them how to focus and imitate each other. She also guided them to think about their approach to constructive criticism without hurting anyone.

When they got to filming, the kids were all happy to do their parts whether it was directing, acting, or setting up props. It’s great to see the kids enjoying themselves by being creative and working as a team. Look for another updates soon. We will be posting their final videos online.

More camp fun is on the way this summer. Registration is open for our TAP Summer Camps. To register online visit:  TAP Camp.

P.S. My favorite hairstyle is Will Smith’s from Fresh Prince. See you at TAP’s Big Hair Country Fair on March 24th at the Salt Lick Pavilion! To buy tickets visit: TAP Big Hair. Proceeds benefit Theatre Action Project.

Summer Camp is Coming, Register Now!

by Brian C. Fahey, TAP in the Classroom Program Director

We are just a few days away from our Spring Break Camp! This year we are on track to have record attendance. We have a brand new theme – TAP TV – and wonderful teaching artists helping our campers create a socially responsible television network. But here at Theatre Action Project (TAP), we’re already thinking about summer!

For eight weeks, from June 11^th through August 10^th, TAP will host Summer Camp at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hyde Park for youth ages 5 – 12. And from now until March 31^st you can save 10% off camp tuition if you register for 3 or more camps. Each week of Summer Camp is a new theme with a performance every Friday.

We kick things off with Adventures in Art and conclude, as usual, with the wildly popular Songs for the Stage. In between there is Dance! Dance! Dance!; Lights, Camera, Action!; Puppet-Palooza; Acting Up; Rhythm and Drums; and Playmakers. Our campers will experience it all – film, dance, puppetry and more. For a description of each week’s theme and online registration visit: http://www.theatreactionproject.org/prog_com_camps.html.

Our camps are full day, from 9am to 4:30pm and just $235 per week. We also offer extended care hours and scholarships. TAP is the largest provider of creative arts education in Austin. We’re also the only organization in Austin entirely dedicated to using the arts to activate the academic, social and emotional development of young people.

Parents from last year said:

“My child loved the staff, the friends she made, all of it!! She doesn’t want to come home!”

“I loved the low staff/student ratio and commitment to real learning.”

“My child looked forward to coming every day. So in my eyes, your program deserves and A+.”

We hope you will join TAP for an exciting summer! For more information on our camps, visit: http://www.theatreactionproject.org/prog_com_camps.html

PS: My favorite big hair style is the 80s band look. See you at TAP’s Big Hair Country Fair on March 24th at the Salt Lick Pavilion! To buy tickets visit: TAP Big Hair. Proceeds benefit Theatre Action Project.

Spring into Action at TAP!

by Tanisa Bernard, Social Networking Marketing Assistant Volunteer, Junior League of Austin

Comedian Robin Williams once said, ”Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘let’s party!” Theatre Action Project has several upcoming activities where you can have a good time and support worthwhile community causes.

• The Big Hair Country Fair: Come out in your favorite ‘big hair’ hairstyle for barbecue at the Salt Lick Pavilion on March 24th. There will be carnival games, music and dancing.
• Spring Break Creativity Camp: Over spring break, youth will produce their own television network: TAP TV! Campers ages 5-12 will work together on creative projects including: music videos, short films, public service announcements and news segments that inspire youth to make the world a better place.
• Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble: Dating violence and abuse have a devastating impact on young people. TAP serves as a creative outlet for youth to counter those issues. Come out to Teens in Action Night on March 22nd at Travis High School. Youth will also perform at Del Valle Middle School on April 12th and Kealing Middle School on May 1st.

Spring is in the air! Come on out and support TAP at any of these worthwhile events.

P.S. My favorite ‘big hair’ hairstyle is the beehive.  See you at TAP’s Big Hair Country Fair on March 24th at the Salt Lick Pavilion! To buy tickets visit: TAP Big Hair. Proceeds benefit Theatre Action Project.

Hey there Little Red Riding Hood

by Freddy Carnes, Artistic Associate

I think Spring Break  and Summer Camps have always been special for me.  It probably started when I was in 2nd Grade when I went to the YWCA Summer Camp in Beaumont, TX, where I grew up.  On the last day of camp,  we put on a show for the parents up in the gym.  There was activities from gymnastics and tumbling, to trampoline and art projects being displayed.  We would always end the showcase with some skit.  That year we ended with a version of Little Red Riding Hood to the song “Hey there Little Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaoh’s.   They cast one of the girls as Little Red Riding Hood, but I got to play the Big Bad Wolf complete with costume.  The girl was supposed to skip around during the song and drop Oreo’s on the ground.  My job was to chase her and pick up the Oreo’s and put them in my back pocket.  The audience loved the skit and I felt like I gave the role of the Big Bad Wolf my all.  As I sat down on a chair, I suddenly realized that I had 10-12 Oreo’s in my back pocket!  It was the best Oreo mush I ever ate! This memory from 2nd Grade is one that I will always remember.  On that day I knew that I loved performing and I was given an opportunity to try.  That’s what all children need: the chance to try.  “Hey, there Little Red Riding Hood.  You sure are looking good …”

If you are looking for an amazing Spring Break or Summer Camp to send your child too, registration is open for our camps. Click here to for more information!