Kayenta Arts Academy

June 7—July 2 

Mon-Fri 9am–3pm

Four Week Class Session (Ages 9-17)

July 3—10

Times TBD

Tech & Dress Rehearsals

The Wind in the Willows 

Musical Featuring the Students of Kayenta Arts Academy

Performances of The Wind in the Willows

July 13–17 MON–SAT 7:30pm +FRI & SAT 2pm 8 shows total. 

Students are split into two casts: Red Cast & Blue Cast

Each Cast Has 4 Performances

Four Week Class $300

Sibling Discount: $20 per class

Scholarships Available; See Below to Apply

PRESENTATIONS:
Each two-week class will culminate in a lively presentation of classwork for family and friends to attend. Classes will hold presentations on the final class day. Details will be noted in the welcome letter you will receive the following registration.

CURRICULUM/LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Intro to Acting:
Build confidence and explore character, relationships, action, and text by diving into a script to work bringing characters to life. Teacher info coming soon!

Scene Study:
Students will build confidence through reading plays and exploration of character, relationships, emotions, and reactions while on stage. These acting tools can be used to bring any scene or monologue to life! This class will be guided by film/stage actor and UNLV theatre professor Clarence Gilyard, Jr., teaching the Lee Strasburg method of script analysis. 

Musical Theatre:
Increase your versatility and work on new vocal and dance techniques while exploring the art of telling a story through words, music and movement. Teacher info coming soon!

Improvisation:
Develop expressiveness, spontaneity, and train your brain to think quickly and with reason through improvisational character and scene work. Teacher info coming soon!

Music, Movement, and Art:
Students will move, sing, play and create using a wide array of instruments and props making joyful sounds together. Come ready to explore the marvelous sounds of xylophones, recorders, drums, and more, and to create movement, and visual art, as we take to the stage! This class will be guided by Kathleen Whiteside, veteran music, movement, & art teacher. Currently at George Washington Academy, Kathleen has been teaching classes just like this for over forty years.

Kathleen Whiteside (Music, Movement, & Art) grew up in a musical family, started piano lessons in the 5th grade, and never looked back; music has been “my life.” She began teaching while completing her undergraduate degree at California State University, Long Beach. Her degree was in choral/vocal music education. As she pursued a master’s degree (USC- vocal performance) she continued teaching. “I never stopped teaching! I was employed by a very large set of Montessori schools in the South Bay, near Los Angeles. Here, I spent twenty years teaching preschool to early elementary music. I also have taught piano and voice privately. At the Montessori schools I developed and ran an after-school piano and art class.”

When Kathleen moved to Utah, she began teaching at George Washington Academy. She has been there since the day the school opened in 2006. In addition to her general music teaching responsibilities, she teaches after school piano classes and directs a choir. Her training and personal experience in opera and piano performance, as well as composition has prepared her for the many students that she has and will influence. In the summer of 2019, she directed Kids Create at Kayenta! She is currently the President of the local Orff chapter, having completed Level II and III of the Orff Schulwerk certification. “I believe our children need and deserve an alternative to the kind of musical diet we generally see here in this community. The Orff Schulwerk approach combines music (instrumental and singing) with creative movement, speech and drama. It is used by trained teachers throughout the world and has a long history, dating back to the 1920’s in Germany. The name refers to the “school work” practiced by Carl Orff, the composer, and his collaborators. What sets this way of learning apart is freedom, collaboration in creation, multi-sensory learning, and respect for the young-mind as a capable contributor to the final product.” While visual arts are not part of the Orff methodology, its study is a natural extension. Fostering literacy is another goal. Kathleen’s specialty is integrating music, movement, instrument playing, and the visual Arts with her creative students.

In 1979, Clarence Gilyard (Script Analysis) went to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. He became the first black actor to play the role of a cheerleader in the play ‘Bleacher Bums’. He then had guest roles in a series of television programs, including ‘The Facts of Life’, ‘Diff’rent Strokes’, ‘227’ and ‘Riptide’. In 1982, the actor was cast as Officer Benjamin Webster in the final season of NBC’s ‘CHiPs.’ He next starred alongside Jim Carrey in NBC’s sitcom ‘The Duck Factory’ in 1984. In 1986, he played Wally Stokes in the TV series ‘Simon & Simon’. That year, Gilyard also made his film debut as LTJG Marcus Williams in ‘Top Gun.’ Soon after, he got featured in the comic panel ‘Off the Mark’. The actor played the role of Theo, a computer expert and thief, in the action flick ‘Die Hard’. He landed a minor role in the television film ‘L.A. Takedown’ in 1989. From 1989 to 1993, Gilyard played Conrad McMasters in the TV series ‘Matlock’. In 1993, he joined the cast of the TV series ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ as James “Jimmy” Trivette, a role he played till 2001. During this time, the actor also appeared in ‘Left Behind: The Movie’. He then went on to appear in the film’s sequel ‘Left Behind II: Tribulation Force’ that was released in 2002. Three years later, Gilyard featured in the TV film ‘Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire’.

In August 2005, he announced his retirement from acting. However, he started reappearing in movies in 2012, mostly taking up independent projects. In fall of 2014, he was seen as Professor Portland in the religious flick ‘A Matter of Faith’. Two years later, he got featured as Hoak Colburn in the comedy drama movie ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ opposite Sheree J. Wilson. Currently, Gilyard also teaches drama at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

• Provide an opportunity for children to sing, speak, dance, play, move, make and create, guided by trained Master Teachers, Directors and Facilitators
• Foster learning in theatre arts skills, the visual arts, musical and movement concepts through classwork and performance
• Develop stage etiquette and confidence through teamwork and taking responsible risks
• Encouraging literacy and effective communication skills while celebrating the uniqueness and contribution of each person attending the academy
• Increase awareness of the Center for the Arts at Kayenta, its Arts Education opportunities for young people and for adults
• Build new relationships with parents, the greater southern Utah community and extending our arts and education imprint to the region
• Raise awareness of the Arts community throughout the cities of Ivins, Santa Clara, St. George, Bloomington, Washington as well as the Washington County Region
• Participate with the Arts to Zion, and Utah Life Elevated campaigns for developing our region as an Arts Education and Entertainment destination
• Experience community and pride as the students present their work through performance opportunities

Kayenta Arts Academy is an experience unlike any other – with professional artists and teachers sharing their expertise, skills, and passion for their art. With programming that includes classes in acting and scene study, musical theatre, improvisation, music and movement,  students aged 9-16 build their art skills while simultaneously building life skills such as confidence, focus, teamwork, and public speaking. We are proud to be building the next generation of community leaders and artists. We look forward to welcoming new and returning students for a summer filled with learning, laughter and fun! As a nonprofit organization, our goal is to provide an exceptional theatrical experience and education to every student actor interested in participating. Please complete the below Scholarship Application to have your child considered for financial assistance.