Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest

Meet Aimee McKay, a talented improviser and actor. Aimee has had cameos on shows like New Girl and 2 Broke Girls, as well as playing Principal Becky Snyder in Disney’s Walk the Prank. She also taught Improv Boot Camp during last year’s Theatre and Dance Fest. Aimee will be teaching Improv for One on Saturday, June 20 at 6pm. aimeemckay.com  Here’s our Q&A with Aimee.

1. What led you to improv/comedy? I loved SNL as a kid, and as I researched all my favorite performers, improv kept coming up over and over again. I found Keith Johnstone’s book IMPRO and fell in love. I carried that book in my bag for a decade.  I had never been to Chicago but decided to move there to study improv and loved every second.
2. What has been your favorite performance to date? There’s no way I have a favorite improv performance – and even if I did, when something really works, the less likely I am to remember what happened afterward. In improv, there are those moments where you connect with your partner, and you’re completely in sync and the audience is with you that it all just feels like magic. Those are amazing moments.
3. What advice would you give to a young improv/comedy student? If you are just starting improv, you have to be willing to fail. You have to take chances and make mistakes. Improv is like jumping off a series of (metaphorical) buildings and hoping that you land. When it’s bad, it’s bad and you pick yourself up and realize you’re still standing. And when it’s good, you feel like a superhero. You will only get better by taking those leaps.
4. What’s your approach to improv? Very often your approach to improv is your approach in life. I try to be grounded, connected, emotional, present, and playful.
5. What’s something you want everyone to know about improv? I’d like people to know that anyone can improvise! You have to commit to facing your fears and looking silly. The tenets of improv can improve your life – we focus on listening, connecting with your partner, facing your fears, being in the moment and team building. For those willing to commit, it can be life changing.

Introducing Ann Van Kuren! Ann’s company VanDance Inc. was one of the founding Legacy Companies of the Theatre and Dance Fest in 2018. Recently, Ann worked as an artist in residence doing site-specific choreography in Acadia National Park. https://www.facebook.com/vandanceinc/

How does site-specific choreography differ from your normal choreographic process? For me, site-specific choreography should be “of the place.” It isn’t choreography that is simply performed in a location that isn’t a theater venue. It should take into account the architecture/landscape, history, feel, sounds, etc. of the site, and use this to inform the choreography.  This is a departure from my typical process, which doesn’t necessarily come from the environment. More often it comes from the body’s movement and expression or a literary theme.

What research did you do about the site before beginning your creative process? When I begin a new site-specific piece, I spend a lot of time gathering information about the site. I read a lot, talk to people and hear their stories. I spend some time at the site just experiencing how it speaks to me. With regards to Acadia National Park, I had visited the site to hike, camp, canoe, and sightsee several times before applying for this residency. I augmented this experience of the park by researching the history of the region, visiting the Abbe Museum at Sieur de Monts Spring and in Bar Harbor, and attending ranger talks. I looked for books and stories from the region and talked to the historical society. I also did a lot of hiking and sightseeing in parts of the park I hadn’t visited before, while filming and journaling.

The next step is to interact with the site and explore movement and sound in relation to the history, stories and sensations collected. Much of this can still be in search of the “idea” for the piece. (This is done together with the dancers sometimes.) Once the “idea” comes to me, the piece unfolds and reveals the direction I must take and movement that must be created. It is a circular process that often leads to exploring with the new movement in the space, which alters and changes it. Sometimes it’s more laborious and unpredictable.

What is the Acadia project and how did you get involved in it? I am an Artist in Residence at Acadia National Park in Maine this year. This is something that has been on my bucket list for many years. Application announcements for many opportunities are always showing up in my inbox. When I can, I apply, and this time all the forces aligned for me. This year the park wanted to feature dancers because it never had before, and four dancers they were interested in applied to them this year. It’s a great opportunity in that it gives me time away from the usual demands of daily life to just be with my creative impulses and make work.

What is it like to be an artist in residence? It’s really exciting and a lot of fun! It’s not like a vacation because you have commitments to fulfill, but it is like being an honored guest. You have access to all of the resources of the host site. Since this host is a park the activities are recreational, beautiful, enjoyable, and back to nature. I had the wonderful opportunity to stay for three days on Isle au Haut, a remote island accessible by the mailboat. I lived in a rustic 100-year old cabin, away from most human sounds other than your own, which elevated the sounds of nature, other than a far-off harbor bell and occasional boat motors, and of silence.

What do you want audiences to take away from your Acadia piece? I believe that every place on earth has a unique sense of being. Unique factors, historical and current, contribute to what it is. I’d like VanDance’s Acadia National Park piece to be an expression of the uniqueness that Acadia is. I also hope that through this piece audience members realize a greater awareness of their own “sense of place.”

 

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It’s time for Fun in the Sun as we gear up for both the 3-day festival AND Summer Sessions! Looking for a summer class, a summer camp, a day of adventure? Make sure to check out our performing arts companies and their studios!

Improv: Happy Valley Improv is offering a camp for grades 6-12,  June 22-26th.

Puppets & More: Adam Swartz Puppets hosts a variety of programs for all ages!

Theatre: Tempest Productions will be working virtually with several StoryBook Theatre adventures and camps.

Dance: Several of our dance companies have lots of fun things happening this summer! Make sure to check them out.

• Black Cat Belly Dance
• Centre Dance
• The Central PA Dance Workshop
• MindBodyArt School of Dance
• VanDance, Inc.

And don’t forget our 3-day festival, June 19-21, where you can come try a class, join us in a performance, dance party, reading, and scavenger hunt adventures!

The Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest goes Virtual as we celebrate Arts for Everyone, June 19-21, 2020.

Welcome to the 3^rd Annual Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest, June 19-21 including a week’s-long series of events leading up to the 3-day festival.

• 3+ days of performing arts programming!
• 30+ companies, artists, and organizations to celebrate!
• All virtual!

Performances, workshops, and panel discussions with 3 Dots Downtown, Allied Motion, Art Alliance, Shannon Bishop, Black Cat Belly Dance, Central PA Dance Workshop, Central PA Playwriting Festival, Central PA Sings Broadway, Centre Dance, Creative Spirit Fusion, Michele Dunleavy, FUSE Productions, Charlene Gross, Happy Valley Improv, Aimee McKay, Randy Maggiore, MindBodyArt School of Dance, Dmitry Myers, Open Door Players, Poetry in Performance, Penn State Centre Stage, State College Live, State of the Story, The State Theatre, StoryBook Theatre, Adam Swartz Puppets, Tempest Productions, Ann Van Kuren, Wordstock, Woskob Gallery, Bruce Young, and much much more.

You can perform with us, watch a performance, take a class, attend a lecture or a panel discussion, or do it all! Be a part of the Central PA Performing Arts in the 2020 virtual festival all from the comfort and safety of your home.

Experience virtual appearances by guest artists from NYC, Chicago, L.A., New Orleans, Atlanta, and many other places. And experience our resident performing arts companies, Allied Motion, Black Cat Belly Dance, Dmitry Myers, FUSE, Tempest Productions, and VanDance, in their virtual performances and workshops.

PLUS go backstage and join our popular Central PA Playwriting Festival with readings of New Plays and the 2020 Awards. Follow-up with the playwrights, actors, and audience in discussion forums and visit our upcoming exhibition of costume, set, and lighting design samples. Tune in to watch an exciting and vital part of the performance process as we take a look at what happens backstage.

Next, join these festival activities from your own home and backyard! The fun includes

• Texas 2-Step, Line Dance, and Latin Dance
• Virtual Geocache and Scavenger Hunts
• Mask Making, Shakespearean props, and other crafts
• Singing/Reading/Dancing in our Community Performances
• Drumming Circles, Poetry Readings, Storytelling, Having Tea with Alice in her Wonderland Tea Party and so much more!

All happening in our 3 day-festival, June 19-21, 2020. And since it’s virtual – you can access it anytime during those days! Make sure you are following us on social media and have subscribed to our mailing list for up to date information and schedules. See you in June!

Arts for Everyone! June 12-14, 2020
The 3rd Annual Central PA Theatre & Dance Festival

Do you catch yourself singing or humming along to the radio? Can you own Jeopardy’s Broadway musical category? Do you move and groove to the beat? What about drumming on your desk? Reciting a lyric or poem or even a Shakespeare monologue?

This is the year of Arts for Everyone at The Central PA Theatre & Dance Fest 2020. We’re celebrating the performing arts in our everyday lives-come join us!

June 12-14, 2020 in downtown State College

Be a part of:

• Family Fun in MLK Plaza
• Summers on Allen Street
• PRIDE Festival
• Shakespeare in the Plaza
• Pop-Up Arts Vendor Fair

See a performance or catch a reading as Tempest Productions, Open Door Players, and over 30 performing arts and community groups offer classes, workshops, readings, and performances!

• Texas 2-Step, Line Dances, and Latin Dance
• Scavenger Hunts
• Circus Arts
• Arts & Crafts Activities-Props and Masks to name a few
• Community Sing as Central PA Sings Broadway
• Professional and Student Performances
• Drumming Circles, Poetry Readings, State of the Story, and much much more.

You can perform with us, watch a performance, take a class, attend a lecture – be a part of the performing arts in the 2020 Festival.

Spend Saturday morning in Friedman Park with PRIDE and join the 1st PRIDE Parade in State College!

On Sunday catch our line-up of World Fusion Dance with Egyptian Dance, Flamenco Dance, and performances by Creative Spirit Fusion, Three Aksha Indian Dance Company, and more.

Want to see a show? Catch Penn State Centre Stage with “Sentimental Journey,” FUSE Productions with “Pippin,” Tempest Productions with “The Daughters of Edward D. Boit” and their Open Door Players production of “Macbeth.”
The festival features appearances by guest artists coming in from NYC, Chicago, California, New Orleans, Nevada, and many other places. And Allied Motion, Black Cat Belly Dance, Central PA Dance Workshop, and VanDance all have exciting performances scheduled for all ages.

PLUS don’t forget the Central PA Playwriting Festival’s readings of New Plays and announcement of the 2020 Awards. And our exhibition of costume, set, and lighting design samples.

All happening in our 3 day-festival, June 12-14, 2020. Mark your calendars and make sure to join our mailing list and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as our website –
Centralpatheatre.com

See you in June!

A number of our performing arts companies are gearing up for summer camps – so if you’re looking for half-day, full-day, one-week — take a look at what our companies have to offer!

Theatre: Tempest Productions will be working with Centre Region Parks & Rec to present a StoryBook Theatre Camp for preK-grade 1, August 3-7.

Improv: Happy Valley Improv is offering a camp for grades 6-12,  June 22-26th. Early Bird Registration by April 1 saves $25!

Dance: Several of our dance companies have lots of fun things happening this summer! Make sure to check them out.

• Centre Dance
• The Central PA Dance Workshop
• MindBodyArt School of Dance

And don’t forget A Day of Dance, Saturday, June 27, 2020 presented by Altoona School of Dance.

FUSE Productions is opening our preview night with a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Schwab Auditorium.

Make sure to buy your tickets now!

http://fuseproductions.org/jesus-christ-superstar/