Kids Company Virtual Ensembles

The Kids Company Virtual Ensembles provide opportunities for young performers to explore different styles of performance throughout the semester while strengthening their skills in acting and voice. With a new theme each 3-week unit, our ensembles to dive into four distinct themes by the end of the semester. Check out our unit themes below!

Each semester culminates in an informal studio showcase for family, friends, and the Goodspeed community.

SPRING SEMESTER: February 7 – May 20, 2022

Unit 1: In the Wild
Unit 2: It Started at Goodspeed
Unit 3: Original Movie Musicals
Unit 4: Musical Farce
Studio Showcase: Friday, May 20 at 6:30pm
No Classes: April 18–22

CLASSES

Kids Company Virtual Ensembles will take place over Zoom. Students will be sent a link via email to join the class and will be held in a virtual “waiting room” until the class time begins. Each class will be monitored by a member of Goodspeed’s Education Staff. For more information about the virtual class format, as well as helpful tips to set students up for success, please read the Virtual Ensembles Safety & Security Tips at the bottom of this page!

VOCAL ENSEMBLES

Vocal Ensemble (ages 7-18) | Mondays, 6:15pm - 7:15pm

Kids Company Vocal Ensembles will explore how musical stylings contribute to and amplify the stories of characters on stage in musical theatre. With a dual emphasis on vocal technique and stylistic coaching, Dr. Spencer Reese will help students develop their voices to suit a variety of musical genres.

ACTING ENSEMBLES

Acting Ensemble (ages 7-18) | Tuedays, 6:15pm - 7:15pm

In Kids Company Acting Ensembles, students will have opportunities to try on a variety of characters and stretch their imaginations as actors. In addition to diving into each of our unit themes, Acting Ensembles will also work with different forms such as monologues, one-on-one scenes, and group scene work.

REGISTRATION

Classes are limited to six students per Virtual Ensemble. All classes will have a wait list once full, and additional class sessions may be added to meet demand.

Registration Fee: $350

Upon registration, students will receive a link via email to join the class, along with further instructions for participation.

Click the button below to register for Virtual Kids Company Ensembles online!

If you have any questions, please contact Cecilia Kurachi Ube at ckurachiube@goodspeed.org.

VIRTUAL ENSEMBLE SAFETY & SECURITY TIPS

Before your class begins, be sure to set up your device so that the instructor can see you! If you are taking a dance class, make sure that your entire body is visible in the frame.
Wear clothes that allow you to move freely, and be sure to keep a water bottle nearby.
Choose a clearly lit area of your home with minimal background noise. Headphones may help with potential sound issues, including background noise, if available to the student.
These Virtual Ensembles are password protected. Only students taking the class will be admitted to the meeting. Please do not share meeting invitations outside of your household.
When joining the class, students will need to provide a Meeting ID name. Be sure to provide the name used on your registration form, otherwise you will not be able to join the Virtual Ensemble in progress.
Listen to your body! If something doesn’t feel right, stop and ask your instructor for help. Because they can’t be in the room with you, it’s important that you ask questions to ensure safe participation.

REFUND POLICY

Students who withdraw more than 2 weeks prior to the first class are eligible for a full refund, excluding processing fees. Those who withdraw with at least 48 hours notice will receive a 50% refund, excluding processing fees. Withdrawals within 48 hours of the first class or after the session has begun are not eligible for refunds.

MEET THE VIRTUAL KIDS COMPANY ENSEMBLE FACULTY

SPENCER REESE recently completed his Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in voice at the University of Connecticut, where he studied with Connie Rock. Born and raised in Enfield, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in voice from UConn and a master’s degree in stage directing from the Eastman School of Music, where he was a student of Steven Daigle. He developed his passion for teaching at Eastman, and in his return to UConn oversaw the opera studio as well as all outreach productions and programs. Equally at home in the styles of musical theatre, operetta, and opera, he will also serve as the Artistic Director for the Connecticut Gilbert and Sullivan Society for their 2019 season. He has spent the last six summers in Wooster, Ohio where he is a resident artist with the Ohio Light Opera for their seven-show repertory season. Also an active performer, recent highlights include Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, Georg Nowack in She Loves Me, Danny Churchill in Gershwin’s Girl Crazy, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, and Billy Crocker in Anything Goes. When not teaching or singing, Spencer enjoys competing as a ballroom dancer.

- Unit 1: In the Wild
- Unit 2: It Started at Goodspeed
- Unit 3: Original Movie Musicals
- Unit 4: Musical Farce
- Studio Showcase: Friday, May 20 at 6:30pm