Manhattan Experimental Theater Workshop

What mxtw is...
Mainstream theater in America usually presents what is called "naturalistic" representations of characters caught up in stories that have beginnings, middles, and ends. We have a different idea of what theater can be.
In the first two weeks you get a "crash course" in representative experimental movements of the twentieth century. You will read ‘plays’ from the experimental literature, do exercises and learn new techniques for using your voice and body, techniques that are designed to help you understand how the theater pieces you study could be performed.
In the last three weeks of the workshop you work with others in small groups to write a new theater piece of your own, to continue exploring within a particular avant garde style, and to build your piece into something you can present to an audience.
On the last two nights of the workshop, you and the people you have worked with will perform the piece you have written. And you will get a chance to see what the other small groups have written and prepared for performance. (The whole company also builds two-three pieces together and the performance evenings contain collections of all the pieces.)

When mxtw meets...
The whole company meets on these dates and times:

1) Saturday, May 15 -- 3-6
2) Sunday, May 16 -- 3-6
3) Wednesday, May 19 -- 3:30-6:30
4) Saturday, May 22 -- 3-6
5) Tuesday, May 25 – 3:30-6:30
6) Thursday, May 27 -- 3:30-6:30
7) Saturday, May 29 – 6-9**
**Small groups start after this date.
8) Sunday, May 30 -- 6-9
9) Wednesday, June 2 -- 6-9
10) Sunday, June 6 -- 6-9
11) Wednesday, June 9 -- 6-9
12) Sunday, June 13 -- 6-9
13) Wednesday, June 16 -- 6-10
Performance: Friday, June 18 -- 7:30
Performance: Saturday, June 19 -- 7:30

All sessions take place at...
The Manhattan Arts Center
1520 Poyntz Avenue
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
USA

You are eligible for mxtw if...
You are eligible if you have just finished ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade. This workshop is designed for any student interested in any kind of performance, including marching, gymnastics, music, dance, theater, forensics, and so on.
You don’t have to have done any theater before the workshop. In fact, we will use skills you may have that are not usually found in mainstream theater. Gymnastics, choral singing, dance, public speaking, juggling -- anything that can be done in public as a performance -- may be helpful in our explorations.

mxtw is not expensive...
The fee for the workshop is only $50.
The fee is due on the first day of the workshop, not with the application.
There is no application fee.
Small scholarships are available. They can cover the fee. Just ask when you make application to be in the Summer 2010 workshop.
It is that easy.

Enrollment in the workshop is limited to twenty-four students.

Applying to mxtw is easy...
** The application should be in an email attachment in either word (.doc) or rich text format (.rtf).
** First, type your name, address and phone number. Then state your age and the year of school that you have just completed.
** Then write something about your interests and your abilities.
** Finally, describe one of your performance experiences (anything you have done in front of an "audience" and that you are proud of).
Try to explain what it was about it as a performance in front of others that was most important to you.
Remember, this can be anything that was done in front of any kind of "audience."
Don't worry if the performance was not "significant" to others. We will be paying more attention to the thoughtfulness of your description, to your explanation of the experience, to what it meant to you.
** If you need to ask for a scholarship, this is the time to do so. Just write that you need it at the end of your application. We do not need to know your reasons unless you want us to know them.

Apply to mxtw soon!
Applications are due on April 15, 2010.

Where to apply...
Send your application by e-mail to
mailto:mxtw@mxtw.org