January 2010
KidScape Improv at Grassroots Books
Join KidScape Productions and Grassroots Books for a FREE improvisation class at the next Bag Sale! KidScape will hold an interactive performance and workshop open to all, ages 3 to 103! Kidscape will show the fun of professional theatre, and give you a chance to jump in and perform with us! Class is open to anyone, and everyone is welcome. Stop by for great books, friends, and fun!
Date: Monday, February 15th, 2010
Time: 2:30-4:30
Cost for class: FREE
Location: Grassroots Books, 660 E Grove St Reno, NV 89502
More info: Grassroots Books "Bag Sale" is a great opportunity to find amazing deals! Fill up an entire grocery size bag of books for only $3.99. See you there!
KidScape Productions at GSSN's Uniquely Me Two!
Join KidScape Productions and Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada at the Uniquely Me Two event. KidScape will hold an interactive booth at the event, and host the talent show! Come Support KidScape and the Girl Scouts of our region in an event dedicated to empowering and inspiring!
Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Time: 11:00am-4:00pm
Cost: Girl Scout Registration Fee: $15 (Non members pay $12 more and includes a 1 year membership in the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada)
Location: Reno Town Mall, South Virginia Street & E Peckham Ln Reno, NV 89502
December 2009
RENO, NV - KidScape Productions teaches students to develop these skills and gives them them the tool to make the most of the process. The KidScape curriculum takes students through engaging, high energy assemblies, seminars, day programs, and camps focused on empowering participants to learn important life skills through repetition and entertainment.
The goal is to create success in school, family-life, work and in personal relationships. Christiana Frank with KidScape Productions says, "This is a life skills program, an enrichment program, something that is going to start working immediately in the classroom. I have yet to be challenged with what job does not need great communication skills."
KidScape Productions uses acting techniques to teach students how to better communicate. KidScape enhances student's self-confidence and develops the tools to help them do it well in all aspects of their lives.
The program differs from traditional theater classes, because the focus is on the experience of participating, rather then the preparation for a performance. KidScape workshops aim to build confident, articulate people, while creating and instilling the necessary skills to succeed in today's world.
Pat Perry, the Principal of St. Albert's Catholic School says, "It's outstanding. We're very pleased with it, and the parents are very pleased with the program. We're now in the process of adding an after school KidScape program."
The next big KidScape show is on Tuesday, December 8th. For more information visit www.kidscapeproductions.com
Bringing the Arts to Silver State Charter School
More and more arts programs are being cut from schools every year. Having arts in education is extremely important as the arts teach valuable skills such as communication, teamwork, presentation and creativity.
I grew up in Carson City doing community and school theater, and always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I went on to get a bachelor's degree in theater studies and a master's in education. I was honored to get hired on at Silver State High School to start a theater program.
am in the process of creating an online theater course that students can take for credit. I teach improvisation and acting to groups of middle and high school students twice a week. I am a true believer in the need for arts in education and I am passionate about theater and teaching kids about theater.
KidScape Productions is a professional acting program that was started by Christiana Frank. Christiana is a professional actor who has extensive training and experience in the world of theater. Instructors from KidScape go into schools to teach theater to kids ages 3 and up. KidScape has been teaching classes every Monday at Silver State Charter School in comedy improv.
For more information on KidScape Productions, go to www.kidscapeproductions.com or call 775-787-3900. KidScape and I are collaborating to put on a theater production this coming month at Silver State High School.
The high school's Holiday Extravaganza will be a mixture of comedy improv games, skits, Christmas carols and instrumental solos. Everyone in the show is a student at the school and is enjoying learning about the art of comedy improv and other theater skills.
The SSHS Holiday Extrav-aganza will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Silver State High School, 3719 N Carson St.
Cost for the show is free to students with an ID card and $5 for general admission. Money from ticket sales will go toward future productions at the school.
• Abbey Gardner is the theater teacher at Silver State School.
October 20th, 2009
KidScape Productions will be performing at this years Nevada's Lights ON! KidScape Kids from Clayton Middle School & Sun Valley Elementary School will perform at 6:30pm. This will be held in the conference area, Paradise Ballroom at the Atlantis Casino Resort, in Reno,NV on October 20th. KidScape will also be giving a presentation on how Improvisation can be used to instill confidence and presentation skills!
Lights ON is a celebration open to the public, taking place on October 20 from 4:00-7:00 at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada. Join the 1 million Americans who take part in Lights ON Afterschool to help call attention to the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire them to learn and help families. More info: http://www.nevadaafterschoolnetwork.org/lightson.html
July 6, 2009
KidScape Productions performs at Artown on Monday July 6th. We will be at Wingfield Park, 1st Street and Arlington Ave across from Trinity Church in Reno. KidScape performs should wear comfy, cool clothes and a KidScape Shirt. Bring a hat and sunscreen.
Info: KidScape at Artown 2009 July 6th Monday KidScape Improvisation Troupe 4pm-6pm Main Stage By the River- Wingfield Park Seen "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" www.KidScapeProductions.com will be performing at Artown 2009! Come laugh and join in as our players create skits and scenes right before your very eyes! KidScape Productions is a professional acting program for ages 3 and up; Some of our opportunities include: Improvisation, Scene Study, Performances, On Camera Workshops and Events.
April 2009
Congratulations! KidScape is proud to announce that student/assistant instructor Katherine Bending has been cast in the new movie Power and Pride.
April 28, 2009
April 2009
KidScape Productions' Spring Break and Summer Camps are currently open for registration
Katherine Bending, September 2008
Katherin Bending receives award! Sophomore Katherine Bending is hoping to be an actress someday, but in the meantime she has been using her skills as a performer to help younger students. She's been donating her time at Kidscape Productions, an acting program for kids throughout the year. Bending says she's developed good self-esteem and confidence through acting and wanted to pass along the lessons she's learned.
Former 49er visits local children
Former San Francisco 49er Ray Norton visited about 30 local kids on Wednesday evening at the Reno Housing Authority's Stead Manor Community Center.
A guest of KidScape Productions, Norton spoke about confidence and self-esteem in sports and in life. He also provided a signed picture for each student to take home.
"While KidScape Productions uses drama to instill self-esteem and presentation skills, we are well aware that this is done through sports as well as other activities," said Christiana Frank, founder and program director of KidScape Productions. "When approached properly, kids can really benefit from experiencing first-hand stories on how this comes together."
The top sprinter in the world in 1959 and 1960, Norton won gold medals in the sprints and sprint relay at the 1959 Pan-American Games. He won the NCAA 220-yard dash in 1959, and he was the Amateur Athletic Union outdoor 100- and 200-meter champion in 1959 and 1960 and participated in the Rome Olympics in 1960.
A graduate of San Jose State College, Norton was a fourth-round draft pick in 1960 and became a 49er running back and receiver for the 1960-1961 team.
KidScape Productions uses speech, movement, improvisation, character and plot development and other dramatic techniques to teach students acting, communication and verbal and social skills.
Improv acting class teaches children drama, confidence
CARLA ROCCAPRIORE RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL Posted: 11/8/2007
Thinking on one's feet and performing without rehearsing are among things that many children are doing in an after-school program, and some say it's helped increase their creativity and confidence.
KidScape Productions offers developmental drama workshops around Washoe County that involve dramatic play, theater games and story enactment, among other things.
Founder and program director Christiana Frank said the program also develops skills in social interaction, verbal communication, concentration, problem solving, teamwork and coordination.
"It sits close to home because I wasn't confident (as a child)," said Frank, 34. "This is especially great for kids because it gets them on their feet and allows them to practice skills with games."
Gain self confidence.
Mary Kupec of Reno said she's seen positive changes in her 13-year-old daughter Charlene since Charlene began taking part in the program.
"Charlene gained an amazing amount of self confidence that has showed up in every part of her life," Kupec said. "Her grades have improved, as well as her desire to take on more activities before and after-school hours."
Ryan Costello, 14, of Sparks , said he's been in the program about two years.
"No other program can really compare to it in this area," said Costello, who is active in drama at Spanish Springs High School.
Jacob Roberts, a member of the drama club at Reed High School , agreed.
"It's a place you can have fun and learn," said Roberts, 14, of Sparks . "There is no judgment, so it's just a place to have fun. It also helps stage presence massively."
Frank said she started the program two years ago but has been running the curriculum locally for five years.
She also conducts programs with foster children, the Reno Housing Authority, local scouting troops, the Washoe County School District and with senior citizens at Classic Residence by Hyatt.
Frank is a 1991 graduate of Reno High School who attended The Juilliard School in New York City and Yale University 's School of Drama in New Haven , Conn.
Six years ago, she created the KidScape structure while working with the New York City Police Department's at-risk youth division.
"That gave me a lot of training," Frank said.
She returned to Reno because, she said, she wanted to give back to the community in which she grew up. Frank said she hopes to make KidScape a nonprofit organization by February 2010.