Spring 2025
Introductory Theatre Class
Ages 7-12
For individuals who have never taken a theatre class, or have very little experience in theatre. This is a prerequisite to longer productions and classes.
Q: How do I know if this class is for my child?
A: Do they know how to properly use their diaphragm to project? Understand what quartering in, or counter crossing is? Can confidently say they know how to hold a character, rehearse at home, write in and practice blocking? If the answer is no, sort of, or HUH?…then we'd love to have your child in this class!
Q: My child is very outgoing, is interested in theatre, and was in an elementary school play. Do
they need to take this class?
A: Yes. This class will enhance their natural motivation for performing, and teach them specific skills and theatre technique. It's the next step!
- **You may register for both sessions. Session 2 registration will open after Session 1 classes start.**
- Session 1 – “Candyland: The Challenge” – Tuesdays – Jan.14 to March 4 – 4:30 pm-5:45 pm
- Session 2 – “Grizzelda and The Grimmers” – Tuesdays – March 25 to May – 4:30 pm -5:45 pm
- Capped at 15 actors
- COST: $150 per session
- Each class is designed for those who have never acted before, acted very little, want to gain more confidence, or simply need to work on basic theatre technique! This is a perfect step for those who want to be in longer productions, but need to gain theatrical experience first. It’s the next step!
- We’ll learn through games, interactive exercises, and a whole lot of fun!
- Each actor will receive a part in a short script, which they will work to memorize both in class and at home.
- We’ll work with props, costumes, and set pieces!
- We’ll have a lesson each week utilizing a specific theatre technique, and put it to practice by rehearsing for our production!
- The production will take place during the final class! Families and friends are invited!
Joelle Shenk has been directing youth and children’s theatre for over 20 years, and owned JoELoe Productions, LLC for 10 years! Teaching young friends about theatre, and how to be bold on stage, is one of her favorite things to do! Joelle is SO excited for this class!
In front of the Lyric. Please drop off between 4:20 -4:30 pm. A class helper will be outside ready to receive your actor for ease of drop off. Please DO NOT park and wait in front of The Lyric. If you are early, please circle around, and return to drop off.
Please enter the Lyric for pick up between 5:45-6:00 pm. If you are early, again, please do not park and wait, or park and run in while parked in front of The Lyric. This is per Blacksburg Police.
Since this class is designed as a “next step” in acting, your actor will be expected to practice and memorize their part outside of class. We’ll also work on it within our class time, but it is super duper helpful for them to come prepared and ready to learn more each week. Additionally, it is expected for them to participate and attend each class, as they work together in a Cast and prepare their production. As always, feel free to reach out to Joelle with any questions. joeloeproductions@gmail.com
Tech Theatre and Design for Youth!
Ages 12-14
Those who are interested in learning about, participating in, and understanding the
world of backstage!
world of backstage!
- **You may register for both sessions. Session 2 registration will be open after Session 1 classes start.**
-
Session 1 – “Candyland: The Challenge” Tuesdays – Feb 11 to March 4
- Session 2 – “Grizzelda and The Grimmers” Tuesdays – April 22 to May 13
- $95 per session
- Capped at 5 students
- Real world experience working on an ACTUAL production!
The Tech and Design Crew will learn:
- Basic set design and scene changes.
- Prop design, building, and maintenance.
- Understanding the world of backstage, and what it takes to help run a production using sets and props!
- Students will work on the actual productions with our Introductory Theatre Class.
Joelle and Kayla (See bios below)
DROP OFF – In front of the Lyric. Please drop off between 4:20pm-4:30pm. A class helper will be outside ready to receive your actor for ease of drop off. Please DO NOT park and wait in front of The Lyric. If you are early, please circle around, and return to drop off.
PICK UP – Please enter the Lyric for pick up between 6:30-6:40pm. If you are early, again, please do not park and wait, or park and run in while parked in front of The Lyric. This is per Blacksburg Police.
OTHER INFORMATION: Students will be required to work on assignments and rehearse their roles outside of class/rehearsals. Weekly emails will be sent out following each rehearsal with a recap of what was covered in class and items to come prepared with for the next meetings. Parents should check their emails weekly and help ensure that their children come prepared for each session.
Musical Theatre Production – “Space Pirates”
Ages 7-14
For those with prior experience in musical theatre productions OR who have taken Introductory Theatre class already. Please read the class description for more details.
- Thursdays, January 30 to April 24
- 4:30pm- 6:30pm (2 hours)
- Sat., April 5 – special rehearsal required
- Sat., April 26 – 9:00 am – Final run-through
- Sat., April 26 – 11:00am and 2:00pm – production performances
- $195
In this program, participants will learn and present a fully staged musical on The Lyric stage! This program is designed for young performers who have already had experience in theatre classes and/or have participated in fully staged productions. Returning students who have participated in Introductory Theatre classes or previous Musical Theatre Production classes at The Lyric are welcome to register for this session. New students must take the Introductory Theatre class before participating in the Musical Theatre Production OR receive a recommendation from Joelle for this production class. If you’re unsure about which program is appropriate for your child, please email Joelle at joeloeproductions@gmail.com.
About the Show:
Pirates! Aliens! Space Travel!
Space Pirates tells the story of Gabby, a kid who gets picked on during a school trip to the museum. Everything quickly changes when an alien spaceship accidentally beams Gabby and her classmates up to outer space. Things go from bad to worse when the alien spaceship is suddenly attacked by SPACE PIRATES! It’s only after this whirlwind space adventure that Gabby becomes comfortable in her own skin, and her classmates appreciate her for who she is. Space Pirates is written by Gwynne Watkins, Betina Hershey, and Denver Casado and published by Beat By Beat Press.
Joelle, Seth, Susie, and Kayla (See bios below)
DROP OFF – In front of the Lyric. Please drop off between 4:20pm-4:30pm. A class helper will be outside ready to receive your actor for ease of drop off. Please DO NOT park and wait in front of The Lyric. If you are early, please circle around, and return to drop off.
PICK UP – Please enter the Lyric for pick up between 6:30-6:40pm. If you are early, again, please do not park and wait, or park and run in while parked in front of The Lyric. This is per Blacksburg Police.
OTHER INFORMATION: Students will be required to work on assignments and rehearse their roles outside of class/rehearsals. Weekly emails will be sent out following each rehearsal with a recap of what was covered in class and items to come prepared with for the next meetings. Parents should check their emails weekly and help ensure that their children come prepared for each session.
Meet Our Instructors
Joelle Shenk
Director
Director
Joelle (she/her) brings 20 years of teaching theatre and public presentation to the table. She LOVES sharing the joys of theatre, helping children gain confidence and have a blast while doing so. Through energy instruction, young actors will learn the wonderful world of sharp theatre and technique! Her OTHER favorite things are currently eating interesting food and reading children’s stories… out loud.
Liv Wilson
Instructor
Instructor
Liv Wilson (she/they) is a playwright, librettist, and teaching artist based out of Washington, D.C. Their work has been seen at The Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center, The Tank, Dramatic Question Theatre, Folger Theatre’s Works in Progress, Boise State University, The University of Texas at El Paso, and at The Premiere Theatre Playwriting Competition. Liv is the recipient of the Howard Scammon Prize for Drama and the Martin Jurow Theatre Arts Award for artistic excellence. Liv has worked as the Resident Dramaturg for Ford’s Theatre, Cadence’s Sitelines BLM series, the National Playwrights Conference, and countless independent works. Liv also writes for Cadence’s TV series, Bloodlines. They are a National Theatre Institute alum and a current Pipeline New Works Fellow.
Seth Davis
Music
Music
Seth Davis (he/him) is the Executive Director of The Lyric Theatre, with over 20 years of experience in professional theatre. Prior to beginning his tenure at The Lyric, Seth served as a music director for regional theatres throughout the Southeast, followed by a nine-year position as Resident Music Director for Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA. He has worked on pre-Broadway productions, award-winning regional theatre productions, new musicals, and film & television productions. Seth has also served as musical director for Georgia Tech, Oglethorpe University, and Hollins University in addition to teaching at The Alliance Theatre, Aurora Theatre and judging many regional music and theatre festival competitions. Seth is passionate about sharing his love of music and theatre with students of all ages!
Kayla Lees
Instructor/ Stage Manager
Instructor/ Stage Manager
Kayla Lees. Kayla caught the theatre bug around 20 years ago and has been working on and off
the stage ever since. She is a self-taught artist who has helped create sets, props and costumes
for hundreds of productions. She has worked on everything from community theater, to murder
mystery dinners, to Shakespeare, tv, indie films, even immersive horror and art experiences.
She is so excited to share her love and knowledge of theatre and creating!
Susie Young
Choreographer
Choreographer
Susie Young is a choreographer, director, educator, and community and cultural organizer based in Roanoke. She recently got her M.F.A. in Directing and Public Dialogue at VT in May 2023 after a fifteen-year career directing and choreographing in theaters and schools nationwide. She is an artist-in-residence with Roanoke City and works at The Cranwell International Center as a program coordinator. Her most recent work has been a series of performance projects exploring the intersection of theater, dance, and agriculture. She works in various ways with farmers and artists across the Roanoke Valley to make art projects that explore food systems and land connections.
Lucinda McDermott
Instructor
Instructor
Lucinda is an award winning playwright, actor, director, intimacy professional and teaching artist with over 20 years of working with diverse groups to write, devise, create,and perform.
As a playwright, the majority of her plays are research based, creative non-fiction including her solo actor play, “O’Keeffe!”, about artist Georgia O’Keeffe which she has toured nationally and internationally and is published through Playscripts, Inc. The award winning, “Shatter the Vessel—the Controversial Life of Bishop James A. Pike”. She has penned several plays for Colonial Williamsburg and facilitated/directed the critically acclaimed devised piece, “Journey to Redemption”. She has had commissions from Hampton History Museum, Chrysler Museum of Art, The Gibbes Museum of Art, Generic Theatre, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Washington & Lee Univ., and others. She is Teaching and Touring Artist with the Virginia Commission for the Arts, a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Actors Equity Assoc., and holds an MFA in playwriting from UVA.
As an actor, Lucinda has performed on stage, film, and TV. She premiered her solo-actor play about artist Georgia O’Keeffe, O’Keeffe! (with McDermott in the role) in NYC at the William Redfield Theatre, later at Primary Stages. She has toured the show nationally and internationally. Other favorite roles include Clairee in Steel Magnolias and Mrs. Peacock in Clue at Wolfbane Productions, Miss Hannigan in Annie with Roanoke Children’s Theatre and Lily in Annie at The Haymarket, many productions with Mill Mountain Theatre, the Nurse in Wings at Firehouse Theatre/Richmond, and many others. TV: FBI Files, The New Prosecutors. Many independent films and commercials for Honda, Ford, Lester Cabinets, Delta Dental, etc.
Lucinda is a member of Actors Equity Association, and is on the Touring and Teaching Artist rosters with the Virginia Commission for the Arts. She has taught acting at VCU, UVA, VT, RU, and Hampton Univ. She has directed many productions, and is also an Intimacy Choreographer.
Lucinda holds an MFA in Playwriting from the UVA, a BFA in Acting from VCU. She studied extensively in NYC with acclaimed actor Michael Moriarty and with the famed HB Studios. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild, and Actors Equity Association. For more info please visit LucindaMcDermott.com
Classes offered by our partners at Joeloe Productions and the Art Factory
Lyric Book Club
Winter/Spring 2025
New books are coming soon!
This is an opportunity that combines literature, art, and drama! Each week, we will discuss chapters read at home, do an active exercise themed to the book, read a bit more of the upcoming chapter/chapters, and do a hands-on art activity themed to the story.
Joelle’s Mini Actors Workshop
Mondays 4:30pm-5:15pm at The Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg
Classes are 4 weeks long. Each month will feature a specific theme, curriculum, and presentation, so there is no “missing out” if you choose to sign up for one month, and not the other. Each month is registered individually.
Sessions
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February 3 – 24 “Gingerbread” Based on a compilation of stories about the Gingerbread Man…baby…ninja…cowboy! All of the Gingerbread!
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March 3 – 24 “The Ugly Duckling”. Based on the play adapted by Monica Bosom. A short, and heartwarming (with action!) rendition of a beloved story.
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April 7 – 28. “Silly Aliens!” Exact book/story we’ll be working from TBA. However, it’ll be about aliens, and it’s sure to be silly!
