January 7th, 2009

Summer Musical & Ensemble Workshop

Summer Musical

Each summer the Renaissance produces a musical that involves the entire community. The cast, made up of various ages and training levels from North Central Ohio, benefits from the experience of working with a professional director, choreographer, designers and the Mansfield Symphony.  It is one of the few opportunities anywhere in the United States for young or non-professional actors to perform under the direction of a Nationally renowned conductor in a professional setting.  If you would like to join in on the fun, check the webpage for spring auditions.

  • Summer 2008 - Into the Woods
  • Summer 2007 - Cats
  • Summer 2006 - The Sound of Music
  • Summer 2005 - Beauty & the Beast
  • Summer 2004 - The King & I
  • Summer 2003 - Oliver
  • Summer 2002 - The Wizard of Oz

Summer Ensemble Workshop

The Summer Ensemble Workshop is comprised of middle school and high school students. Together the ensemble creates a performance that is truly a collaborative experience. The script, which is a compilation of improvisation exercises and writing prompts, is conceived and written by the ensemble. The cast draws on their imaginations and true-life experiences. Script development starts in early in the summer and continues for a number of weeks. The ensemble then rehearses their original piece. This process, where participants develop material gradually and naturally, is deeply organic, especially when the participants take responsibility for the performance's identity and efficiency.  During the 2008 Summer musical productions at the Appleseed Amphitheatre, the ensemble broke new ground by performing thier piece in front of hundreds of audience members who gathered for thier show prior to that evenings performance of "Into the Woods".  The Renaissance is proud that this new tradition will be contiuned in the coming years, giving young actors, writers, directors and singers the opportunity to be in front of a live audience in a professional setting.