Stars of Tomorrow Shine in Walnut Creek This Summer

In its 37th year, the Young Repertory Theatre Workshop offers talented teens, 13 to 20, an intensive six-week course in all aspects of theater and performing arts. 

The course offers aspiring actors, directors, playwrights, lighting technicians and costume designers classes in musical theater, playwriting, directing, performing Shakespeare, auditions,  voice and diction, and even stage combat techniques. The classes are taught by theater professionals, including those affiliated with Center Repertory Company, the in-house theater company at the Lesher Center for the Arts. 

Recent Las Lomas High graduate Daniel Lachman attended Young Rep for two years. Lachman, who is headed off to New York University this fall to study film, spent time at his former training grounds over the past two weeks. There, he filmed students in classes and interviewed co-directors, Kerri Shawn and Jeffrey Draper, about what this summer workshop can mean to teens.

Here is his video. Some students, like Lachman, want to go into theater or into the film business. Others just want a summer to learn new ways of expressing themselves personally and artistically. 

Starting Thursday, Young Rep will present a series of showcase performances. Lachman, who attended a rehearsal this week, says "they are going to be great!"

Here is the schedule. All performances are at the Lesher Center. For information or tickets, contact the box office at (925) 943-SHOW (7469) or visit www.lesherartscenter.org. 

--Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, 7:15 p.m. Thursday and Friday

--New Works Writing Workshop, 7:15 p.m. Saturday 

--Celebrate Broadway: An Evening of Musical Theater, 7:30 p.m. Monday, August 2 and Tuesday, August 3

--Works in Progress, Directing Showcase, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 5

--Works in Progress, Acting Showcase, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 5. 

Download the movie