New Acting Class Calls All Elementary Students

Royal Oak, MI – For as many theaters as there are in metro Detroit, Kerry Burke could not find a place to take her daughter Maeve for acting classes. It’s not that they don’t exist, it’s because her daughter was just too young. “Anything I found for kids acting classes started at 8 or 9 years old,” Burke said. “I wanted to capture my 6-year-old’s imagination and build her social skills while she still maintained her childish enthusiasm, without the peer pressure that comes in later years.”

Since Burke had no luck finding a class for Maeve, she did the next most logical thing: she founded The Royal Oak Junior Players, an acting class for kids in grades 1 - 5. She found a venue willing to host the class and sent out a flyer to all the Royal Oak Elementary School PTAs. “Everyone has been extremely supportive, I’m just so excited.” She started by offering class once a week, but had to add a second class due to demand.

• Classes are held on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at St. John’s Episcopal Church located in Royal Oak at 26998 Woodward Avenue, on the SE corner of 11 Mile and Woodward.
• Class is from 6:45 – 7:30 PM
• The price for a 6-week session is $66
• To register or for more information, email rojuniorplayers@gmail.com

“The mission of the class is to teach the kids how to trust and work as a team, to strengthen their confidence, and expand their imagination,” Burke said. “With arts programs getting cut from public education, kids don’t have a way to express themselves creatively at school. I’m hoping that this class will fill that need.”

For more information, contact Kerry Burke at 248-514-0887 or rojuniorplayers@gmail.com.