Overview
A collaboration between Acting for Young People, Mason Community Arts Academy, and Precipice Theater Team
The Precipice Theater Team (PTT) will work with students to craft a dynamic, one-of-a-kind, play using students’ own words, thoughts, and experiences. In this intensive, PTT’s theater professionals will guide students through their internationally celebrated devising process to create autobiographical, ensemble-based theater that poses significant questions crucial to the participants and their communities. Through writing, movement, rehearsals, and performance, students will collaborate to bring their stories to life, in an environment infused with generosity, creativity, and excitement.
Ideal for students in grades six through high school sophomores, the program will culminate in a fully realized and polished performance, which will be shared with family and friends on Sunday, May 4 in the Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts Festival, including a talk-back with the audience. In addition, there will be another performance of the play on Sunday, May 25, at the George Washington Masonic Memorial as part of a Precipice Theater Team devised theater festival.
Program Details
Ages: 11–15 (grades 6–10)
Dates: April 14–18, 2025
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tuition: $395
Location: Mason Community Arts Academy Building in Fairfax, Virginia
Public Performances: Sunday, May 4 and Sunday, May 25 (times to be announced)
Program Faculty
Josh Bickford
Lead Teaching Artist
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WIth over 35 years of directing and teaching experience, Josh began his directing journey while working at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo, MD. He recently retired as a middle school Theatre Arts Educator after 30 years in public education. Josh is also a former teacher with Institute for the Arts, a summer arts program, and the Director of Performer’s Corner Summer Workshop. He was a Director with Arena Stage’s Voices of Now program for 10 years, where he worked with teen artists to create devised theatre performances based on the artist’s’ personal experiences.
Currently, Josh is also the Co-Director of the AFYP (Acting for Young People) Adventures Cast and a Lead Teacher with the AFYP Summer Camp. In 2023, Josh began working with the International Schools Theatre Association where he was a co-director of Para la Guerra Nada (For War, Nothing) in Bogota, Columbia.
Ashley Forman
Lead Teaching Artist
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Ashley Forman worked in the education and community engagement department at Arena Stage for over 22 years. She was responsible for the design of Voices of Now, Arena Stage’s devised theater program for young artists in the D.C. area and served as the artistic director for that program and its ten devising ensembles for 20 years. Through partnerships with the U.S. Department of State, Ashley implemented her devised theater model in India, Ukraine, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Peru. She has presented on her work at numerous conferences including AATE, ATHE, and TCG. Currently Ashley is in her second term as a board member for the American Alliance for Theater and Education where she serves as their national programming director. In June of 2024, Ashley started Precipice Theater Team to continue her life’s work of devising, evocative theater that provokes discussion, and leads to empathy and understanding.
Notes
- Please note that group classes are subject to cancellation if minimum enrollment is not reached.
- Be sure to check our policies and procedures regarding registration, withdrawals, refunds, and more for fall or spring group classes.
- All students will receive a Welcome Letter via email at least one week before the class starts with all necessary details.
- Online registration closes two business days before the first class, however space may still be available. Please contact [email protected] for more information. A $10 late registration fee may apply.
- For additional information, please contact the Academy at [email protected].