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.
Students are asked to bring a personal water bottle and a nut-free non-refrigerated snack and lunch each day.
Ideal for students in grades 6–10, the program will conclude with a brief sharing of their work on the afternoon of Friday, March 26, 2027 as a preview before their world-premiere performance in late May, 2027. More info to come.
Program Details
Ages: 11–15 (grades 6–10)
Dates: March 22–March 26, 2027
Time: 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tuition: $405
Location: Mason Community Arts Academy Building in Fairfax, Virginia
Program Faculty
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 served as the Director of Education for 17 years, over-seeing lesson planning and curriculum for all of Arena Stage’s education programs. Ashley 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. From 2013 to 2020 Ashley was as a visiting artist and guest lecturer at Utah State University, where she devised and directed plays with theater education students and taught masterclasses for their BFA acting students.
Ashley has facilitated workshops with public health workers for the National Institute of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, the Archie Institute in Atlanta, and DC Child and Family Services Agency, the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing, and the Red Cross. She has devised autobiographical plays with numerous populations including young people aging out of the foster care system, grieving teens, survivors of childhood trauma, as well as professional artists, and social advocates. 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].