HuckleBerry
Center for Creative Learning
Karen Baughn
Karen Baughn is a Los Angeles based teacher, actor, improviser, and writer. A high school apprenticeship with the Idaho Shakespeare festival sparked passion for the theater, which brought her from her hometown of Boise, Idaho all the way to an little corner of Los Angeles to earn her Bachelors in Theater from Occidental College. She also holds a masters in Professional Creative Writing from the University of Denver and certificate of completion from nearly every improv school willing to take her money. When she's not making movies with her partner or doing improv shows with her friends, Karen is teaching. She has been honored to teach with so many wonderful schools, some of her favorites being The American Music and Dramatic Academy, Occidental Children's Theater, A Time for Dance, and, of course, Shakespeare Kids. She has also opened up her own improv school, The Shared Experience Studio, for ongoing advanced improv training.
Having run the Shakespeare, Improv, Stage Combat & History classes at Huckleberry from 2010-2016, she is super excited her schedule opened up to return full-time teaching Storytime, Comedy Improv and directing the Musical next school year on Tuesdays at Huck
Musical Theatre
Ages: 10-14
Homework: Required! Students will need to practice learning their songs and memorizing lines.
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Fall—
During the fall semester we will be creating our own mini musical. We will write our own story incorporating 4 pre-written songs. Then we will stage, choreograph, and rehearse our show. We will develop our singing and acting technique through group drama games and vocal exercises. Attendance is very important in this class. Homework will include memorizing lines and practicing songs outside of class, in order to be prepared for rehearsal during class. Our semester will culminate in a performance of our original musical!
Winter and Spring—
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Note: It takes 2 trimesters to prepare for this performance. Therefore, this is a dual trimester commitment. We will bill for BOTH winter and spring in the winter session for this class.
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During the winter and spring trimesters, we will be working on a full length musical. We will begin the process with preparing for auditions, and continue with staging, choreography, learning songs, designing costumes and props, rehearsing and performing. We will build our skills through drama games and vocal exercises. We will also learn to work collaboratively and develop teamwork as an ensemble. Attendance is very important in this class, as each class session is a rehearsal. Homework will include memorizing lines and practicing songs outside of class, in order to be prepared for rehearsal during class. We will end the semester with a performance for friends and family. The musical will be chosen after enrollment, so that we can choose a show that will include roles for everyone in the class,