Wharton Institute

Getting Ready for Giving Tuesday

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Development Blog by Elizabeth Piercey | November 2018

Tomorrow, Wharton Arts will celebrate #GivingTuesday, an annual day of generosity when YOU can help bring the joy of music to children in our community.

Please help us reach our $2,500 goal to help music change lives. Start by making a donation on one of our Facebook pages or through our website. Your amazing support will help support young musicians like Hector and Haylee.

In an amazing commitment to charities across the globe, Facebook and PayPal are matching donations on Facebook for a total of up to $7 million dollars. Your donations to @The Paterson Music Project, @New Jersey Youth Symphony, and @Wharton Arts, could be matched!

Thank you for your support and remember, even the smallest gift can make a big difference!

Improv(ing) on the Stage and Off

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Musical Theater Arts Blog by Timothy Maureen Cole | November 2018

Whether you are a wallflower or constantly searching for the spotlight, chances are you’ll have to be in front of an audience at some point. Who hasn’t had to give a presentation? It starts early with book reports and science fairs, and continues well into the workplace. If the prospect of speaking in front of a crowd sounds intimidating, that is completely normal.  But what if there was a way you could train to be more comfortable in public speaking situations while still having fun? There is. It’s called Improv!

Improvisation helps students of all ages build confidence, learn to think on their feet, interact with others, project the voice, and speak in front of a group without needing a script in hand. Actors learn to work together and build scenes following these basic rules*:

  • Say “Yes” – work together to create something instead of everyone doing their own thing
  • Say “Yes, and…” – add to the scene as it happening to help tell the story
  • Make Statements – not open ended questions
  • There are no mistakes, only opportunities – acting and pretending is fun, and a chance to learn about what feels right and what to change next time

The rules that we follow in improvisation help us build skills in all aspects of life. Our amazing drama instructor, Lilli Markey, teaches an Improv class each semester for students 10+. The course is 12 weeks and packed with fun. If you missed this semester, the spring session begins on March 4 at 5:00 p.m.

If your student has stage fright, needs a confidence boost, or just loves acting, then this is the right class for you.  Visit our website or contact the Student Services Office (908) 790-0700 for more information about this class and others. We hope to see you soon!

* Basic rules taken from Bossypants by Tina Fey (Reagan Arthur Books; 2011)