Do you know a high schooler who loves to create or lives to perform?

We’ve got a summer program for them!

Tricklock Company announces the 2012 Manoa Project, a summer performance intensive for teenagers in grades 9-12.

The Manoa Project Teen Playwriting Competiton and Ensemble Apprenticeship is an educationally based opportunity for young people around New Mexico to participate in a statewide playwriting competition and a summer-long theater-training institute. Now in its 10^th year, the Manoa Project is a community based outreach program which aims to connect young artists with audiences throughout the state of New Mexico. Conceived of and run by Tricklock Company in partnership with the National Hispanic Cultural Center and Albuquerque Academy , the Manoa Project is committed to the nurturing and growth of young artists.

One of the primary focuses of the Manoa Project is the development of new scripts by emerging, young writers.

Traditionally, Tricklock Company has solicited one act scripts from high school students in a state-wide playwriting competition. Two plays would be selected to be produced and staged with the students from the intensive summer training program. Once selected, the winning plays would go into a workshop phase wherein the young playwrights do intensive rewrites of their new work under the guidance of a professional playwriting mentor. Beginning in 2011, Tricklock Company is excited to announce a new phase of our playwriting initiative.

·         Submissions may be in the form of completed one acts, excerpts from two or three act plays, ten minute plays, sketches, scenes, and ideas that a student would be willing to develop over the summer with an ensemble and a creative team of professionals. In an effort to mentor more students with new work, we are now accepting pieces in all stages of development.

·         Writers whose work is chosen for production do not necessarily need to attend the summer intensive. The Manoa Project seeks to be a state wide program. Though Tricklock Company is based in Albuquerque, it is the objective of our outreach program to be a more active presence throughout New Mexico. The Manoa Project traditionally tours to a city outside of Bernalillo County and in keeping with that ideal, we would like to see work come in from all corners of the land of enchantment. If their work is chosen, students will have the option of a mentorship through phone and email, with suggestions on re-writes and consultation during the production just as if the student were in town. Any selected writer who wishes to be part of the performing ensemble may also do so. Accommodations can be made for students who reside outside of Albuquerque.

·         All students in the ensemble will take writing workshops with professional writers from around Albuquerque as part of their training. Writing, along with movement, song, dance, high physicality, and creativity are integral to Tricklock Company’s development process of original works. We seek to not only instill that appreciation in our ensemble but to cultivate well rounded theatre artists with a variety of skills.

The Manoa Ensemble is composed of 20-25 high school students committed to a 6 week training program and rehearsal schedule. The training program culminates in a fully produced performance of the selected play(s), as well as staged readings of the alternate scripts and a work demonstration of original pieces developed by the Manoa Ensemble over the course of the summer. Trainings include basic acting skills, ensemble building, vocal training, acrobatics, clowning, circus skills, improvisation, solo work creation and a variety of physical theatre styles. Each summer one or two guest artists are invited into trainings for special workshops. The production of the winning play then tours to one or more locations within the state to allow participants a chance to share their talents and ideas with the diverse communities of New Mexico. Following the shows, performers spend time in informal dialog with audience. This allows students and audience members time to discuss the themes of the show and the impact of the work on the audience and performers alike.

Requirements for participation
in the 2012 Manoa Project Ensemble:

• Students are accepted by audition only.
• Students must be high school aged. Emerging 9^th Graders (students who have completed 8^th grade and will enter 9^th Grade in the Fall) to descending 12^th Graders (students who have completed high school.)
• Each student is expected to attend all trainings and rehearsals, and absences or conflicts must be approved by the trainers and program coordinators.
• Students must be available for every performance, including the tour.
   

Auditions will be held Wednesday, May 16th 6-8pm and Saturday, May 19th from 11am-2pm in theRoy E. Disney Performing Arts Building at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Training will begin Monday June 4th and end on Friday, July 13th. Monday through Thursday we will begin at 11am and end at 5pm. Fridays we will begin at 11am ad end at 2pm, with no training on Wednesday, July 4th. Performances will take place Friday, July 13th at 8pm, Saturday, July 14th at 8pm, and Sunday, July 15th at 2pm. Tour will take place the week of July 16th-20th.

Ready to schedule your audition? Simply have some questions? Call our Education Director, Kristen D. Boers, at (505) 610-1741 or email her at kristen@tricklock.com.

Become a

Tricklock SPONSOR

Tricklock Company is proud to Partner with the National Hispanic Cultural Center in producing the Manoa project. 

All trainings, rehearsals, and performances are held on the NHCC Campus, located at 1701 4th Street SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102.