SPOTLIGHT is a performing arts studio for children, pre-teens, teens, and adults.  Classes, workshops, and the summer camp are all designed to build confidence while learning performing techniques. 

For kids and teens, SPOTLIGHT provides a creative, participatory, social, thought-provoking alternative to video games, TV, text messaging, and net surfing.  For the ultimate success of students, this studio is on a mission to build thinkers for the 21st century who are willing to take risks, make decisions, and express themselves. 

For adults, SPOTLIGHT can help students become better public speakers, learn professional acting techniques, communicate more clearly, or just provide a place to explore creativity.  While there will be a component for serious performers, there will also be plenty of joyful exploration for those looking to have fun in a structured setting.

Class material includes improvisation, audition technique, scene study, play/screenwriting, classical theatre, voice & movement, dialects, comedy, and musical theatre. Each month, a special two-hour workshop intensive will be offered.  Fall focuses on building important skills and exploration.  Original musicals and cutting-edge plays will be rehearsed and performed in the Spring Term and at the summer camp.

SPOTLIGHT’s trailblazing goal is to spark creative thought, value determination and laughter, shining a light on each participant’s strengths.

 

About the Director

Kristen Dabrowski
Founder and Artistic Director

 

TEACHING
Kristen has taught at Montclair State University (NJ), American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC), The Actors Institute (NYC), Professional Performing Arts School (NYC), McCarter Theatre (NJ), The Dalton School (NYC), Creative Arts (NYC), Creative Theatre Unlimited (NJ), Franklin High School (NJ), School of Fashion Industries (NYC), East Side Middle School (NYC), PS 90 (NYC), and PS 58 (NYC).  She was a workshop leader/teaching artist for Creative Theatre Unlimited, Young Playwrights (including teacher training), and McCarter Theatre.  Her published works include several educational theatre books and a Teachers Guide for her most recent series, My First Acting Series.

TRAINING
Kristen trained at The Oxford School of Drama (MFA; Oxford, England), Ensemble Theatre (NYC), Trinity College (London, England), The British-American Drama Academy (London, England), and Franklin & Marshall College (BA; Lancaster, PA).  She has studied with Fiona Shaw, Juliet Stephenson, Prunella Scales, Edward Petherbridge, Jenny Quayle, Catherine Gaffigan, and Toby Robertson.

ACTING
Kristen has performed all over the US and UK.  She has performed at such theatre as:
Town Hall (NYC); John Houseman Theatre (NYC); Theatre Row (NYC); Unicorn Theatre (Oxford, England); Battersea Arts Centre (London, England); Tricycle Theatre (London, England); Trefusis Theatre (London, England); and many, many more!

She has performed such roles as:
Anya, Cherry Orchard; Audrey, Little Shop of Horrors (2x); Ilona, She Loves Me; Olivia, Twelfth Night; Polly, Beggar’s Opera; Maggie, Lend Me a Tenor; Tinkerbell/Smee/Mrs. Darling, Peter Pan; Isabella, Top Girls; Margery, The Country Wife; Karen, Boys Life; Moira, Translations; Yerma, Yerma; Yentl, Yentl; Queen Margaret, Henry XI; Ophelia, Hamlet; Ursula, Much Ado about Nothing; Miranda, The Tempest; Richard II; Richard II; Miss Framer; Lettuce and Lovage

WRITING
Kristen is the author of 24 original theatre books published by Smith & Kraus, including nine books for elementary students, six for middle school students, eight for high school/college students, and one full-length play for adults.

Kristen’s books are sold internationally, from amazon.com to Barnes & Noble to The Drama Bookshop.  Her works have been performed all over the world (including Indonesia, India, and England).  Many students have won awards performing her monologues and scenes in theatre competitions.

Teachers rave about Kristen’s work.  Click here to see the blog about her latest interactive theatre series for elementary students (including three monologue books, two scene books, one acting technique book, and a teachers guide).

DIRECTING
As a Director, Kristen has directed and created the following musicals, performed in NYC:
Beowulf, Where the Wild Things Are, How Marie Lost Her Head, Monkeyboy!, The Donner Party (wasn’t fun), The Long Way Home, Monday Morning Fever

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Actors Equity, Dramatists Guild