Kyle Kakuno, program director at Mamiya Theatre, has offered to students semester-long courses, Musical Theatre Workshop and Acting for Stage & Screen, through St. Louis School’s after-school drama program. Each course culminates in a performance at the end of the semester.

Kakuno is the director of many Academy drama productions, including this year’s “The Wizard of Oz.”

Musical Theatre Workshop is aimed at teaching students how to use the disciplines of acting, singing and dancing to tell a story. Focusing on character development and the use of body, voice and imagination, the class teaches young actors how to work as an ensemble. Kakuno will also teach the young thespians how to prepare for auditions.

Acting for Stage & Screen is an intensive program for students interested in exploring the creative process and emphasizes the craft of acting. Focusing on guideposts utilized by professional actors, students will develop skills in acting, analyzing script and playing roles for theater, film and television. Tips for auditioning and getting an agent are also included in this class.

Freshman Kira Stone, the lead of the Academy’s past production of “Alice and Wonderland,” is in  the Musical Theatre Workshop.

Stone said, “ I am really enjoying the program so far. I am learning how to better my audition skills from the general areas like the right songs and monologues to choosing the nitty gritty things like how to walk into a room and how to stand. There are only six of us in the class, so it gives us one on one time with Poasa, our teacher, for some useful, constructive criticism on our songs and the way we carry ourselves. I am really enjoying the class and learning a ton about finding myself and stepping out of my comfort zone as well as becoming a better performer.”

Sophomore Alana Glaser, who has played major roles in several community and school projects, is also enrolled in the program.

“I am participating in the Acting for Stage & Screen Workshop this semester. It is expanding my acting skills by helping me to open up. The class is very small, so I receive personal constructive criticism that strengthens me as a performer. We have learned how to successfully go through the process of a cold read, which is the term for the reading of a script for the first time (before the script has been read or viewed before). We are currently working on monologues, and we will be working on scene work next.”

The second semester begins in January, but students can apply now for classes by contacting Kakuno at kyle@mamiyatheatre.com or (808)739-4886.