Les Ober Brings Theater Program To Antolini School

Fourth grade students at Ann Antolini School were treated to a theater program on Friday afternoon, thanks to a Warner Theater program and Les Ober’s students. Les, who taught theater for many years at Northwestern Regional # 7, now teaches advanced acting students enrolled in the Warner Theatre Center for Arts Education (WTCAE).

Antolini students watched a performance by the WTCAE students of scenes from The Reluctant Dragon, a children’s play intended for young audiences. After the performance, the fourth graders participated in various improvisation exercises, which included freezing in place on Les’ command, while showing emotions such as fear and surprise. Antolini students were divided into two groups, and each group was delighted by the emotions shown by the other group as part of this exercise.

Liz Carrington, Director of the WTCAE, told our reporter that the program is part of the Warner’s outreach efforts to bring theater to public schools and to spread awareness of the Warner Theater’s after-school programs. In January the WTCAE will be bringing a pilot program to second grade students in the Torrington school district.

For more information about the WTCAE, please visit the WTCAE page on the Warner Theatre’s website. School administrators may also contact Liz directly at 860-489-7180, ext. 128, to discuss their district’s needs.

Many Thanks: To Bridgette Seyer, 4th Grade teacher at Ann Antolini School, for bringing the WTCAE program to the school.

Many Thanks: To Kate Rieger, Principal at Ann Antolini School, for allowing us to attend this program so that we might report on it for our community.

Students in Les Ober's advanced acting class perform scenes from The Reluctant Dragon at the Antolini School this past Friday, December 18. Photo: Maria Moore

Fourth grade students at Antolini School participate in improvisation exercises as part of the Warner program held at the school this past Friday, December 18. Photo: Maria Moore

Register Today For Early Literacy Program At Beekley

Registration begins today at noon today, Monday December 21, at the Beekley Library for an early literacy program being held at the library. To register please call or visit the Beekley Library at 860-379-7235. The program offers free parent education sessions in early literacy skills for preschool aged children and is being funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut.

The first session, on Phonological Awareness, will be held from January 12 until February 24. In this session parents and caregivers will learn to help their child identify sounds and patterns in words and manipulate sounds. Two subsequent sessions will also be held:

A Comprehension Session in which parents and caregivers will learn to help their child better understand and relate to stories using various comprehension strategies. This session will run from March 23 to May 5 and registration will begin on Monday, March 1 at noon.

The last session will be on Reading Readiness. Parents and caregivers will learn to help their child with beginning reading skills such as book handling, print awareness, and identifying letters. This session will run from May 11 to June 16. Registration will begin on Monday, April 26 at noon.

Children must be between 3 years and 5 years old to participate. Parents and caregivers must bring their child to each session and they will be given opportunities to practice early literacy skills with their child. Attendance is required for each week as the sessions build upon each other.

Each session is limited to 12 adults and 12 children and spaces will be given on a first come, first served basis. Participants may choose to attend sessions on either Tuesdays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., or on Wednesdays from 9:15 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

For more information or to register for this program, please call the Beekley Library at 860-379-7235.

Les Ober directed Antolini students in improvisation exercises as part of the WTCAE program at the school this past Friday, December 18. Photo: Maria Moore