Illinois Theatre Conservatory announces spring classes

PRINCETON — The Illinois Theatre Conservatory (ITC), the education committee of the Princeton Theatre Group (PTG), is announcing a new roster of continuing education courses for the spring, 2012 term.

These classes, which are a cooperative effort between the ITC and Illinois Valley Community College, will take place during March and April at the Grace Performing Arts Center, 316 S. Main St. in Princeton.

The spring classes incorporate a variety of opportunities for the personal development of skills which are commonly associated with performance — public speaking, song and dance — as a means of enriching and enhancing the daily of lives of the non-acting community. The classes will be taught by a combination of ITC Committee members and other well-known professionals from the local area.

“Dancing with Books” (Learning through Movement) will be March 29. This is a class for primary school educators who would like to enhance their classroom learning experiences through the use of movement. This class will be taught by Barbara Haurberg of Walnut, a professional dance instructor, choreographer and member of the ITC Committee.

“Can We Talk?” will be April 16. It will be co-instructed by Nedda Simon, ITC Committee member, retired WZOE radio personality and community leader, and by Kathy O’Malley, former Chicago Tribune columnist and WGN radio talk show host. Together they will offer inspiration, insights and pointers for making the most of the occasions for public speaking that arise everyday — at weddings, funerals and business, charitable and civic events.

“Oh Say, Can You Sing?” will be April 23. It will help even the vocally challenged learn to blend in harmoniously with a group when the occasion to sing arises at religious services, sporting events and birthday parties, using familiar hymns, patriotic songs and other favorites. Joy Schertz, retired Princeton High School choral director and current director of the Bureau County Chorus, will lead this class.

This spring marks the third semester of the ITC/IVCC continuing education partnership. Marina Carrott, ITC committee chair, said, “We’ve been so pleased with the response to the ITC’s first two sets of classes, focused on Shakespeare, musical comedy and self-expression through improvisation, and taught by our own committee members Grant Lynch and Dave Roden. Now it’s time to give the two of them a much-deserved rest. We’re delighted to have been able to recruit another fine group of instructors, with a new set of courses that represent a change of pace from what we’ve done before. It’s a good chance for us to gain some additional insight into this community’s interests.”