New playhouse hire focuses on education

Palm Coast Observer
Neighbors

Auditions are coming up. But what's the best way to get the part? At the Flagler Playhouse, there's a class for that, thanks to a state grant obtained in July, which allowed the Flagler Playhouse to hire Jamie Irvine as its new theater education coordinator.

“After speaking with her, I realized what a tremendous resource she was for us,” Playhouse President Pat Love said. “She was exactly the right person at the right time.”

Irvine came to the Playhouse to audition for its season opener, “Baby,” and within two weeks became the education coordinator, with her salary covered completely by the grant.

Irvine performed her first professional show when she was 10 and has been acting and singing professionally ever since. She was a musical theater major at Point Park University, in Pittsburgh, and has studied with Tony Award-winner Gwen Verdon and Emmy Award-winner Rue McClanahan.

“When I was a kid, I was lucky enough to study under some amazing people and I just want kids to have the same experience I did,” Irvine said.

Classes for kids

That is why Irvine is implementing a series of workshops for youth ages 8-18, which begin Sept. 7 and will run the first Saturday of every month. The first workshop will focus on auditioning in hopes of getting youth ready and excited to audition for “Annie Jr.,” which Irvine is directing. Future workshops will focus on scene acting, stage movement, improv, character relationships and stage makeup.

With Irvine’s addition to the staff, the playhouse also has plans to begin an afterschool program to include a variety of performing and visual arts as well as general subject tutoring.

“We want to be able to get kids as involved as they want to be,” Irvine said. “Some are shy and they just want to do one thing, but we want them to experience everything. We’re doing it all in a stress-free setting, which I think is the most important. That and having fun — if they don’t have fun they don’t want to come back.”

Don't forget the adults

In addition to youth programs, the grant also focused on the expansion of programs for senior citizens. With that, Irvine and Love plan to add an improv group as well as a reader’s theater and some one-act plays. There is also talk of beginning acting classes for adults.

“We really draw from the community; that’s what community theater is for,” Irvine said.

But Irvin is not only a behind-the-scenes player, she is also one of the leads in the playhouse’s opening show, “Baby,” which will take the stage Sept. 20 and run through the first weekend of October.

“The luxury of having someone who is a professional performer as well as being committed to developing the skills of others is a gold mine,” Love said.