Paonia Players

About Paonia Players

Paonia Players is dedicated to providing top quality performing arts education for kids and to producing excellent community theatre productions in the North Fork Valley.  Paonia Players strives to offer a variety of ways for people of all ages to get involved, including after-school music/theatre/dance programs, summer theatre camps, full-length musicals and plays, game shows, melodramas, musical revues, music video exploration, flash mob dances, private tutoring and more.

Now in their sixth year, director, Merrily Talbott, is happy to be in collaboration with the Blue Sage Center for the Arts to provide after-school programs for kids aged K-12, and with Paonia High School, for which Merrily will direct the Spring play.

Paonia Players recently moved to become a certified tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, and their new Board of Directors is an enthusiastic group of people committed to moving Paonia Players to the next level by raising funds to support a big vision for the future.  We hope to become more involved in the schools, contribute to a renovation of the Paradise Theatre, begin a dynamic internship program and create a vibrant theatre series each year.

Spring 2013 After School Classes

In Spring 2013, students aged K-12 can choose from the following expanded offering of Paonia Player’s after school performing arts programs at the Blue Sage:

Twinkle Stars:  Pre-schoolers are given a gentle, fun introduction to dance performance in this group, learning body awareness, rhythmic movement and stage presence.  Taught by Emma Stedman and assisted by a Pop Star, Rock Star or two, this class is the perfect way for young kids to get excited about the performing arts.

Rising Stars:  Formerly called the Sunshine Singers, the Rising Stars group is for beginning performers, generally in grades K-2.  The focus is on establishing a positive connection to music and dance by having lots of fun, allowing for free expression of body movement, and giving a gentle introduction to singing, stage presence and choreographed dance.

Pop Stars:  The Pop Stars continues to give kids an opportunity to express themselves freely through music and dance in a fun, creative atmosphere, while focusing more on choreography and singing together as an ensemble.  Basic dance steps are covered, along with beginning vocal training.  Depending on skill level, Pop Stars are generally kids in grades 3-5.

Rock Stars:   Rock Stars take it to the next level by focusing on more complicated dance steps and group choreography as well as more advanced vocal work, such as harmony singing.   While maintaining an emphasis on fun, kids in this group (generally grades 5-8) work together to prepare song and dance numbers that will build confidence in themselves as well as wow an audience.

Superstars:  The Superstars group is a performing arts troupe for high school students which incorporates more complicated jazz dance steps, ensemble choreography and vocal harmonies.  Students in the Superstars have more opportunities for solo performing, creative production input, and back-stage/on-stage leadership.

Meeting Times:  Students will meet once per week, Monday-Thursday between 3:30 and 5:30.  During the registration process, students will be asked to indicate commitments to other after school activities.  The meeting times for each group will be determined after registration closes by considering the number of students enrolled and taking into account conflicts with other after school activities.  Meeting times will be announced after the December 19 registration deadline.

Tuition

Early Registration (Nov. 30) $140
Regular Registration (Dec. 19) $160
Late Registration (Jan. 27) $175

Discounts

Multiple Sibling Discount
$5/child
Scholarships Available For:
$25, $50 & $75

Enrichment Classes

This year, enrichment classes will be offered to committed students seeking additional instruction in dance or voice.  The classes are only available to students enrolled in the Paonia Players’ semester program, and acceptance into the classes is by audition.

Advanced Dance.  Advanced Dance will build on the dance basics learned in the Pop Stars, Rock Stars and Superstars by focusing on more difficult jazz and modern steps and routines.  This class is taught by Carolyn Yates.

Advanced Voice.  Advanced Voice will build on the singing basics learned in the other programs, and go further to teach about phrasing, breath control and harmonizing.

About the Instructors

Merrily Talbott

Merrily Talbott has been hooked on the performing arts since she had the lead in her school play at age seven.  With 20 years of classroom teaching experience, Merrily loves kids and knows how to make learning fun!  She founded Paonia Players in 2000, with a production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  She is excited about the direction in which Paonia Players has grown and is committed to providing quality performing arts opportunities for all kids in the North Fork Valley.

Carolyn Yates

Carolyn Yates has been dancing since she could walk.  She trained seriously from age 7 in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Tap.  She first began teaching at the age of 14 and was soon choreographing and co-directing for her hometown dance troupe, “Co.Motion Dancers” in Frisco, CO.  She studied extensively at Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA where she graduated in 2000 with a BFA in Dance.  She spent 2001-2002 dancing with Kim Robards Dance in Denver, CO before she transitioned to studying and teaching yoga full time.  Carolyn is very excited to be returning to the dance world by teaching for Paonia Players!

Dee Holt

Dee Holt is a Paonia native who, after studying voice with Jan Tuin at PHS, went on to earn a BFA in Vocal Music Performance from Western State University of Colorado.  She has directed children’s choirs for Western Colorado Music and also for her church.  She is a homeschool mom of three kids and is happy to share her knowledge of and enthusiasm for singing with Paonia Players’ kids.

Emma Stedman

Emma Stedman has been dancing as long as she could walk, and began formal studies at the age of four.  She studied dance at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California as well as Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School here in Colorado.   A student of Merrily’s when she was younger (she played Dorothy in Paonia Players’ Broadway Revue in 2004), she loves kids and choreography and is psyched to be joining the Paonia Players’ staff.

Register

There are two very easy ways to register your student(s) for the Paonia Player’s after school programs at the Blue Sage:

You can download the physical registration form below, complete it, and either mail it to the Blue Sage with your payment, or drop it off at the Blue Sage Gallery during business hours.

2013 Registration Packet

The second easy option is to register online using the form below.  After you have completed the registration form, you will be taken to Paypal, where you can pay the registration fee using your credit card.

Paonia Players Registration

Parent or Guardian Information

Please provide the best number to reach you at.

Student Information

Student 2 Information

Student 3 Information

The meeting days and times for classes will depend upon enrollment numbers and consensus of availability for that age group.

Emergency Information

In the event of an emergency, please provide the name of a person to whom you give permission to come and pick up your child (or children) from class and to take to a doctor or dentist should you not be available.
Please provide the phone number to emergency contact 1.
If emergency contact 1 is not available, please provide the name of an alternate person to whom you give permission to come and pick up your child (or children) from class and to take to a doctor or dentist should you not be available.
Please provide the names, phone numbers, and addresses of your child's (or children's) primary physician and dentist. Please also indicate any other preferences, such as preferred hospitals or spiritual concerns that you would like us to take into account should an emergency situation arise.

Semester-End Performance

Enrichment Opportunities

This semester we are offering the opportunity for students interested in developing a particular talent, such as dancing or singing, to take an additional enrichment class with an experienced instructor. Acceptance into these additional classes is by audition. Tuition is $100. Please indicate your child's interest in these opportunities.

Payment

There is a deposit of $75 required per student to reserve space in the program. This amount is used to offset the costs of the materials, instructors and staff time, and is not refundable if your child drops out of the program or cancels enrollment prior to the start of the classes. If you are applying for a tuition scholarship, then this amount will be refunded to you should you not qualify for assistance and therefore not enroll in the program. The remaining tuition balance shall be due on the first day of class. Below is a summary of your charges and the balance due on the first day of class. You can pay the deposits, or the entire balance, on line through Paypal, by clicking on the button below. Otherwise, please mail your payment to: Blue Sage Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 700, Paonia, CO 81428, or drop it off at 228 Grand Ave., Paonia, CO 81428, Monday thru Friday between 10am and 5pm.
 

Liability Release

I understand that this document will prohibit me from bringing a lawsuit or otherwise claiming damages against the Blue Sage Center for the Arts and Paonia Players, their owners, their staff and their volunteers. I understand that while the Blue Sage Center for the Arts and Paonia Players are committed to thorough supervision of all activities that there are inherent risks in the participation of any activity. Thus, I hold harmless the Blue Sage Center for the Arts and Paonia Players, their owners, their staff, and their volunteers from accidents resulting from participation. My child is in good health and capable of participating in the Blue Sage Center for the Arts’ and Paonia Players’ after-school programs. I authorize, in a medical emergency, after reasonable effort has been made to notify me, that the Blue Sage Center for the Arts and Paonia Players’ staff may seek emergency assistance and medical treatment at the parent/guardian’s expense. I certify that I have adequate insurance to cover any injury or damage my child may cause or suffer while participating, or I agree to bear the costs of such injury or damage myself.

Program Policies

Parents and participants in the Paonia Players’ After School Programs at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts agree to the following policies:

Etiquette:
1. Attitudes that are disrespectful, uncooperative, or aggressively competitive are not welcome. Any parent or student exhibiting these attitudes will be asked to leave.
2. All students shall conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful to others and to themselves. They will not make comparisons to each other or speak negatively about one another or the instructors.
3. Class will begin on time, and students are expected to arrive on time.
4. Class will end promptly at the time stated. Parents are expected to arrive on time to pick up students.
5. Parents need to be sure that children are supervised in the Blue Sage Gallery and Art Library at all times.
6. No gum, candy, food or beverages other than water are allowed in class.
7. Students should bring a water bottle to class if they feel they will need water.
8. All cell phones must be turned off during class.

Attendance, Illness or Injury:
1. If your child is ill, please keep your child at home.
2. If your child cannot participate in class due to injury, then he may come and observe.
3. Please call the Blue Sage (970) 527-7243 prior to class time if your child will be absent from class.

Valuables/Lost and Found:
1. Valuables should be left at home or with a parent.
2. Items left behind are not the responsibility of the Blue Sage. A lost and found area is kept in the front corner of the hall. Please check twice before leaving that your child leaves with all of her belongings.

Tuition and Payment:
1. A non-refundable payment of $75 per child towards the tuition is due at the time of registration. This deposit is used to purchase materials for the students, hire assistants, and offset other overhead costs.
2. The remainder of the tuition is due on the first day of class.
3. If a student drops out of the program, then a prorated amount of the refundable portion shall be returned to the parent.
4. There will be no refunds for missed classes.

Total Tuition

Scholarships

The Blue Sage Center for the Arts recognizes the importance of arts education to the health, education and social welfare of all children, and believes in making quality arts education available to all children, regardless of economic status.  The Blue Sage offers scholarships to youth under the age of 18 interested in participating in after school arts programs offered at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts between January and June of 2013.  Scholarships are offered to reduce the cost of the tuition for children whose families might otherwise find the tuition a financial burden.  Scholarships will never be awarded to pay tuition entirely as the Blue Sage believes that it is important for families to make some level of financial commitment to their child’s education.  Please see our form on “Creative Ways to Fundraise” for ways to help raise the additional tuition money.

Application Deadline.  Wednesday, December 19 @ 5:00pm.  No late applications will be accepted.

How to Apply.  Complete the Scholarship Application and return it to the Blue Sage by the Application Deadline.

Scholarship Application 

Criteria.  Awards are granted on the basis of the financial need of the applicant’s family, and the dedication and enthusiasm of the student.

Privacy Policy:  In an effort to fairly determine who is in most need of financial assistance, you will be asked to provide some personal information.  This information will only be shared with those directly involved in determining which applicants will receive awards and will not otherwise be shared or used.

For More Information.  If you have questions that aren’t answered, feel free to give us a call at (970) 527-7243, or send an email to: info@bluesage.org.