About the Nagoya Players Junior Showcase

For our next NPJ Showcase we have designed another original mini-musical as well as a one-act play. Children participating in the show will develop English, acting, and dancing skills. 

In 2024, we will once again be forming two acting troupes: 1) Elementary and 2) Pre-teen. The Elementary troupe will feature performers ages 5~9, while the Pre-Teen troupe will be ages 10~13. The Jollyville Treasure will be performed by the Elementary troupe. And The Cat Who Walked by Herself will be performed by the Pre-teens.

Our previous showcases featured a Kindie Troupe. As this group has aged and developed, we feel it is now time to merge them into the larger Elementary troupe.

Our next original musical, The Jollyville Treasure, will focus on the theme of The Keys to Happiness. The story centers on a group of young friends who find a treasure map. They will meet strange and magical creatures on their journey for the treasure who will help them discover the keys.

Our Pre-Teen troupe will perform an original one-act play, The Cat Who Walked by Herself. This play is an adaptation of acclaimed poet and author Rudyard Kipling’s short story, The Cat Who Walked by Himself. The show has been designed with a focus on ESL and performance technique. It’s a light comedy with a message of forming friendships and family bonds. This material is slightly more complex and challenging, and it’s a great bridge from child to teen performer.

Jeff Fritch will be returning as Show Director, Choreographer, and Composer. Ben Dorman will also be returning as a Composer.

Beginner level English speakers and performers are welcome. We have both small and large roles. Children will be given roles based on their abilities.

Auditions for leading roles will be held Saturday, May 11th.

NPJ Showcase 2024 is tentatively scheduled for December 2024 at Youth Square.

About the Workshops

In order to prepare children for the show we will run a series of English and performance skills workshops.

Open Workshops

There will be 3 Open Workshops in April. First-timers and returning performers are both welcome. The Open Workshops are designed to give children a soft introduction to the performing arts. Children will practice the various English and performance activities used in the making of the show. These workshops will help the children as well as parents understand the level of commitment needed to join the show.

Dates: April 13, 20, 27
16:00-17:00 Elementary (60 minutes)
17:10-18:10 Pre-Teen (60 minutes)

Participation Fee(s):
Elementary ¥4500
Pre-Teen ¥4500

Location:  Imaike Studio

RSVP

Auditions

Date: May 11th
16:00-17:00 Elementary
17:10-18:10 Pre-Teen
Location: Imaike Studio

Showcase Workshops

Showcase Workshops will be held from May 2024~December 2024 at Imaike Studio and/or Uchiyama Community Center. These workshops function as rehearsals and children develop the English, acting, dance, and vocal skills needed to perform on stage for the public.

NPJ Showcase 2024 Calendar

Times:
16:00-17:20 Elementary (80 minutes)
17:30-18:30 Pre-teen (60 minutes)

Participation Fee(s) & Dates:

Membership Fee(s)
¥5000 Elementary
¥5000 Pre-teen

Session #1:
May~August
12 Workshops
Payment Date: May 25
Elementary: ¥24,000
Pre-teen: ¥18,000

Session #2:
September~December
13 Workshops
Payment Date: September 07
Elementary: ¥26,000
Pre-teen: ¥19,500

Payments are non-refundable. Absences are also non-refundable.

Location

Imaike Studio

〒464-0076 Aichi, Nagoya, Chikusa Ward, Honencho, 14−13 クリーンビル 2階

Uchiyama Community Center

1 Chome-4-15 Uchiyama, Chikusa Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0075

Show Sponsor

We are very grateful to IPE Academy for being our Show Sponsor for the 2022 Charity Showcase. IPE has been a long time supporter of the Nagoya Players and instrumental in helping us create our NP Junior series of workshops and programs for children.

IPE Academy is one of the oldest privately owned Eikawa in Nagoya. They teach all levels from children to adults. IPE offers a unique curriculum of Art+English and Music+English for Japanese children. They also cater to the Japanese-language learning community and have helped many students pass the JLPT.

For more information about IPE Academy please visit their website:
https://ipeacademy.com/

Jeff Fritch, Acting Coach & Dance Instructor

Jeff has been teaching dance in Japan and the US for over 30 years. He is also a highly trained English instructor. Jeff is Nagoya Players’ Dance Choreographer and most recently designed the dance routines for NP’s The Gift of the Magi. Every week, Jeff teaches a beginner’s tap dance class in Motoyama at Studio R3. And there is a weekly English and tap class, Eigo de Tap, in Oharu-cho. For more information about Jeff’s weekly classes please email EigoDeTap2020@gmail.com

Ayako Hara, Vocal Training Instructor

Ayako is a former member and performer in the prestigious Shiki Theater Company. She spent her childhood in California before moving back to Japan to pursue a career in singing and performance. She works as a pop singer who specializes in singing in her natural voice. During her time in the Shiki Theater Company, she taught music, singing, and breathing techniques.

Follow Ayako on Instagram:
instagram.com/ayakohara_/

Charity

Proceeds from the showcase will be donated to charities which support children in need in the Aichi area. We are very appreciative of your support. Together we can make a difference in the lives of many children and provide them with resources and opportunities that will help them succeed and thrive.

English Education Initiative (EEI)

Nagoya Players’ English Education Initiative (EEI) has been developed to encourage a life-long love of language study in the residents of Aichi. From youth to adults we are creating materials and organizing events that will aid learners in their pursuit of mastering the English language. And have fun at the same time!

We firmly believe that early exposure to English is a key indicator for future success. Children who develop foreign language skills early in life routinely show improved performance at school and gain access to better career opportunities.

With each Nagoya Players’ show we also organize Kids, Beginner, Intermediate and Advance English programs to encourage everyone to further pursue their studies.

If you’d like a Nagoya Player’s EEI event hosted at your school, business or organization please email us at Info@NagoyaPlayers.org.

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