Focus on what you love this summer.

OVERVIEW

WELCOME TO SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT is a Performing arts program that offers a unique curriculum taught by professional artists.

 The program aims to:

• Broaden your knowledge 

• Give you confidence and skill 

• Develop your portfolio/repertoire 

Choose your majors from: Acting, Musical Theatre, Writing or Filmmaking. You can focus completely on one major or choose two majors for a broader focus. Each week concludes in a showcase of work for the whole program and the program culminates in our Spotlight Arts Festival. 

Learn from industry professionals in a supportive environment.

ACTING

MAJOR

Gain truth in your acting and perfect the skill of being in the moment on stage and on camera.

Build your skills and technique while learning different approaches to acting. Veteran actor Duane Daniels will guide you through his Actor Empowerment Technique perfected over the course of a 30-year career. Explore movement-based, ensemble theatre with the Viewpoints Technique and make original pieces with your acting colleagues. Learn approaches to On Camera Acting rooted Meisner Technique and in The Imagined Life Technique and gain experience acting on film.  There is a performance at the end of each week and a collection of your best work will be shown at the Spotlight Arts Festival. 

At a Glance

Program

SPOTLIGHT ARTS PROGRAM

July 5th - July 25th, 2021

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Tuition

$5475 USD (Connect this program to Generate and receive a 10% tuition discount)

Admissions

Open to students between the ages of  14 - 19 of all levels of experience.  Requires an online application with personal statement. Audition is required only if you are applying for scholarship. 

Majors

Choose TWO majors from the following: Acting, Film, Writing, Musical Theatre.

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Scholarships

A range of scholarships are available for this program.

MUSICAL THEATRE

MAJOR

Develop your  dancing, singing and acting skills through daily classes.

Dance, act and sing numbers from your favorite musicals this summer. Classes in Broadway Dance Styles explore everything from Fosse (Chicago) to Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) as you strengthen technique and learn to master choreography quickly. Solo and group numbers help you Act Through Song and focus on connecting to narrative and expressing emotion through your singing.  Nail Your Audition will help you find audition material and master how to enter the room with confidence, bring your best performance and the ins and outs of  live auditioning in college and professional settings. 

FILM

MAJOR

Learn how to be a great visual storyteller in three different film styles.

The Film Program starts with a two-day Screenwriting Intensive. You’ll learn how to write a treatment, develop plot, flesh out characters and begin working on a short script for your week 2 project. In Week 1, you’ll shoot a Music Video and explore how camera movement, visual arrangement and editing patterns can enhance your concept. In Week 2 you’ll finish your screenplay and shoot your own Short Fictional Narrative learning the roles of Director and Cinematographer.  In week 3, you’ll explore Documentary filmmaking including the principle crew roles of Boom Operator, Sound Mixer and Gaffer. You’ll edit your films in Final Cut Pro and come away with three finished films that will be shown at our Spotlight Arts Festival.

WRITING

MAJOR

Discover your unique voice and translate it into compelling performances on stage and on film. 

This major centers around Writing for Performance including Solo performance, Narrative storytelling, Playwrighting and Screenwriting. The major starts with one of our most popular electives at Berridge: Nurturing the Writer/Performer which gets the imagination and the pen going with a series of writing prompts and looks at writer/performers of all kinds from Amanda Gorman to Lin-Manuel Miranda. You can then branch off into Playwrighting, Screenwriting or Solo Performance and work towards developing finished pieces with your writing mentor. You'll give a performance each week and select your best piece to be performed at our Spotlight Arts Festival at the end of the program.  Pieces can be documented on film for your performance portfolio or further development.

Meet like-minded creative teens from across the country

ACTIVITIES

AND FREE TIME

There is plenty of time for fun at Berridge!

Santa Barbara is a stunning city nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. A full program of optional activities will be offered including local sites, beach days, hiking trips, film nights, open mic performance nights and plenty of time to just hang out with new friends on the beautiful campus of Westmont College.  

WESTMONT

COLLEGE

SPOTLIGHT takes place at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA.

This beautiful 112-acre campus nestled in the hills of Montecito provides the perfect backdrop for creative inspiration. Students room in doubles with shared bathrooms and enjoy a taste of independent living and college life. There are studio spaces, common rooms and dining facilities for our students as well as high speed Wifi and 24 hour security on campus. 

THE BERRIDGE

EXPERIENCE

Berridge Programs are nurturing, creative communities led by professional artists.

We value process, collaboration and unique artistic voices.  With just 40  to 50 students, Berridge offers the “small program advantage” which allows for teaching tailored to your individual goals, time for one-to-one mentoring and a close-knit community. 

FACULTY

AT BERRIDGE

Berridge faculty bring with them decades of experience as industry professionals.

They are more than teachers, they are passionate artists, enthusiastic collaborators and nurturing mentors.

Read more about our faculty or meet us at an Info Session.

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• Learn new techniques and approaches

• Build your confidence and skills

• Develop a portfolio or repertoire 

• Discover your unique artistic voice and be supported in your artistic journey

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• Perform and share your work with a supportive community

• Have fun and live on a beautiful college campus

• Do more of what you love this summer!

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• Cultivate collaborative spirit and community mindedness

• Have time and space to explore your artistic interests

• Connect with like-minded artists and industry professionals

Consider this program if you would like to...