Performing Arts Classes – 2026
Chairperson: Joe Hetko
T01 Guitar: basic and beyond
Week: 2 | Grades: 5+
If you want to get a solid start on guitar playing or take your playing up to a new level, this class is for you! We’ll explore chords, single note tunes, and technique. We’ll experience the fun of playing with others, and touring the land with our guitars in hand! If you don’t have a guitar to bring to class we will provide a loaner for the week.
Instructor: Joe Hetko
T02 Be a Magician!
Weeks: 2, 5 | Grades: 3 & up (ages 8 & up)
Here’s your chance to learn magic from one of the top magicians in the Capital Region. Magician Jim Snack will draw from his bag of tricks to teach sleight of hand, close-up magic, and illusions. Each student will master several tricks with cards, coins, rope and other readily available objects to present at the Open House. The workshop is for ages 8 and above.
Instructor: Jim Snack
T03 Marionette Theater students perform: “Battle of the Trolls!”
Week: 3 | Grades: 5 – 8
The woods trolls and the mountain trolls battle for the Heldebergs! Join the struggle! Build your own marionette troll and perform the story of the ancient trolls of the Heldebergs for the whole Workshop. Will you make a terrifying troll or the most beautiful princess? Puppet painting, costuming and puppet performance skills are all part of this adventure!
Instructor: John Koethen
T04 Spy in Disguise & Effective Detectives
Week: 2 | Grades: 3-8
Solving mysteries and Secret missions. Collecting clues and breaking codes. Investigation and Intelligence operations. What is the difference between a Detective and a Spy? We will explore the methods & tactics of each, and create our own characters. Develop your skills of Observation & Deduction, Espionage & Surveillance. Send secret messages using crafty codes. Hide your identity with deceptive disguises. Collect clues and uncover the Truth. Conduct covert operations and protect the Peace.
Instructor: Scott Payne
T05 Wizards Workshop
Weeks: 1, 4 | Grades: 3 – 8
Your OWL has arrived! Don’t miss your opportunity to attend Hogwarts in the Helderbergs. Potions, Magic Charms, and Mystical Beasts (and where to find them) are just a few of the subjects that students will enjoy in this crash course in theatrical conjuring. Apprentices will construct a Wizard’s wardrobe, magical apparatus, and other accessories of Abracadabra! Grab your broomstick and get ready to play wizard games. Imagination and Magic creatively combined!
Instructor: Scott Payne
T06 Songwriting
Week: 4 | Grades: 5+
If you want to learn how to get started writing songs or if you’re already writing songs on your own, this is the class for you! We’ll form a supportive community for you to try out your ideas. We’ll explore song form and how it relates to chords, melody, lyrics and rhythmic patterns, and we’ll use the natural beauty of the workshop land as inspiration for our creativity.
Instructor: Joe Hetko
T07 Jovial Jesters
Week: 3 | Grades: 3 – 8
Come One, Come All and explore the frolicsome fun world of Jesters! We will create our own costumes: colorful cap & bells, and motley. Make “Jolly Jester Sticks” and juggling equipment. Share hilarious Hijinks with jokes, puns, silly songs and stories. Engage in witty banter and slapstick humor in our “Jester’s Joust”, concluding in a climactic “Pie Fight”! Frivolity & fun for everyone.
Instructor: Scott Payne
T08 Haunted Heldebergs: Shuddering Shutters!
Week: 6 | Grades: 3 – 8
Freaky Fiends, Ghastly Ghouls, and Things that go Bump in the Night! Create creepy characters to taunt and terrorize our visitors to the Haunted House.
Instructor: Scott Payne
T09 Whodunnit? Mysteries in Miniature
Week: 5 | Grades: 3 – 8
Design and build an original scale model Escape Room using stage-craft techniques, Create the clues for friends & family to unravel the mysteries awaiting in these puzzling and peculiar places. Develop your detective skills as you deduce the method, moment, and motive in these Mini-Mysteries.
Instructor: Scott Payne
T10 Let’s Play Ukelele!
Week: 6 | Grades: 4+
Wander the Heldeberg hills and trails with one of the most portable and versatile musical instruments. This class is suitable for both complete beginners, and folks with some playing experience. We’ll learn to play tunes, chord progressions, and work on right hand techniques to bring variety to your playing.
Note: You do NOT need to have a ukelele to join this class, but if you have one, do bring it!
Instructor: Joe Hetko
T11 Adventurers Wanted: Swords & Sorcery
Weeks: 1*, 3 (tentative) | Grades: 6 – 12
Adventure awaits for those courageous enough to answer the call! In this course, we will sharpen our character development and role playing skills, using one of the most popular tabletop roleplaying games. Learn to create your hero using your character sheet, craft a backstory, draw art of your character, roleplay and act alongside other players, and set off with your adventuring party on quests fighting monsters and magical creatures. We will explore the Workshop and take our characters into the woods for more adventure! Seasoned players join in on miniature campaigns and have opportunities to become a Game Master and create and run combat encounters for other players. What kind of hero will you be?
Instructor: Mackenzie Johnson
T12 Tame Your Stage Fright!
Week: 1 | Grades: 6-12
Is stage fright spoiling your auditions, ruining your fun, and dashing your dreams of superstardom? You may not realize there’s a lot you can do to tame it! This workshop is all about getting more comfortable sharing your talents in front of an audience, so performing is less painful and more joyful. We’ll deconstruct fears, learn strategies for self-care and building confidence, and focus on fun over perfection. If you want to perform and struggle with stage fright (just like Emma Watson, Harry Styles, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Beyonce!) this workshop is for you!
Note: This workshop is for performers of all levels, from pre-beginner to experienced. It’s also for performers of all kinds, whether your talent is acting, singing, or something else. It’s even for those who haven’t discovered their personal talent yet!
Instructor: Heather Schwartz
T13 No Script?? No Problem!
Week: 2 | Grades: 3+
Turn play into plays! Learn the same improvisation skills actors use to create unscripted scenes on the spot. Through fast-paced games and creative challenges, you’ll practice listening, supporting your teammates, and saying “Yes, and!” to bold new ideas. Discover how the best comedy comes from honest, human reactions. Then step into simple improvised scenes where you’re writer, director, and actor all at once. Show off your quick thinking, confidence, and teamwork in a lively performance for friends and family!
Instructor: Walt Batycki
T16 Space Creature Among Us!
Week: 4 | Grades: 3 & up
Something is hiding aboard the ship… and it could be you! Create the brave (and suspicious!) crew of a spaceship that has picked up a shape-shifting alien. In each round, randomly selected performers become the creature while the crew works to complete missions and undo sabotage. Suspicion rises as crew members disappear, and quick thinking is essential. Build strong characters, practice improvising under pressure, and design simple props for your space adventure. Then invite Mission Control (your audience) to help uncover the monster in a thrilling live performance!
Instructor: Walt Batycki
T18 Lights! Camera! Laughter!
Week: 5 | Grades: 3 & up
Become a writer, actor, and director in your own over-the-top movie parody performed live on stage. Take epic battles, dramatic speeches, and shocking twists from favorite blockbusters and spin them into one hilarious original story. Create bold characters, exaggerate big moments, and discover what makes a story work—all while building strong teamwork skills. Then premiere your action-packed Summer Blockbuster for friends and family, complete with theatrical flair and big laughs!
Instructor: Walt Batycki
T19 Heldeberg Comedy Live!
Week: 6 | Grades: 4 & up
Become a star in our own sketch comedy show! You’ll kick things off with high-energy improv games that build listening skills, teamwork, and quick thinking. Then turn those skills into short, loosely scripted comedy sketches your team creates together. Brainstorm characters, punchlines, and ridiculous situations, and help design simple props and sets to bring your ideas to life. Everyone has a role—onstage and behind the scenes—and teamwork is the key. Then show off your new comedy skills in a fast-paced, laugh-filled performance for friends and family!
Instructor: Walt Batycki
- Registration is anticipated to open March 10, 2026
- Mailing list families will be notified first
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