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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261103T090000
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DTSTAMP:20260701T015936
CREATED:20260629T231707Z
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SUMMARY:THE GREAT GORTON ELECTION
DESCRIPTION:THE GREAT GORTON ELECTION \nIt’s election day – but on stage\, anything is possible! In this high-energy one-day theater experience\, students create original characters\, campaign platforms\, speeches\, commercials\, and comedic debate scenes as they run for the most entertaining and unexpected offices imaginable. \nFrom “Mayor of Musical Theater” to “President of Recess\,” performers explore how actors use voice\, physicality\, and storytelling to persuade\, entertain\, and lead an audience. The day blends improvisation\, comedy\, writing\, and performance as students build campaign teams\, develop slogans\, and bring their characters to life. \nSong & Performance Material may include: \n\nYou’re the One That I Want\nThis Is Me\nCount on Me\nBest Day of My Life\nWe’re All in This Together\n\nFinal Event: A live “Election Night Rally” where students present speeches\, songs\, and campaign moments before casting the final vote. \nNo prior experience needed – just imagination\, energy\, and a willingness to campaign theatrically! \n\nLevel Two: Explore/Develop Day Camp\n\nAges 9–14\n\nTuesday | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM\n\nNovember 3\, 2026\n\n1 Day | 6 Hours | $110\n\nMeet The Gorton Drama Studio Creative Team\n \nJeremy Kruse\, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series\, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor\, published playwright\, award-winning screenwriter\, and award-winning filmmaker. Some of the classes he taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York include Method Acting\, Comedic Improvisation\, Sketch Comedy Writing\, and Acting for Film and TV. He graduated from The Strasberg Institute at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in drama. Jeremy also teaches privately\, one on one  www.jeremykruse.com and www.jeremykruseactingtraining.com  \n  \n 
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/the-great-gorton-election/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Classes,Gorton Drama Studio,Youth
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261103T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261103T183000
DTSTAMP:20260701T015936
CREATED:20260629T224909Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T155906Z
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SUMMARY:HOLIDAY ON BROADWAY
DESCRIPTION:HOLDAY ON BROADWAY \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCelebrate the season on stage in this festive musical theater production class! Students will sing\, act\, dance\, and perform in a holiday-themed musical revue. Along the way\, they will bring classic Christmas stories\, favorite holiday songs\, and memorable characters to life. \nFirst\, students will build acting\, singing\, and performance skills. Then\, they will strengthen stage presence\, develop memorable characters\, and learn to work as a strong ensemble. Throughout the session\, performers will rehearse scenes\, songs\, and choreography while preparing for a polished production. \nStudents may perform selections inspired by Elf the Musical\, The Polar Express\, A Charlie Brown Christmas\, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\, White Christmas\, and other holiday favorites. \nAs a Level Three class\, students take an active role in the rehearsal process. Over 24 hours of rehearsal across six weeks\, they will tackle more challenging material\, memorize scenes and songs\, and refine their performance skills. At the same time\, they will build confidence\, strengthen teamwork\, and grow as performers. \nEach class includes scene work\, vocal rehearsals\, choreography\, character development\, and ensemble activities. Every rehearsal moves the cast one step closer to opening night. \nPerformance: The session concludes with a fully staged performance for family and friends. Unlike a Level One Demonstration or Level Two Presentation\, a Level Three Performance features memorized scenes\, developed characters\, polished choreography\, and complete storytelling. Students present a cohesive holiday production that showcases everything they have learned. \nPerfect for students who love musical theater and are ready for a fun\, challenging\, and rewarding performance experience. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLevel Three: Perform\n\nAges 9–14\n\nTuesdays & Wednesdays | 4:30–6:30 PM\n\nNovember 3–December 9\, 2026\n\n24 Classes | $800\n\nMeet The Gorton Drama Studio Creative Team\n \nJeremy Kruse\, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series\, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor\, published playwright\, award-winning screenwriter\, and award-winning filmmaker. Some of the classes he taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York include Method Acting\, Comedic Improvisation\, Sketch Comedy Writing\, and Acting for Film and TV. He graduated from The Strasberg Institute at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in drama. Jeremy also teaches privately\, one on one  www.jeremykruse.com and www.jeremykruseactingtraining.com  \n  \n 
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/holiday-on-broadway/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Classes,Gorton Drama Studio,Youth
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261107T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261107T094500
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CREATED:20260629T222921Z
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SUMMARY:PIRATES & MERMAIDS
DESCRIPTION:PIRATES & MERMAIDS \nDive into an unforgettable musical theater adventure! Young performers will sail the seas\, hunt for hidden treasure\, meet magical mermaids\, and outsmart playful pirates. Along the way\, they’ll sing\, act\, dance\, and bring exciting ocean stories to life. \nFirst\, students will learn songs inspired by favorite sea adventures\, including “Under the Sea\,” “Part of Your World\,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls\,” and fun pirate-themed favorites. Then\, they’ll jump into theater games\, creative storytelling\, movement activities\, and character exploration. As they rehearse\, they’ll build confidence\, strengthen their imaginations\, and practice working together as an ensemble. \nNext\, performers will develop foundational acting skills\, improve stage presence\, and learn simple choreography. Every activity encourages creativity\, teamwork\, and self-expression in a fun and supportive environment. Best of all\, every student will have a chance to shine while creating memorable characters and exciting adventures. \nDemonstration: Finally\, the session concludes with a demonstration for family and friends. Students will share theater games\, exercises\, and songs that showcase the skills they developed throughout the session. They will perform songs in one large group or several small groups\, complete with simple choreography. \nNo experience is necessary. Just bring your imagination\, your adventurous spirit\, and get ready to make a splash on stage! \n\nLevel One: Explore\n\nAges 5–8\n\nSaturdays | 9:00–9:45 AM\n\nNovember 7–December 12\, 2026\n\n6 Classes | $200\n\nMeet The Gorton Drama Studio Creative Team\n \nJeremy Kruse\, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series\, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor\, published playwright\, award-winning screenwriter\, and award-winning filmmaker. Some of the classes he taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York include Method Acting\, Comedic Improvisation\, Sketch Comedy Writing\, and Acting for Film and TV. He graduated from The Strasberg Institute at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in drama. Jeremy also teaches privately\, one on one  www.jeremykruse.com and www.jeremykruseactingtraining.com  \n  \n 
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/pirates-mermaids/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Classes,Gorton Drama Studio,Youth
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DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261107T110000
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SUMMARY:MOVIE MUSICALS
DESCRIPTION:MOVIE MUSICALS \nLights\, Camera\, Action! \nStep into the spotlight and bring your favorite movie musicals to life! In this exciting musical theater class\, students sing\, act\, dance\, and perform scenes inspired by today’s biggest movie musicals and timeless favorites. Along the way\, they build acting skills\, vocal confidence\, stage presence\, and storytelling techniques in a fun and supportive environment. \nStudents will explore songs and scenes inspired by The Greatest Showman\, High School Musical\, Descendants\, Newsies\, Hairspray\, and more. Then\, through scene work\, song rehearsals\, character activities\, and simple choreography\, they’ll create memorable performances while growing as confident performers. \nThroughout the session\, students will strengthen ensemble skills\, develop believable characters\, and learn how songs and scenes work together to tell a story. In addition\, they’ll have opportunities to share ideas\, make creative choices\, and help shape the material explored in class. \nPresentation: The session concludes with a final presentation for family and friends. This Level Two presentation features scenes and songs rehearsed throughout the session. Students perform in one large group or several small groups and present simple choreography as part of the performance. \nThis class is perfect for students who love movie musicals\, enjoy performing\, and want to build their acting\, singing\, and stage skills while having fun. \n\nLevel Two: Develop\n\nAges 9–14\n\nSaturdays | 10:00–11:00 AM\n\nNovember 7–December 12\, 2026\n\n6 Classes | $200\n\nMeet The Gorton Drama Studio Creative Team\n \nJeremy Kruse\, Artistic Director of Gorton Drama Studio is the author of “The Young Actor’s Handbook” (Applause Acting Series\, 2017).The book was published in Korean and Chinese in 2022. Jeremy is a professional actor\, published playwright\, award-winning screenwriter\, and award-winning filmmaker. Some of the classes he taught at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York include Method Acting\, Comedic Improvisation\, Sketch Comedy Writing\, and Acting for Film and TV. He graduated from The Strasberg Institute at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where he majored in drama. Jeremy also teaches privately\, one on one  www.jeremykruse.com and www.jeremykruseactingtraining.com  \n  \n 
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/movie-musicals/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Classes,Gorton Drama Studio,Youth
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261110T193000
DTSTAMP:20260701T015936
CREATED:20260629T135752Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T141304Z
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SUMMARY:Art Impact Project: I Am Thankful For...
DESCRIPTION:Practice the art of gratitude by creating a thoughtful pen and watercolor project.  This project will have you leaving the art room feeling refreshed and thankful for life’s treasures. \nAll supplies provided.  Ages 11+ \n \nThis class is free\, but spaces are limited and participants must pre-register.  \nCelebrating their tenth anniversary\, Art Impact Project is a local 501c(3) with a mission of enhancing emotional wellness through creative expression.  They partner with organizations such as schools\, treatment facilities\, libraries\, and other community spaces throughout Lake County\, to facilitate art programming with a focus on better mental health.  Providing a supportive\, small group setting\, Art Impact Project guides participant step-by-step through the creative process so everyone can experience the benefits of art. \nWant to take this class but can’t make this date? Check out our other Art Impact Class on Tuesday\, December 8! \n 
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/art-impact-project-i-am-thankful-for-nov-10/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Adults,Age,Art,Classes
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261116T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261116T120000
DTSTAMP:20260701T015936
CREATED:20260602T175616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260602T175616Z
UID:20007287-1794823200-1794830400@gortoncenter.org
SUMMARY:Mahjong
DESCRIPTION:Ready for fun\, strategy\, and a little friendly competition? Come learn Mahjong with friends and neighbors! In just six weeks\, you’ll master the basics of National Mahjong rules. The game is fast\, social\, and exciting. Even better\, it’s the perfect way to connect with people – whether you bring a friend or meet new ones at the table. \nYour instructor\, Debbie\, makes learning easy. She’ll group players by skill level and give clear\, personalized guidance. New to Mahjong? You’ll learn step by step. Played before? You’ll discover fresh strategies and sharpen your skills. There’s always more to explore! \nExperienced players are welcome too! \nAbout Mahjong\nSo\, what is Mahjong? It’s a tile-based tabletop game that began in 19th-century China. Since then\, it has spread worldwide. While rules vary by region\, most versions focus on building sets of matching tiles. The American style\, created in the 1920s\, is now the most popular in the U.S. – and it’s the one you’ll learn here. \nAnd here’s the best part: Mahjong isn’t just fun. It’s also a mental workout. Research shows games like this can boost memory\, sharpen focus\, and even help protect long-term brain health. \nSo\, why wait? Sign up today. Bring your curiosity\, a sense of play\, and maybe a friend. This class will challenge your mind\, lift your spirits\, and add a burst of excitement to your week. \nMahjong cards can be purchased through the American Mahjong League  \nDebbie Meyer has been playing Mahjong for over 20 years. She loves the game and how each hand is different. Debbie’s passion is to teach the game of Mahjong to others!
URL:https://gortoncenter.org/event/mahjong-nov-16/
LOCATION:Gorton Center\, 400 East Illinois Road\, Lake Forest\, IL\, 60045
CATEGORIES:Adults,Classes,Games
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