Students took three 90-minute workshops in acting or technical theatre.  Subjects such as Shakespeare, Meisner Technique, Improvisation and the Singing Actor offered one-of-a-kind enrichment experiences to students interested in acting.  Teachers from Portland State University, Willamette University, Portland Children’s Theatre, The Actors Ensemble and Portland Opera challenged the students to "Act well their part."  Technical theatre classes in How to Maintain a Safe and Stress Free Production from Box Office to Back Stage and Community Resources, Collaboration, and Careers inspired students and adults.  Not only did they learn ways to improve efficiency, cost and morale in their own productions but they discovered the role computer programming, math and basic economics play in pursuing careers in professional and non-profit theatre.

One drama teacher’s comment on the workshop led by the guest instructor, Kathryn Alexis Hamilton from Portland Opera, heralds the value of the event as she said, "This was an excellent workshop in both material and presentation.  It touched on a lot and kept kids engaged; and offered creative enrichment that we cannot provide."

The Ulmer-Collins Project’s second annual event was sponsored by Children’s Theatre Foundation (CTF) in partnership with the six Salem Keizer (S-K) high schools, Karl Raschkes, S-K’s music/theatre arts director, and grants from the Marion County Cultural Development Corporation, Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, and the Keizer Rotary.

The Ulmer-Collins (U-C) Project is part of a dream originally conceived by two distinguished high school drama teachers, Tom Ulmer of Sprague and Ken Collins of McNary.  These two outstanding educators, both members of the CTF Board of Directors, recognized that high school drama programs must provide self-supporting, hands-on extracurricular experiences for students.  The untimely death of both these educators produced memorial funds and established the first U-C Project Event in 2009.  Two current CTF board members, Tim Jaskoski and Phyllis Quanbeck, continue to seek and work with partners to support future events.  CTF is fortunate to have Tamsyn Jameson as the project coordinator and Cherie Ulmer as standards coordinator.  They ensure that the project meets the Arts Curriculum Standards for Oregon and the S-K School District.

Linda Baker, drama teacher at McNary, hosted the first, untested event and, again, the 2010 event.  South Salem High School has offered to host the U-C Project Event for 2011.