Seven teens have been selected for the Rhodes Junior Apprentice Program for the 2010 Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival at California Lutheran University.

The students are Teza Belmond from Agoura High School, Claire Didziulis from Thousand Oaks High School, Daniel Graff and Josh Sacks from Camarillo High School, Paige Grinker from Newbury Park High School, Richy Storrs from Chaminade College Preparatory in West Hills and Brooke Yasman from Moorpark High School.

The teens are attending biweekly acting classes taught by college-aged apprentices and professional company members. They study the structure of Shakespearean verse, advanced acting techniques, stage combat, improvisation, and voice and movement for Shakespearean acting.

The junior apprentices write Shakespeare-spoofing skits that they perform in Will’s Corner before each Kingsmen production. They interact with audience members as part of the pre-show entertainment and work backstage. They also act as ushers, stuff programs and sell refreshments.

The program is named in honor of the late Rick Rhodes, an Emmy Award-winning composer from Oak Park who coordinated the apprentices for many years before he died in 2005.

The Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will perform “The Comedy of Errors” through July 18 and “The Winter’s Tale” from July 23 through Aug. 8. The grounds open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking. Pre-show entertainment begins at 6:45 p.m., and shows start at 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.kingsmenshakespeare.org or call (805) 493-3455.