By Rachel Haug Gilbert, Special To The Dayton Jewish Observer

Daytonian Hilary Zappin, the DJCC’s community outreach coordinator, has traveled extensively as a production assistant with acts such as Garth Brooks, Aerosmith, and Jimmy Buffet.

With PC Goenner Talent Agency, she’s placed talent in regional and national commercials and in feature films with stars like George Clooney, Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington, Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Anne Hathaway.

And in October, Hilary will present a three-day young actors workshop on behalf of the DJCC for kids in grades three through eight.

During the three-session program, to be held at Sugar Camp, kids will play improv games, learn how to slate (give bio information in a confident manner), learn where to look when performing in front of a camera, and vocal projection skills.

Hilary hopes to pull pieces out of the upcoming DJCC Children’s Theatre production to teach acting skills, help participants learn how to develop a character and how to project their voices.

She’ll coach the young actors- in-training about how to work together as a group to support and encourage each other, to help them feel comfortable and excited to be part of a team.

“I want the kids to realize the importance of supporting each other, on stage and off,” she says. Kids will learn memorization skills and tricks. They’ll work in groups and individually with classically-trained actors who will share their expertise and experience.

As an agent for PC Goenner, Hilary has worked with talent placed on television shows such as Big Brother and The Price Is Right among others.

PC Goenner Talent Agency has more than 500 talent clients with offices in Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Nashville. Hilary herself was a featured extra in Ides of March starring George Clooney and Ryan Gosling.

Hilary’s son, Ethan, has also modeled in a national print campaign. She says he was a shy kid before starting all this.

“This has helped my son, taught him confidence, leadership and focus.” she says.

Part of her experience at PC Goenner included participating in The Event on Disney property in Orlando, Fla. The Event promotes models, actors, singers, and dancers who are ready to take it to the next level.

Talent is invited to attend The Event by audition and interview. The week-long workshop draws top agents, managers, casting directors, and record labels from around the world, looking to discover the next star.

Participants at The Event also get the opportunity to meet and learn from top acts and celebrities from their favorite television shows and films.

After participating in The Event for two years as an agent, Hilary jumped in and began coaching the kids in their performances.

Organizers of the seminar recognized her knack for communicating with and coaching the kids. They recruited her to work for them as a coach and she’s been traveling back to Florida for The Event twice a year for the past two years.

At The Event, Hilary now coaches kids with celebrity guests during celebrity intensive workshops that focus on improv, cold reading and monologues.

In July, Hilary worked with Carlon Jeffrey known as Cameron Parks on Disney’s ANT Farm, as well as Daniella Monet, who plays Trina Vega on Nickelodeon’s Victorious.

Helping Hilary with the DJCC’s theatre workshop will be DJCC Program Assistant Rachel Wilson, an independent film producer who performs extensively in Dayton community theatre. Rachel can be seen in Sinclair Community College’s upcoming production of A Plague of Angels, Nov. 8- 10.

Yale Glinter, youth, teen, and family coordinator for the DJCC — who facilitates the DJCC’s annual Children’s Theatre production — says the goal of the workshop is to help give kids theatrical skills. He describes it as a theatre and arts program to help kids develop an on-stage presence and help them have a stronger foundation for life.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, kids who participated in Hilary’s young actors’ workshop will have the opportunity to audition for Peter Condopoulos, PC Goenner Talent Agency owner/agent (roof-goenner.com). Peter has placed talent in more than 27 motion pictures including The Avengers, Ides of March, and Captain Phillips, which will be released in 2013.

Hilary says the workshop will help kids channel energy in a positive direction and will teach them life skills such as learning to be comfortable with public speaking.

DJCC’s Young Actors Workshop will be held Oct. 17, 18 and 19, 4-6 p.m. at 105 Sugar Camp Circle, Oakwood. The cost is $99 for the three-day workshop and includes a professional audition on Sunday, Oct. 21, 3-5 p.m. R.S.V.P. to Karen Steiger, 853-0372, by Oct. 15.