The Actor at Play - Ages 5 – 7
Imagination is the key to unlocking the wonderful world
of theatre for the budding actor. At an age when children are exploring just how much they can do with their bodies, they
will participate in theatre games and imaginative improv exercises in which their ideas contribute to building the world around
them. This class focuses heavily on developing social skills and teaching children to work well with others, as well as on
strengthening their ability to read. They will learn the basic techniques for vocal projection and diction, and the class
will culminate in the performance of a twisted fairytale that they will help to write! This class will allow them to realize
their unique gifts while learning a valuable lesson in focus and discipline. Most importantly, they will get to experience
the very special journey from page to stage and discover the thrill of theatrical performance.
The Thoughtful Actor - Ages 8 – 11
A scene study class for the increasingly theatre-hungry youngster. In this class, the
children will learn the basics of analyzing a script, preparing a character breakdown, and researching a play for its historical
and pop cultural influences. The audition process will be thoroughly explained and explored in this class, and the students
will be exposed to a variety of classical and contemporary material. The final performance will consist of carefully chosen
scenes that will challenge and showcase each individual actor. They will learn the proper etiquette for attending theatrical
performances and professional auditions, with an emphasis on the importance of respecting the work of a fellow actor. Learning
to be a better actor is learning to be a better human being, and this class will highlight the concept of acting as truth,
while providing all the necessary technical skills on the way to that discovery.
The Actor’s Toolbox
- Ages 12
– 16
As an
actor learns more about themselves and the ways in which they prefer to prepare for a role, they may be sitting on a lot of
questions about where to go from here. This class will answer those questions, providing them with information about the different
methods of acting instruction and focusing on filling their acting “toolbox”, beginning with the principals of
the Meisner Technique. Through a series of partner exercises and personal explorations, these focused actors will learn to
develop their ability to improvise, as well as how to utilize their own life experience to invoke honest emotional responses
to textual circumstances. In addition to honing their script and character analysis skills, they will learn more about how
their voice is connected to their body through Linklater vocal exercises. Lastly, they will be introduced to the concept of
acting as a business, learning where and how to access information regarding professional and college auditions, what marketing
materials are necessary for success, and how to choose audition pieces that are appropriate for them. Every student will emerge
from this class with a monologue that’s ready to go for their next big audition, and they will perform these monologues
at the end of the class commitment. This class is for the serious actor and will move at a fast pace, but it’s an invaluable
experience and an exciting ride for those who climb aboard!
