theatre connections.
available courses
I love to teach! Bring me a challenge or a new wrinkle, and I'll teach
it! My performance training background includes Stanislavsky, Meisner
("Repeating." "Repeating?" "Repeating!"),
and Practical Aesthetics (Mamet), Boal and others. My vocal training
includes Lessac, Linklater and others. My movement training includes
Laban, Meyerhold, some Alexander and even some Tai Chi Chuan. My design
training includes the school of hard knocks--no one else would do it
for me, so I did it myself and went hog-wild with a saw and hammer.
This is probably a good place to tell you my definition of acting:
Acting is behaving truthfully within the given circumstances. I believe
that comes from pursuing an objective rather than an emotion. I don't
ascribe to Method Acting, emotion-for-emotion's-sake, or externals (British)
acting.
course curriculum
Voice and Intepretation Workshop (2 hours)
This workshop covers key techniques that help the actor to communicate
more effectively from the stage. Designed for novices, this class is
appropriate for those interested in performing on stage or simply making
a public speaking presentation. The goal of the course is to provide
participants with practical, take-home techniques that will improve
the effectiveness of their presentation through the use of hands-on,
participative exercises. Dress for and be prepared for moderate physical
activity.
Theatre Movement Workshop (2 hours)
This workshop is designed to help the actor communicate more effectively
on stage through movement. Designed for novices, this course works through
basic stage movement techniques to Laban techniques, basic stretching,
and making the body a 'clean slate'. From there the workshop discusses
psychological gesture, stage presence, and 'taking a stage'. The goal
of the course is to provide participants with practical, take-home techniques
to improve effective presentation through hands-on participative exercises.
Dress for and be prepared to move.
Basic Acting (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
This course teaches the Practical Aesthetics Approach designed by David
Mamet and the Atlantic Theatre Company. It is highlighted by a common-sense,
objectives-based analysis coupled with realistic life in the moment.
This acting class is designed to give the students practical techniques
to take away and use.
• Week 1 Acting Basics & The Physical Instrument
• Week 2 Scene Analysis
• Week 3 Scene Analysis
• Week 4 Scene Work
• Week 5 Living in the Moment
• Week 6 Living in the Moment
• Week 7 Scenes/The Acting Biz
Advanced Acting (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
This course builds on the Practical Aesthetics Approach designed by
David Mamet and the Atlantic Theatre Company. It features more difficult
scenes and the high-end techniques found in the approach. This class
allows students to look into themselves and the authenticity of their
acting.
• Week 1 Scene Analysis Review
• Week 2&3 As Ifs, Tools and Moments Before
• Week 4 Scene Work
• Week 5 Scene Work
• Week 6 Scene Work
• Week 7 Scenes/The Acting Biz
Directing (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
A course for people who have always wanted to direct a show. This course
gives practical approaches to organizing, implementing, producing and
blocking a show.
• Week 1 Getting Organized
• Week 2 Scheduling
• Week 3 Casting
• Week 4 Analysis and Blocking
• Week 5 Analysis and Blocking
• Week 6 Musicals
• Week 7 Tech Week
Auditioning (4 weeks, 1 day a week)
In this course, students with little-to-no experience will learn techniques
for finding original monologues and getting the job done in auditions.
It will culminate with a live audition for the instructor and comments.
It is designed to take the fear out of auditioning
Improvisation (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
This entertaining course teaches students how to live in the moment,
interact with others, accept new information and utilize it—all
without scripts. The finale of the course is an improve show for friends
and relatives.
Acting for Musical Theatre (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
This course teaches techniques found in Practical Aesthetics but applies
them to musical theatre. The course is designed to de-mystify musical
theatre acting by teach students to analyze and perform songs like they
would any monologue.
• Week 1 Acting Basics & The Physical Instrument
• Week 2 Analysis
• Week 3 Analysis
• Week 4 Musical Technique
• Week 5 Scene Work
• Week 6 Scene Work
• Week 7 Scenes/The Acting Biz
Acting Shakespeare (7-9 weeks, 1 day a week)
This course is designed to teach students how to perform Shakespeare.
It includes discussion of acting, scansion, research, word comfort,
auditioning and cold reading for Shakespeare, historical perspective,
and audition pieces. Students will also work with the instructor through
a Shakespearian scene. Shakespeare need not be scary!
Theatre History (10 weeks, 1 day a week)
This Lecture course is designed to bring understanding and appreciation
to theatre in the Western World.
• Week 1&2 Greek Theatre and Predecessors
• Week 3 Roman Theatre
• Week 4&5 Medieval Theatre
• Week 6 Shakespeare
• Week 7 Classical Drama/Moliere
• Week 8 Restoration Drama
• Week 9 Modern Drama
• Week 10 Modern Drama
I also teach privately. Got an audition coming up? Brushing up your
Shakespeare? Call me at (734) 395-4630. |
