Winter Master Acting Classes
Improvisation and Theatre Games (ages nine to 12)
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February
13) from 10
a.m.–12 p.m.
Instructor: Vanessa Buono
Tuition: $330
Experience the fun of improvisation—using your own creativity and imagination
to create motivated characters and dynamic scenes in the moment! Through exercises
and games that engage the actor’s entire physical and vocal instrument,
students will develop greater awareness, stronger scene partnerships and a healthy
sense of risk-taking. Prior acting experience is not required.
Playing Shakespeare’s Comedies (ages 13 to 17)
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February 13) from 1
p.m.–3 p.m.
Instructor: Esther Williamson
Tuition: $330
Students will begin by learning the fundamentals of comedy through improvisation,
wordplay, clowning and Commedia Dell’Arte. These techniques will then
be applied to Shakespeare’s plays through monologues and scene work. Prior
acting experience is not required.
Stage Combat: Unarmed and Dagger (ages 13 to 17)
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February 13) from 10
a.m.–12 p.m.
Instructor: Casey Kaleba
Tuition: $330
Holinshed wrote in his Chronicles that "seldom do you see a man
... without a dagger at least at his side." This class explores the basic
combat of Shakespeare's players and audiences: from slaps, fisticuffs and tumbling
to safe, theatrical Elizabethan dagger technique. Prior acting experience
is not required.
Audition Techniques (ages 18 and over)
This course has reached maximum enrollment and is closed for registration.
Instructor: David Muse
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February 13) from 10
a.m.–12 p.m.
Tuition: $330
Auditions approaching? Need fresh pieces and feedback? Audition Techniques
covers all aspects of the audition process: monologue selection and preparation,
audition etiquette, techniques for cold reading, and ways to get seen by casting
professionals. Throughout, actors will receive individual coaching on classical
and modern audition material. Participants should come prepared with a monologue
they have used in prior auditions. Prior acting experience is recommended.
Shakespeare in Performance (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Andrew Long
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February 13) from 10
a.m.–12 p.m.
Tuition: $330
This advanced class will provide an opportunity for participants to recreate
the performance process from the first read-through to opening night. This
intensive class will include detailed text analysis, staging, character development,
memorization of lines and rehearsal of a play (an edited text of one of Shakespeare’s
plays). All students will play an integral part in creating the world of this
drama. A performance for invited guests will conclude the process. Enrollment
will be limited. Prior acting experience is required (please contact Education
Department for registration information).
Exploring Classical Theatre Styles (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Wyckham Avery
Saturdays, January 23–March 20 (no class on February 13) from 10
a.m.–12 p.m.
Tuition: $330
With its heavy emphasis on language, classical theatre requires performers
to deliver dynamic physical and vocal performances to match the demanding text.
Spanning across centuries to include monologues and scenes of ancient Greek
tragedians, Shakespeare and Moliére, this class explores several styles
of classical theatre performance through a combination of theatre history,
movement, voice, speech and stage combat. Prior acting experience is not
required.
Characterization (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Matthew
Wilson
Mondays, January 25–March 22 (no class on February 15) from 7 p.m.– 9
p.m.
Tuition: $330
This class will explore the "how" of creating characters for the
theatre modeled on the cast of characters that already exist within us; drawing
from our personal experience, observation, imagination, dreams and art we will
transform that wealth of information into detailed, specific and vividly physical
manifestations. Class methods will include improvisation, discussion, readings
and research. Each student will develop a notebook that includes a detailed
analysis of characters creating a physical, visual and writing inventory of
psychological characteristics and traits. They will then present their characters
each week to the class. Prior acting experience is recommended.
Voice and Text (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Adam Navarro
Mondays, January 25–March 22 (no class on February 15) from 7 p.m.–9
p.m.
Tuition: $330
Explore the integration of voice and language while deepening your understanding
of the creative power of your own voice. Through a broad range of exercises,
students will explore the links between the body, voice, language, and action
and increase their ability to utilize safely and effectively an expressive,
powerful, and fully embodied voice either onstage or in daily life. Prior
acting experience is not required.
Fundamentals of Scene Study (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: George Grant
Mondays, January 25–March 22 (no class on February 15) from 7 p.m.–9
p.m.
Tuition: $330
Plunge into scene work through in-depth text analysis, concentrated partner
work and full investment in given circumstances! Ideal for students who have
just taken Introduction to Acting or Introduction to Shakespeare, this class
will help participants explore ways to activate both classical and contemporary
texts in rehearsal and performance. Prior acting experience is recommended.
20th Century American Drama (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Steven Scott Mazzola
Mondays, January 25–March 22 (no class on February 15) from 7 p.m.–9
p.m.
Tuition: $330
This class will focus on great American playwrights of the past 100 years.
In the past, plays have included work from Miller, Mamet, Williams, Shepard,
Kushner, O'Neill and many others. Using monologues and scenes, this acting
class will dive into the themes found in these plays and isolate a particular
style for each writer. Prior acting experience is not required.
Intermediate Acting (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Elizabeth Alman
Mondays, January 25–March 22 (no class on February 15) from 7 p.m.–9
p.m.
Tuition: $330
This course explores a specific approach to acting based on Uta Hagen’s
seminal work Respect for Acting. Hagen’s technique encourages
students to observe behaviors in everyday life to honestly and bravely bring
themselves into the art and craft of theatre. After crafting and presenting
Hagen’s Object Exercises, students will apply their skills to presenting
a monologue. Prior acting experience is recommended.
In the Moment (ages 18 and over)
Instructor: Oran Sandel
Tuesdays, January 26–March 16 from 7 p.m.–9 p.m.
Tuition: $330
The art of improvisation is one we all practice every day, whether we are doctors,
lawyers, artists or businesspeople. This class is offered as a way to add layers
of mindfulness and technique to that skill set, thereby increasing confidence
and communication skills, as well as enriching the quality of life. Through
improvisational theatre experiences for the mind, body and voice, workshop
participants will gain a deeper understanding of the role of imagination, playfulness
and creativity in daily life. Anyone wishing to pursue improvisation and theatre
performance will also find the skills taught in this class invaluable. Prior
acting experience is not required.
Introduction to Acting (ages 18 and over)
This course has reached maximum enrollment
and is closed for registration.
Instructor: Dat Ngo
Tuesdays, January 26–March 16 from 7 p.m.–9 p.m.
Tuition: $330
The journey begins here with students’ exploration of the actor’s
vocal, physical and psychological instrument, the key skills and core understandings
from which to pursue further study. Lessons will include interactive, physical
workshops on communication, character, objectives, tactics and given circumstances. Prior
acting experience is not required. |
Contact Us:
516 8th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Education Hotline: 202.547.5688
Email Education
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