A Casting Workshop: Audition From Your Strengths

Through an objective process, students discover three or four character types derived from their "look" and personal qualities. Then working on targeted material, actors learn to fulfill each character in order to present themselves as a complete, castable, acting package.

Actor Improvisation Workshop

Emphasis is on the actor rather than performer improvisation. Organic behavior and emotional truth are valued over cleverness. Teaches physical and vocal risk-taking, impulse work and a personal sense of truth. Numerous improv formats are motivated by both internal and external circumstances.

Character Masks

The classic "outside-in" discipline employing a unique collection of celastic masks in the French tradition. Precise character development from the mirror leads to full-blown characters. Behind the "safety" of the mask, actors learn to work boldly and break through habitual limitations.

Dirty Acting 3

Designed to promote lively, truthful, "dangerous,” moment-to-moment work. Emphasis on risk-taking, impulses, awareness, bold choices and follow-through. Eliminates actor tension, stale performance habits, personal cliches and artificial behavior.

Physical and Vocal Adjustments

Intermediate/Advanced – SB

8+8 Thursdays, 12:00 PM (Pacific)

Begins January 25

Actors will experiment with the body and voice of multiple characters, making vocal and physical and speech “adjustments” for those characters and assessing the outcome. The organic connection between physical and emotional life is emphasized throughout.

The Actors Emotional Preparation

Learning what do just before an entrance – how to make strong choices and internalize them right before a character enters. Based on the actor’s choices of intention and obstacle, the right emotional preparation carries the actor through the scene without any need for pushing or falsification.

Acting With The Camera

Intermediate/Advanced - SB

10 Thursdays at noon

Begins October 5

A thorough introduction for the actor new to camera work, plus a great deal of new material for camera veterans. This is a vital class for those wishing to do consistently dynamic and surprising work on camera