ACTING
Tableaux: Artful Specificity
- Date
- Monday, October 5, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–9:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Instructors
- Robert Kiefer and Carol Ponder
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $35
Tableaux are windows into the world of theatre. Relying mostly on body language and physical interpretations of events and emotions rather than words, they’re often less intimidating than other types of improvisatory theatre work. They also allow actors—inexperienced or old hands—the opportunity to experience or remember what it feels like to make very specific choices about posture, breath, gesture, center-of-gravity placement, balance, focus, and intention: things that make the difference between a stellar and an adequate performance. Participants will be guided through several types of tableaux (single, sequential, moving, with and without words) starting from various stimuli (photographs, paintings, and abstract concepts). Actors will take away new habits of mind and body to help them create their next on-stage characters in vivid, revealing detail.
Register for Tableaux: Artful Specificity
Essential Shakespeare
(Part 1: Text Analysis and Scansions/Part 2: Performing the Text
- Date
- Monday, February 1. 2010 and Monday, February 8, 2010
- Time
- 6:00–9:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 6 total hours over 2 Monday evenings
- Instructor
- Lane Davies
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $35 for 1 session; $55 for both sessions
This actor’s workshop consists of some of the elements essential to the appreciation and performance of Shakespeare’s plays. Subjects covered include scansion—the basics of blank verse; tricks of the trade—insights and techniques for the clever actor; voice production and breathing; research—historical, geographical, personal, and mythological; vocabulary and etymology; imagery, ideation, and characterization; pithy observations on Shakespeare and his theatre. The second session will give the actors an opportunity to prepare selected Shakespearean material using techniques learned in the first session.
Register for Essential Shakespeare
(Part 1: Text Analysis and Scansions/Part 2: Performing the Text
AUDITIONS
Auditions: The Monologue
- Date
- Monday, October 12, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructor
- David Alford
- Maximum Participants
- 12
- Cost
- $40
Participants in this workshop will have the chance to bring two audition monologues into the workshop and have the opportunity to receive direction and work on specific moments in the monologue. This workshop will provide the rehearsal time and guidance to make individual monologues stronger. This workshop will include discussion on how to pick a monologue, where to look for monologues and how to know whether the monologue is appropriate. Participants will view an audition as a piece of theatre and have an understanding of what their monologue should demonstrate in an audition situation.
Register for Auditions: The Monologue
Auditions: Insights from the Other Side of the Table
- Date
- Monday, March 29. 2010
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructors
- Ross Brooks, René Copeland, Denice Hicks, and Martha Wilkinson
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $85
In order to take away some of the mystery from the audition process, this workshop brings together the Artistic Directors from four of Nashville’s professional theatres—People’s Branch Theatre, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Chaffin’s Barn Dinner Theatre, and Nashville Shakespeare Festival to provide participants with a glimpse into the process. Participants will present a three-minute audition consisting of two contrasting monologues and receive immediate feedback from these directors—thoughts on the monologue choice; ideas for the actor on how to be considered for callbacks and casting; in general, what the directors look for in open call auditions. In addition to hearing other participants’ audition feedback, there will be a half-hour break midway through the master class to provide an opportunity for more informal discussion and networking.
Register for Auditions: Insights from the Other Side of the Table
The Callback
- Date
- Monday, April 12, 2010
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructor
- David Alford
- Maximum Participants
- 12
- Cost
- $50
Participants in this workshop will be sent sides to prepare as they would for a callback. After performing the sides, participants will receive direction and advice on the most effective ways to prepare for callbacks. The workshops will also focus on how best to handle the “cold reading”—when actors are given new material with limited time to prepare. Participants will be given additional “cold reading” sides and one hour to put their new knowledge into practice.
Register for The Callback
COMBAT
Staged Combat: Unarmed
- Date
- Monday, October 26 2009
- Time
- 6:00–9:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Instructor
- David Wilkerson
- Maximum Participants
- 16
- Cost
- $35
From All's Well to Zoo Story, Unarmed Combat is, by far, the most common type of stage combat. Be it a fall, slap, punch, kick, shove, or hair pull, nearly every play has at least one instance of Unarmed Combat. And, unfortunately, most actor injuries occur during Unarmed Combat. This workshop will teach falls, punches, kicks, slaps, hair pulls, faints, and much more--so you can accurately answer, "No problem," the next time a director says, "And then you fall down over there."
Register for Staged Combat: Unarmed
Stage Combat: Rapier 101 and 102
- Date
- Monday, April 12, 2010
- Time
- 6:00–9:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Instructor
- David Wilkerson
- Maximum Participants
- 12
- Cost
- $35
The first two hours of Rapier 101/102 will introduce/reinforce the basic techniques of Rapier stage combat: parries, movement, evades, attacks, etc. After a short break, Rapier 102 will move on to more advanced Rapier moves: including many fancy-sounding Italian terms. This workshop is appropriate for beginning and intermediate fighters.
Register for Staged Combat: Rapier 101 and 102
MUSICAL THEATRE MASTER CLASS
Acting and Singing for Musical Theatre
- Date
- Mondays, November 30, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–9.00pm
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Instructors
- Hugh Wooldridge
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Cost
- $50
Mr. Wooldridge’s musical theatre master class will allow participants to perform musical theatre pieces in a professional, audition-style, setting, receive feedback on their work, and collect tips on choosing appropriate musical audition pieces. Participants have the opportunity to ask professional advice on musical theatre auditions in New York and London, and learn some ways to approach the challenging professional world of musical theatre. Participants should be prepared with two contrasting musical theatre songs of 16 to 32 bars each. An accompanist will be provided. Please bring sheet music in the appropriate key.
Register for Musical Theatre Master Class
MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE
Musical Theatre Dance Series (Jazz and Tap)
- Date
- Mondays, October 5, 2009–November 9, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–7:30pm
- Maximum Participants
- 30
- Instructors
- Pam Atha, Rod Reiner, Bruce Stegmann
- Total Class Time
- 6 classes
- Cost
- $15 per session or $75 for all 6 classes
In this exciting dance workshop series, participants will have the opportunity to work with three top class choreographers on Musical Theatre Jazz and Tap. Participants will learn technique and musical theatre style combinations. October 5 and 19 Rod Reiner will lead Musical Theatre Jazz. October 12, Pam Atha will teach a different style of Musical Theatre jazz. And Bruce Stegmann will teach his own session of Musical Theatre Jazz on October 26, followed by Tap on Nov 2 and 9. Participants may register for classes individually or take all six for a discounted tuition fee.
Register for Musical Theatre Dance Series (Jazz and Tap) (single class or all 6 classes)
OTHER
Make Your Headshot Work for You
- Date
- Monday, April 12, 2010
- Time
- 3:00–8:00pm (20 minute individual time slots)
- Photographer
- Harry Butler
- Wardrobe Consultant
- Jamie Scott
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $100 (includes disk of headshots)
Do you need a new headshot? Tennessee Rep is offering a unique opportunity to get an affordable quality head shot and advice on which head shot works for you. Each participant will have an individual sitting (20 min) with professional photographer Harry Butler. You will leave the workshop with a disk containing nearly 150 classic, strong headshots on a simple background. Participants will have the opportunity to arrive early and consult with Wardrobe Manger, Jamie Scott. You may bring more than one clothing choice for input from workshop instructors if you wish. Once the photos have been taken, you will have the opportunity to have follow up input from Tennessee Rep professionals in choosing which photo works best for you and why.
Please contact Lauren Shouse at lauren@tennesseerep.org to request a 20 minute appointment once you have accepted an appointment slot, advanced payment will be required to confirm enrollment.
Register for Make Your Headshot Work for You
Producing 101
- Dates
- Monday, April 19, 2010
- Times
- 6–9 pm
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Instructor
- René Copeland, Pat Patrick, Lauren Shouse
- Maximum Participants
- 25
- Cost
- $35
A primer for people who want to get their own vision out there and make theatre happen. An overview of the nuts and bolts basics on production team needs, budgets and the realistic costs involved, scheduling and the realistic time commitments involved, the ins and outs of finding a space, advertising, press relations, and any other related issue you bring to the table for discussion.
Register for Produciing 101
TV/FILM
Audition: TV and Film
- Date
- Monday, December 7, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructor
- Holly Allen
- Maximum Participants
- 16
- Cost
- $50
This workshop will include a variety of topics including what casting directors look for, empowering yourself as an actor, calming your nerves, taking risks, analyzing a script, making strong choices, audition etiquette, working with a partner, image and type and how to book a job. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to work on camera and receive direction in the takes and feedback in the review. Each participant will receive information to take home with tons of tips, advice, local acting websites, books to read, union info, and agency contact information.
Register for Audition: TV and Film
Film Scene Study: On Camera
- Date
- Monday, April 5, 2010
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructor
- Holly Allen
- Maximum Participants
- 16
- Cost
- $50
This workshop will focus on scenework from a film or play script. Actors will have the opportunity to work on a scene ON-CAMERA with a partner and receive direction and feedback. Topics will include working with a partner in an audition; script analysis; thinking like the character; being truthful; making interesting positive choices; risk taking; empowering yourself to do your best; analysis of performance. Each participant will receive a handout with tons of tips, advice, local acting websites, books to read, union info, and agency contact information.
Register for Film Scene Study: On Camera
VOICE
Introduction to Voice & Diction for the Stage
- Date
- Monday, October 19, 2009
- Time
- 6:00–10:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 4 hours
- Instructor
- David Alford
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $40
This workshop will present the basics on warming up, the mechanics of good vocal production, how everything works in there, tips for good vocal health, group exercises, stretches to physically “free the voice,” etc. Participants will have the opportunity to work with the instructor on identifying problem areas and get recommendations.
Register for Introduction to Voice & Diction for the Stage
Noises On: Discover the Voice You Didn’t Know You Had
- Date
- Monday, February 15, 2010
- Time
- 6:00–9:00pm
- Total Class Time
- 3 hours
- Instructor
- Carol Ponder, Robert Keifer
- Maximum Participants
- 20
- Cost
- $35
Pitch, volume, tempo, texture, staccato, legato, and the strategic use of silence: These are all elements of music, right? Is combining them in different ways also a key to unlocking characters onstage, making each of your roles different from each other, thereby extending your range as an actor? You betcha! In this workshop, we’ll work with individual elements of voice, exploring your range and facility, and use your imagination to breathe new life into your next audition piece or role. We will start working with a delightful piece called The Stinky Cheese Man and then work on a piece of your own—bring a one to two-minute piece of dialogue or monologue. Start breathing before you come!
Register for Noises On: Discover the Voice You Didn't Know You Had
