The primary objective of this class is to free up the artist’s channel through intensive physical training. Think of it like the actor’s gym. Our work together happens under the notion that the body is a channel through which we process our experiences into motion and sound — whether that be through acting, filmmaking, writing, etc. When the channel is open, you learn to connect with and respond more spontaneously to an environment without tension or pushing. A large portion of the freeing-up process is psychological, which requires an understanding of and connection to your emotional and physical self. The mindfulness component of the movement work encourages you to be permissive with your habits, experiences and emotions as they develop in the body. However, this is never accomplished in a vacuum. The unique insight of this training is the necessity for you to be in contact in order for the work to take-hold. This happens through regularly practiced ensemble and partner exercises. The concept of “play,” begins to take hold, as you understand improvisational movement without tension or anxiety – working less cerebrally and more kinesthetically.

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• Registration Prerequisite: Open to all.

This class applies the definition of acting as “behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances” to the stage combat world. You must have the skills to tell the physical story with as much accuracy and commitment as you bring to the spoken word. You must be able to meld truthful emotional life with a performance that remains collaborative, repeatable and safe. You will learn advanced hand to hand and grappling techniques, and should time allow, knife and sword work for the stage. With the instructor’s’ guidance you will learn the process of crafting your own staged fights.

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• Registration Prerequisite: Open to all.

The Alexander Technique is a gentle method through which you gradually learn to free yourself from unconscious physical habits that limit your ease, versatility, and freedom. This course will inquire into and enhance your “body map” – your conception of your body, as a whole and in specific areas. As you learn to release the downward pressure of your head to your spine, become clearer about your joints and how they work, and understand the unity of your body/mind and how it functions as a whole, you will gain access to an ever-increasing sensory awareness. Bringing conscious thought and awareness to daily life will allow you to change the habitual behavior that creates unneeded tension. Posture and self-use become conscious and volitional, not habitual and rigid. This translates to a greater possibility of fully embodying characters whose physical life is different from your own while maintaining healthy use of your body. Natural free use of the breath is addressed as a result of freeing the whole self, supporting your voice work.

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• Prerequisite: Open to All

Open up to a beautiful world! Mime is a form of silent communication using gesture and physical body movement to describe an event or tell a story. The best mimes are also good actors (and vice-versa!) because the emotional honesty of the work needs to be there as well. Mime requires that the body be prepared to accept the suggestion of the actor’s mind and emotion. In this class, you will learn exercises which bring your awareness to the many ways the body is ready to respond. Mime opens the world to an actor because the actor can create their own world –objects and places – with the immediacy of a few gestures. Mime tends toward comedy, but as with Charlie Chaplin, the work can also be moving or even tragic.

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• What to wear: Loose or flexible clothing (i.e. leggings, etc.) you can move in; gymnast/mime shoes or bare feet. 
• Prerequisite: Open to All

The Alexander Technique is a gentle method through which you gradually learn to free yourself from unconscious physical habits that limit your ease, versatility, and freedom. This course will inquire into and enhance your “body map” – your conception of your body, as a whole and in specific areas. As you learn to release the downward pressure of your head to your spine, become clearer about your joints and how they work, and understand the unity of your body/mind and how it functions as a whole, you will gain access to an ever-increasing sensory awareness. Bringing conscious thought and awareness to daily life will allow you to change the habitual behavior that creates unneeded tension. Posture and self-use become conscious and volitional, not habitual and rigid. This translates to a greater possibility of fully embodying characters whose physical life is different from your own while maintaining healthy use of your body. Natural free use of the breath is addressed as a result of freeing the whole self, supporting your voice work.

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• Recommended reading: BODY LEARNING by Michael Gelb.
• Prerequisite: Open to All

Viewpoints is a dynamic, physical approach to actor training rooted in post-modern dance. Developed by Mary Overlie and expanded by Anne Bogart’s SITI Company, the technique breaks performance into key elements of time and space—initially Mary Overlie’s Six Viewpoints (Shape, Space, Time, Emotion, Movement, Story), later extended by Anne Bogart to Nine (Spatial Relationship, Kinesthetic Response, Shape, Gesture, Repetition, Architecture, Tempo, Duration, and Topography). This course uses movement improvisation, ensemble-building exercises, and composition techniques to explore Viewpoints as both a physical practice and a creative framework. Students will engage in solo and group work to build ensemble awareness, spontaneity, and theatrical invention. Through rigorous physical training and collaborative exploration, actors learn to create meaningfully in time and space, applying Viewpoints in rehearsal and devised performance. As a group, the class will create Viewpoint driven ensemble improvised events and compositions with text. Emphasis is placed on honest expression, creative risk-taking, and working as a cohesive ensemble.

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• Registration Prerequisite: Open to all.

Body Intelligence focuses on developing the physical and emotional intelligence of the actor. Class utilizes Allan Wayne Work exercises to build physical and mental stamina. These repetitive, circular exercises condition the muscles and break up fascial adhesions while unveiling emotional availability, eroding habitual tension and preventing injury. There are guided creative movement explorations, ensemble, partner and solo work that allow the actor to fully experience moving from their body’s impulses as opposed to being ‘in their head’ to make choices. The focus on embodiment work leads the actor to greater emotional access and safety. Class references concepts from Alexander Technique, Fitzmaurice vocal technique, integral anatomy, Lucid Body, meditation and modern dance.

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• Prerequisite: Open to all.

This 5-week intensive introduces teens (ages 14-17) to physical acting, expressive movement, and silent storytelling. Each class builds skills in body awareness, character creation, and nonverbal communication — boosting confidence, focus and creative freedom in young actors. This class will include building skills in movement basics, silent expression, stage awareness, and body awareness. You will learn to move safely and clearly on stage and explore stage directions, entrances and exits. You will learn the art of communicating without words using gesture, emotion and visual expression. You will develop clear emotional expression, and practice readable gestures and facial expressions. We will practice building characters from the outside in, exploring how posture and rhythm create character. We will also practice the skills of finding occupation while waiting, silent storytelling, structuring a silent scene, and working within an ensemble.

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• Registration Prerequisite: Open to all teens aged 14-17 years old.