Course Descriptions (Summer & Saturday programs)
Meisner Acting
Sanford Meisner (Acting Faculty 1935-1990), an original member of the legendary Group Theatre, is considered one of the most influential acting teachers of the 20th century. His particularly approach to training actors developed into what is commonly known as The Meisner Technique. It is one of the foremost acting techniques taught all over the world, but nowhere more successfully than where it first began, here at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Students will participate in exercises that are crafted to give young actors the ability to live truthfully under given imaginary circumstances, which is the foundation of the work created by Mr. Meisner. This course is taught by senior faculty from the adult conservatory program - all of whom were trained to teach by Sanford Meisner.
Acting - Creative Storytelling
This course encourages imagination and creativity in telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Plot, action and characters are created and final stories are acted. Students learn to take control of their own work as actors and young playwrights freely exploring the development of a story. Working as an ensemble and listening and answering are key to the success of creative storytelling.
Acting a Song
Young actors will learn the technical terminology and skills needed perform a song with confidence and ease. Faculty will guide students through vocal exercises to warm them up to prepare for singing. Songs will be approached from the position of an actor with the logic, intention, and emotion behind the music being analyzed and truthfully expressed. The students will present a dynamic interpretation of a brief song in a duet or trio, and a group number. The group number will be taught in a musical theatre style with staging.. Some solos may be given depending on time permitted. See Song Interpretation below for requirements for the Middle & High School students.
Acting for Film & TV
Students will learn to translate the principles learned in their Meisner Technique class to acting on-camera. They will learn technical skills, but will also focus on truth and vulnerability. Exercises and material will be recorded on film and played back each class. Thus, students can observe their performance and quickly apply feedback and critique to improve their skills. Topics covered will include terminology, cold readings, monologues, scenes, and auditions.
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique pays special attention to problems of posture, relaxation, and preparation as it relates to the actor. Frederick Matthias Alexander developed his exercises in the 1890s to help rid himself of harmful habits so that he could have stamina and vocal energy to perform Shakespeare. To this day it is used in many acting programs to help actors use their instrument (body and voice) strongly and vibrantly with the least amount of effort.
Audition
This class will not only introduce the business side of the acting industry but also provide Junior Actors with an opportunity to apply the technical skills learned in their acting class to a professional situation. Audition techniques will be grounded in the Meisner approach of ‘the art of doing’ and encourage students to creatively interpret and execute sample audition material. Audition protocol, terminology, and representative material will be discussed and practiced in this class.
Audition/Monologue Workshop
This class prepares students with a one-two minute theatre monologue (s) for performing arts programs, director showcases, agents and casting directors. Building on the tools learned in the Meisner Technique Classes and improv classes that "acting is doing," this workshop will help the students interpret text and use their emotional foundation to convey meaning and make an impact in a short amount of time.
Commercials
Students will learn the unique skills required to be a commercial actor. Scripts, known as commercial copy, will be used to to help students analyze text and bring the 30-60 second spots to life. Subjects introduced will be terminology, protocol, and the practical skills necessary to audition and perform commercials in the industry. Relationship to the camera is key to express the message of the commercial..
Dance/Movement
Agility and range of physical motion are vital qualities for the actor. The teacher works with each student on an individual level to refine their specific ability to dance and express through movement. The class will consist of warm-up, floor exercises, and dance combinations becoming more intricate and challenging as the course progresses. Dance and movement will be approached as skills for the actor and emphasis will be placed on imbuing one’s movement with intention, commitment, and expression.
Improvisation
Improvisation is about spontaneity and committing to choices in performance. Improvisation class will give students the tools to become creative, impulsive, and fearless as a young actor. Students will be asked to use their imagination while the teacher guides them through effective, energetic exercises tailored to provide the skills necessary to keep their performance alive and organic.
Improv Comedy
Taught by UCB comedy improvisation professionals, this class is structured to ignite the imaginations of teens and teach them the practical tools used to execute comedy improve (sketch) material. Improvisation is grounded in spontaneity, but improvisation performance requires structure, planning, and technical prowess. Students practice exercises designed to enhance their ability to perform comedy and improvisation material to keep their improvisations alive and moment-to-moment.
Intro to Modern Dance/Modern Dance
From technique to performance, the student will practice the fundamentals of dance (ballet, modern, and jazz) and learn energetic exercises and combinations, which become progressively intricate as the course progresses. You will apply these skills to an exciting and creative piece of choreography.
Make-Up
This fun and exciting class will introduce students to the art of stage and film make-up application. Students will learn make-up application techniques for a camera ready look. This will include sanitation guidelines, preparing and caring for the skin, use of tools and brushes, product information and step order procedure. Students will also learn aging techniques and choose as a group one special effect look they would like to learn.
Musical Theatre
There are two Musical Theatre classes offered depending on the program and enrollment. For the Saturday program, students will create their own musical theatre piece. They will be the writers and composers of the lyrics, music and story. For the Summer program, the Musical Theatre course will focus on introducing students to the American songbook. All students will learn the world of musical theatre under the guidance of a professional choreography and musical director. Combining the technical skills learned in voice and movement classes, students will be taught to express the dramatic circumstances of an original or published piece. Regardless of which program, students will learn musical theatre terminology, protocol, and participate in solos, duets and/or chorus selections. Ensemble work is very important in this class.
Performance Skills
Performance Skills is a class that focuses on what it takes to prepare for public presentations. The class is designed (1) To help the student develop his or her collaboration, problem-solving, and spontaneity skills; (2) To continue to work on speech, enunciation, pronunciation, projection and articulation through improv exercises, and (3) Combine the above skills and apply them to an interview/audition scenario. These techniques will build confidence and flexibility to handle any situation where the student is required to be "him/herself" in an interview, audition, presentation, or performance situation.
Stage Combat
Conflict is essential to dramatic circumstances, and physical conflict in theater, film, and television material is almost as common and necessary. A professional fight choreographer will instruct students in the vigorous and physical discipline of stage combat. The skills, terminology, and protocols used to execute physical conflict in performance will be covered. Junior Actors will be able to present their stage combat skills in a controlled and convincing way.
Voice Overs
Students will learn the unique skills required to be a voice-over actor. Actual scripts, known as commercial or voice over copy, will be read and analyzed. Relationship with the microphone is key to express the emotion of the text to fully convey meaning. Each student will bring his or her own unique style to this class.
Voice and Speech
Clarity and expression in the actor’s voice is essential. Students will learn physical and vocal exercises designed to build and maintain a strong, versatile vocal instrument. The teacher works students through both group and individual exercises designed to improve pronunciation, articulation, and projection.
Shakespeare
As the English language is commonly referred to as ‘the language of Shakespeare’, it is with pride that Junior Actors learn to perform scenes and soliloquies with clarity of expression and understanding of text. Students will learn the skills needed to bring classic and modern interpretations to performance.
Song Interpretation
Older students are immersed in musical terminology, exercises, and materials used to audition and perform songs in the professional industry. Cutting of songs to 8-16 bars is crucial for audition purposes. Faculty will guide students through exercises to address the unique needs of each voice, in addition to working as a group. Singing will be approached from the position of an actor with the logic, intention, and emotion behind the song being analyzed and truthfully expressed. The class will culminate in each student presenting a dynamic brief song that can be used in any audition setting where singing is required. The difference between this class and Acting a Song is in the maturity of the material geared to the Middle & High School student.
Sanford Meisner (Acting Faculty 1935-1990), an original member of the legendary Group Theatre, is considered one of the most influential acting teachers of the 20th century. His particularly approach to training actors developed into what is commonly known as The Meisner Technique. It is one of the foremost acting techniques taught all over the world, but nowhere more successfully than where it first began, here at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Students will participate in exercises that are crafted to give young actors the ability to live truthfully under given imaginary circumstances, which is the foundation of the work created by Mr. Meisner. This course is taught by senior faculty from the adult conservatory program - all of whom were trained to teach by Sanford Meisner.
Acting - Creative Storytelling
This course encourages imagination and creativity in telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end. Plot, action and characters are created and final stories are acted. Students learn to take control of their own work as actors and young playwrights freely exploring the development of a story. Working as an ensemble and listening and answering are key to the success of creative storytelling.
Acting a Song
Young actors will learn the technical terminology and skills needed perform a song with confidence and ease. Faculty will guide students through vocal exercises to warm them up to prepare for singing. Songs will be approached from the position of an actor with the logic, intention, and emotion behind the music being analyzed and truthfully expressed. The students will present a dynamic interpretation of a brief song in a duet or trio, and a group number. The group number will be taught in a musical theatre style with staging.. Some solos may be given depending on time permitted. See Song Interpretation below for requirements for the Middle & High School students.
Acting for Film & TV
Students will learn to translate the principles learned in their Meisner Technique class to acting on-camera. They will learn technical skills, but will also focus on truth and vulnerability. Exercises and material will be recorded on film and played back each class. Thus, students can observe their performance and quickly apply feedback and critique to improve their skills. Topics covered will include terminology, cold readings, monologues, scenes, and auditions.
Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique pays special attention to problems of posture, relaxation, and preparation as it relates to the actor. Frederick Matthias Alexander developed his exercises in the 1890s to help rid himself of harmful habits so that he could have stamina and vocal energy to perform Shakespeare. To this day it is used in many acting programs to help actors use their instrument (body and voice) strongly and vibrantly with the least amount of effort.
Audition
This class will not only introduce the business side of the acting industry but also provide Junior Actors with an opportunity to apply the technical skills learned in their acting class to a professional situation. Audition techniques will be grounded in the Meisner approach of ‘the art of doing’ and encourage students to creatively interpret and execute sample audition material. Audition protocol, terminology, and representative material will be discussed and practiced in this class.
Audition/Monologue Workshop
This class prepares students with a one-two minute theatre monologue (s) for performing arts programs, director showcases, agents and casting directors. Building on the tools learned in the Meisner Technique Classes and improv classes that "acting is doing," this workshop will help the students interpret text and use their emotional foundation to convey meaning and make an impact in a short amount of time.
Commercials
Students will learn the unique skills required to be a commercial actor. Scripts, known as commercial copy, will be used to to help students analyze text and bring the 30-60 second spots to life. Subjects introduced will be terminology, protocol, and the practical skills necessary to audition and perform commercials in the industry. Relationship to the camera is key to express the message of the commercial..
Dance/Movement
Agility and range of physical motion are vital qualities for the actor. The teacher works with each student on an individual level to refine their specific ability to dance and express through movement. The class will consist of warm-up, floor exercises, and dance combinations becoming more intricate and challenging as the course progresses. Dance and movement will be approached as skills for the actor and emphasis will be placed on imbuing one’s movement with intention, commitment, and expression.
Improvisation
Improvisation is about spontaneity and committing to choices in performance. Improvisation class will give students the tools to become creative, impulsive, and fearless as a young actor. Students will be asked to use their imagination while the teacher guides them through effective, energetic exercises tailored to provide the skills necessary to keep their performance alive and organic.
Improv Comedy
Taught by UCB comedy improvisation professionals, this class is structured to ignite the imaginations of teens and teach them the practical tools used to execute comedy improve (sketch) material. Improvisation is grounded in spontaneity, but improvisation performance requires structure, planning, and technical prowess. Students practice exercises designed to enhance their ability to perform comedy and improvisation material to keep their improvisations alive and moment-to-moment.
Intro to Modern Dance/Modern Dance
From technique to performance, the student will practice the fundamentals of dance (ballet, modern, and jazz) and learn energetic exercises and combinations, which become progressively intricate as the course progresses. You will apply these skills to an exciting and creative piece of choreography.
Make-Up
This fun and exciting class will introduce students to the art of stage and film make-up application. Students will learn make-up application techniques for a camera ready look. This will include sanitation guidelines, preparing and caring for the skin, use of tools and brushes, product information and step order procedure. Students will also learn aging techniques and choose as a group one special effect look they would like to learn.
Musical Theatre
There are two Musical Theatre classes offered depending on the program and enrollment. For the Saturday program, students will create their own musical theatre piece. They will be the writers and composers of the lyrics, music and story. For the Summer program, the Musical Theatre course will focus on introducing students to the American songbook. All students will learn the world of musical theatre under the guidance of a professional choreography and musical director. Combining the technical skills learned in voice and movement classes, students will be taught to express the dramatic circumstances of an original or published piece. Regardless of which program, students will learn musical theatre terminology, protocol, and participate in solos, duets and/or chorus selections. Ensemble work is very important in this class.
Performance Skills
Performance Skills is a class that focuses on what it takes to prepare for public presentations. The class is designed (1) To help the student develop his or her collaboration, problem-solving, and spontaneity skills; (2) To continue to work on speech, enunciation, pronunciation, projection and articulation through improv exercises, and (3) Combine the above skills and apply them to an interview/audition scenario. These techniques will build confidence and flexibility to handle any situation where the student is required to be "him/herself" in an interview, audition, presentation, or performance situation.
Stage Combat
Conflict is essential to dramatic circumstances, and physical conflict in theater, film, and television material is almost as common and necessary. A professional fight choreographer will instruct students in the vigorous and physical discipline of stage combat. The skills, terminology, and protocols used to execute physical conflict in performance will be covered. Junior Actors will be able to present their stage combat skills in a controlled and convincing way.
Voice Overs
Students will learn the unique skills required to be a voice-over actor. Actual scripts, known as commercial or voice over copy, will be read and analyzed. Relationship with the microphone is key to express the emotion of the text to fully convey meaning. Each student will bring his or her own unique style to this class.
Voice and Speech
Clarity and expression in the actor’s voice is essential. Students will learn physical and vocal exercises designed to build and maintain a strong, versatile vocal instrument. The teacher works students through both group and individual exercises designed to improve pronunciation, articulation, and projection.
Shakespeare
As the English language is commonly referred to as ‘the language of Shakespeare’, it is with pride that Junior Actors learn to perform scenes and soliloquies with clarity of expression and understanding of text. Students will learn the skills needed to bring classic and modern interpretations to performance.
Song Interpretation
Older students are immersed in musical terminology, exercises, and materials used to audition and perform songs in the professional industry. Cutting of songs to 8-16 bars is crucial for audition purposes. Faculty will guide students through exercises to address the unique needs of each voice, in addition to working as a group. Singing will be approached from the position of an actor with the logic, intention, and emotion behind the song being analyzed and truthfully expressed. The class will culminate in each student presenting a dynamic brief song that can be used in any audition setting where singing is required. The difference between this class and Acting a Song is in the maturity of the material geared to the Middle & High School student.
