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 Drama
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/Song Interpretation
Students will learn the technical terminology of music and the skills needed to 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 & text being analyzed and then truthfully expressed. Students will work on interpretations of songs in a variety of combinations: solos, duets or trios, and group numbers. The group number will typically be taught in musical theatre style with staging. The difference between Acting a Song class and Song Interpretation is the material covered. Song Interpretation may deal with more intense subjects and is reserved for the older students.
Acting for Film & TV
Students will learn to translate the principles learned in their Acting and/or Meisner Technique classes to acting on-camera. They will learn technical skills, but will also focus on truth and vulnerability. Exercises and materials will be recorded on film and played back during class. Thus, students can observe their performance and quickly apply feedback and critique to improve their skills. There are moments when the camera is not used. These classes will focus on rehearsals and blocking of scenes. 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 Drills
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. Techniques taught will help to build confidence in any professional situation: an interview, audition, presentation, or performance.
Audition/Monologue Technique
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. Dance is taught in all age groups and in all programs (Summer & Saturdays). 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, improv exercises, and dance combinations becoming more intricate and challenging as the students age through the program. 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. A variety of styles could be covered from hip-hop to modern dance to musical theatre.
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
This class is structured to ignite the imaginations of students and teach them the practical tools used to execute comedy improv (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.
Make-Up
This fun and exciting summer 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
Students combine skills learned in singing, dancing, and acting for this unique class. As an elective in the Saturday program, students write their own book to a musical they create based on shared, creative ideas. Songs used will come from Broadway, Pop, and the American Song Book. All students will learn the world of musical theatre under the guidance of a professional choreographer and musical director. Students will learn musical theatre terminology, protocol, and participate in solos, duets and/or chorus selections. Ensemble work is very important in this class. This class ends in performance.
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.
Vocal Technique
This class provides a warm, nurturing environment introducing the foundation of healthy singing - breath and alignment, placement and tone - so that students gain a deeper understanding of their own voice, while building confidence. We study the anatomy of the voice and establish warm up routines geared to the age of the students. This foundation is expanded upon with ear training exercises and games, explorations in phrasing and musical interpretation, and an introduction to music theory (touching on sight-reading, rhythm, dynamics, and notation). All of this is then applied to assigned music (solos, duets, or group numbers) in a way that connects technique to interpretation so students perform with ease and confidence. Fostering a love of music is key.
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. This class is often combined with the Alexander Technique.
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 to bring modern interpretations to classic works.
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 Drama
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/Song Interpretation
Students will learn the technical terminology of music and the skills needed to 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 & text being analyzed and then truthfully expressed. Students will work on interpretations of songs in a variety of combinations: solos, duets or trios, and group numbers. The group number will typically be taught in musical theatre style with staging. The difference between Acting a Song class and Song Interpretation is the material covered. Song Interpretation may deal with more intense subjects and is reserved for the older students.
Acting for Film & TV
Students will learn to translate the principles learned in their Acting and/or Meisner Technique classes to acting on-camera. They will learn technical skills, but will also focus on truth and vulnerability. Exercises and materials will be recorded on film and played back during class. Thus, students can observe their performance and quickly apply feedback and critique to improve their skills. There are moments when the camera is not used. These classes will focus on rehearsals and blocking of scenes. 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 Drills
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. Techniques taught will help to build confidence in any professional situation: an interview, audition, presentation, or performance.
Audition/Monologue Technique
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. Dance is taught in all age groups and in all programs (Summer & Saturdays). 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, improv exercises, and dance combinations becoming more intricate and challenging as the students age through the program. 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. A variety of styles could be covered from hip-hop to modern dance to musical theatre.
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
This class is structured to ignite the imaginations of students and teach them the practical tools used to execute comedy improv (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.
Make-Up
This fun and exciting summer 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
Students combine skills learned in singing, dancing, and acting for this unique class. As an elective in the Saturday program, students write their own book to a musical they create based on shared, creative ideas. Songs used will come from Broadway, Pop, and the American Song Book. All students will learn the world of musical theatre under the guidance of a professional choreographer and musical director. Students will learn musical theatre terminology, protocol, and participate in solos, duets and/or chorus selections. Ensemble work is very important in this class. This class ends in performance.
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.
Vocal Technique
This class provides a warm, nurturing environment introducing the foundation of healthy singing - breath and alignment, placement and tone - so that students gain a deeper understanding of their own voice, while building confidence. We study the anatomy of the voice and establish warm up routines geared to the age of the students. This foundation is expanded upon with ear training exercises and games, explorations in phrasing and musical interpretation, and an introduction to music theory (touching on sight-reading, rhythm, dynamics, and notation). All of this is then applied to assigned music (solos, duets, or group numbers) in a way that connects technique to interpretation so students perform with ease and confidence. Fostering a love of music is key.
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. This class is often combined with the Alexander Technique.
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 to bring modern interpretations to classic works.
