Acting

Learn the fundamentals of acting through scenework, monologues, and acting exercises. Become in tune with your unique rhythms as an actor as you work in partnership with other actors. This is a safe and fun environment where you can make mistakes, learn from each other, and hone your skills all at the same time.

Advanced Acting

Take your skills one step further and learn to listen and respond on stage. Make bold choices and stay keenly focused in the moment. Guided by the Instructor, prepare a scene with a partner to present on the final day of the Summer Conservatory.

Voice/Singing

An actor’s voice is their most precious commodity, and it must be treated as such. In this class, we will help you find a natural placement for your voice and train you in projection, tone, and breathing techniques in both speaking and singing. With these tools in place, you will have increased vocal control and confidence and will be able to tackle a wider range of roles in both straight plays and musicals.

Movement

Different roles require differences in posture, fluidity of motion, tension, and all roles require physical control. In this class, we will expose you to different dance and physical exercises that allow you to move more freely. We will also explore the physical characteristics demanded by particular roles, and examine the physicality of animals and unusual characters.

Audition Skills

Getting an audition is a great moment for any actor. But you need to be prepared to show them your stuff. The speech must be learned, and every moment in it worked through. Learn how to choose the right piece, and how to break it down into parts, making bold choices through-out. If you learn the art of auditioning, you will be way ahead of your competition.

Introduction to Shakespeare

Though William Shakespeare wrote his plays 400 years ago, he’s still the King and there’s no doubt about it. Learn what he wrote and how to read it and make sense of it. Plan to see one of the many Shakespeare Festival performances in the Bay Area this summer.

Acting Shakespeare

Okay—you got your first role in a Shakespeare play. Now what? We’ll be working speeches from some of Shakespeare’s finest in a local park; and giving you the chance to breathe life into these glorious words. There is an art to acting Shakespeare, and it’s important to know how to jump in and not to fear it. We’ll show you how to speak the words trippingly on the tongue.

Physical Theater

Clowning, pratfalls, juggling and the many aspects of physical comedy are skills every actor should have in his or her back pocket. In this class, you’ll learn the timing, precision, and execution of physical theater in all of its forms.

Improvisation

An actor must know how to respond quickly and truthfully, in any scene and any situation on stage. Through spirited warm-ups, games, exercises, and improvised scene-work, you will develop a strong ability to be in the moment and make it work.

Stage Combat/Yoga

As an actor, you will be called upon to slap, punch, and kick other actors and it all must be completely safe, exciting to watch, and believable. A stage fight can make or break a scene. This class will teach you the techniques needed to keep you safe and precise as you depict acts of violence. We will train you to use stage combat to develop your skills in communication, intention, clarity of movement, and strength of character. For the final day of the Summer Conservatory, you will present a short scene using the stage combat skills you have learned.