Have you - yes, you, the talented one - been looking for a fun & creative outlet through which you can express your talents? Then we have an opportunity for YOU!
Public Playhouse Conservatory is an intensive four week program, culminating in a showcase production. Conservatory meets Monday thru Friday and is open to performers ages twelve to eighteen. Theatre professionals deliver morning workshops, which may include Acting, Improvisation, Movement/Voice, Writing/Directing, Makeup/Costumes, Musical Theatre, Storytelling, Audition Techniques, Technical Theatre, and Stage Combat. Afternoon rehearsals focus on the importance of ensemble, dedication and discipline in creating quality theatre.
ACTING
Learn the basics of acting, starting with warm-ups involving facial, vocal, and movement exercises and proceeding through characterization, physicality, projection, and everything else you should know before you set foot onstage! Some acting experience is helpful but not required; an open mind and positive attitude are essential.
WRITING & DIRECTING
Want to tell a story onstage? Or maybe you have a script and actors, but don't know what the next step is? Learn the basics of playwriting, including character, conflict, dramatic arc, climax and resolution; then match actors to scripts and put them onstage, learning the basics of blocking, pacing, and helping actors find characterizations. If you've ever wanted to be the "big boss," this is the class for you.
IMPROVISATION
Working with a script is one thing, but how do you keep a scene or character going without one? For fans of "Whose Line Is It Anyway," this is a class for you. Learn how to think on your feet quickly, how to "give and take" with your fellow actors, and how to make it all look easy.
VOICE & MOVEMENT
A more specialized class building on tools learned in Acting. Hone and perfect two of an actor's most essential tools: how one speaks and moves onstage. Experiment with different vocal tones, patterns, and accents; then use your physicality to convey more with an eyebrow and a shrug than a page of dialogue.
MAKEUP & COSTUMES
If theater is illusion, these are two of the "magic paintbrushes" that make it so. Learn how makeup works in relation to lights, and how to make someone look years older or younger with just a few special effects. Turn frogs into Princes and Princesses and back again! Then explore how costumes can make or break a character and how one simple prop - a hat, a cape, a pair of glasses - can make all the difference.
MUSICAL THEATRE
Lots of people can act - but can they sing and dance, too? Find out as we take you on a tour of what's required to stage a musical and the ways they are similar to (and the ways they are very, very different from) plays. Is it easier to teach an actor to sing, or a singer to act? Find out!
STORYTELLING
One of the most unique and underrated examples of theater, the Storyteller dates back thousands of years - even older than theater itself in some cultures. Learn how to capture and hold an audience through this one-person art form that can enchant and astonish even more than a full-scale theatrical show with a cast of 50.
AUDITIONING
Think you're more talented than those wannabees on "American Idol?" The secret is often in how you present yourself in a 2-minute "first impression" to the director and creative team. Learn how to walk in the door of a theatre and walk out knowing you've just nailed the role of your dreams. Do creative work with monologues and songs, as well as receive practical information on headshots, resumes, and networking.
TECHNICAL THEATRE
The "FX" wizards - a.k.a. "the Men and Women In Black"--who make lights and sound cues work are some of the most powerful and creative people working in theatre. Learn the basics of tech work, and why these folks are often a productions hidden "MVP's." Any background in computers, music, electrical or carpentry will pay off here for you.
MOVEMENT & COMBAT
This is special class in the art of portraying a character through physicality and stage combat. Learn how those Shakespearean folks pull off death-defying duels involving swords, rapiers, sticks, or just plain hand-to-hand combat without injuring themselves or others. Note: THIS IS A SERIOUS CLASS. SAFETY WILL BE OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
SHOWCASE
The "Best of the Fest!" We will be culling the best actors, scenes, special effects, and demos from the conservatory for a final presentation to dazzle and amaze your classmates and friends. Who's that taking the bows up there? Why, it's YOU!
TUITION & SCHOLARSHIPS
Public Playhouse Conservatory reserves funds each season for need-based scholarships to ensure artistic growth in young people is not limited by financial boundaries. Contact us at conservatory@publicplayhouse.org for more information.
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