2009 RMTA Festival Classes & WorkshopsMaster Teachers
Workshops & ClassesNote: Unless otherwise stated, all workshops are for all experience levels. Limits are based on room size, equipment needs, and teachers’ request. Teachers will try to accommodate as many students as possible. 20th Century Costuming - An overview of 20th Century costume designers including Paul Poiret (Ballet Russes), Adrian Greenberg (The Wizard of Oz), Theoni Aldredge (Annie, A Chorus Line), William Ivey Long (Chicago), Julie Taymor (The Lion King) and more. Acting for Camera - Explores the nuances and possibilities of acting for the camera. Acting Restoration Period Style - Hands-on acting workshop will explore how the culture of the restoration period presents itself in the acting style. Students will learn to master the body positioning and properties of the time period. Advice to the Playhouse Owner - A Panel - Discuss the pro’s and con’s to opening a new theatre. Auditioning for Musical Theatre - Covers resumes, head shots, repertoire choice, stage fright, 16-bar audition, and professionalism. Beginning Hawaiian Hula and Middle Eastern Belly Dance - Learn the basics of Polynesian and Belly dance styles. Move your hips like you always wanted to! This movement is therapeutic for tight hips and backs and increases core coordination. Beginning Musical Theatre Dance - learn musical theater dance basics, including commonly used steps, combinations & performance qualities. Beginning Stage Combat - Learn Slaps, Punches, Hair pulls and so much more! Breaking into the World of Technical Theatre - discuss the do’s and don’ts of getting into the technical and design industry. Contact Improvisation - a great way to introduce movement to non-dancers; based on the work of movement expert Judith Chaffe, this workshop will explore the communicative, pedagogical and performance possibilities of contact improvisation. Creative Stage Management: Caring for the Production & the People - Focus on application of general stage management skills to individual situations of the participants. Prioritizing rapport and relationship as keys to a healthy process and strong product, we will discuss the tools of the stage manager. Wednesday, 3:00 - 4:30 Thursday, 10:00 - 11:30 Digital Swag: Software for Design & Production - Visit the wealth of open source, freeware, and shareware software available for the performing arts. No laptops necessary. Directing with Physical Metaphors - Involves scenes exploration and physicalizing the directors’ concepts. Each director will create “physical metaphors” which tell the story of the scene and underscore the concept. Directors can use physical metaphors to add depth to their staging, and help create meaningful, concept linked blocking and staging. Dress to move. Exploring the World of Masks - Hands-on workshop that introduces participants to basic mask performance techniques including basic mask ‘etiquette’ and movement techniques. Masks will be provided. Fitzmaurice Voice Work - Introduction to the basic principles of the Fitzmaurice Voicework technique, which combines the philosophical and physiological attributes of voice production that contribute to a resonant and vibrant sound. This technique is not limited to stage work, but can also be applied to singing and public speaking. Ideas About the “Real World” for Lighting Designers & Master Electricians - A brief introduction to the professional realm for student designers; the money, the business, and the life. Improv for Actors (an introduction) - An exploration of improvisation, and why you shouldn’t be afraid of it! An acting career means a lot of lines in the water . . . add tools to your repertoire! Bring your baggage, and be prepared to blow your own mind! Introduction to Isadora for Sound and Video Designers - Isadora is a flexible graphic environment that provides interactive control over digital media. Isadora is being used by hundreds of artists worldwide including the Royal Shakespeare Company, Mort Subotnick, Rosemary Lee, Maya Ciarrocchi (for Bebe Miller and Merce Cunningham). Participants in the workshop will learn key techniques and philosophies required for using Isadora. LED Lighting for the Theatre - An overview of the advantages and challenges of using LEDs to light your stage. Issues addressed include comparative brightness, energy savings, initial costs, and long-term cost savings. A variety of LED light fixtures that are manufactured for theatrical use will be demonstrated. The Mini-Musical - Participants will work together in groups toward a goal of a “mini-musical” inclusive of scene work and performance. Movement to Define & Develop Character - Learn the tools & approaches to using movement to help define and develop authentic, multi-layered characters and relationships. Raising the Bar on Auditions - Practical strategies for successful auditioning. We will discuss how to give a good introduction, what makes a good monologue, and what directors are looking for. Other topics include resumes, cold readings, and callbacks. Please bring a monologue you are working on and/or ones you wish to consider. Revolution in Digital Media in the Arts - A look at how new technologies are being integrated in the work at companies like Industrial Light and Magic and Disney Imagineering will reshape the kinds of skills required to be competitive in Theater & Film, and more directly, how the job market will evolve due to the introduction and acceptance of these technologies. Roy Hart Vocal Technique - A physical approach to the study of the voice. Through body work, we uncover the capacity of our voices. We will explore how the body can hold us back from the potential of our voice both in singing and voice for the actor. Six Viewpoints & Mary Overlie - Open the doors of perception and meditate and explore theatre in its particles: Space, Shape, Time, Emotion, Movement & Story. We will learn and use the concept of the Horizontal so that we may discover equality in our collaborations and in our choices on stage. “Skins” Anatomy: The Making of a Scene Documentary - A screening and discussion of the documentary which explores the making of Fort Lewis College original production of Skins at La MaMa E.T.C, New York City Stanislavsky System Through Open Scenes - Playing objective, tactics, obstacles and given circumstances through open scenes. Stage Combat - Learn how to execute realistic yet safe unarmed fight techniques for stage. Vacuumforming Plastic for Props and Set Pieces - Learn different types of vacuumforming plastics and how to make simple forming equipment on a budget. Mold-making for masks, props, costumes, and set pieces will be discussed with photos of example projects. By the end of the session, anyone should have enough information to create his/her own equipment and start creating exciting things! Viewpoints - A movement technique for actors and performers to develop a working relationship to space, time, shape, kinesthetic response, and story. It is a tool that can be used to create character and develop original work. Vocal Production for Actors - A practical workshop with exercises and practice for good vocal health, stage projection and diction/articulation as well as improvement of vocal tone. Wayang Kulit & Shadow and Light - Probably one of the oldest traditions of storytelling, and certainly one of the most complex, Wayang Kulit utilizes the shadow screen, as a portal or doorway to other realms, and a single light/life source, one can discover great possibilities for adventure as well as creative explorations. The forms for this workshop come from Bali and Java. Writing About Theatre - Theatre critics view stage productions through the lens of culture, history, and craft. When writing about theatre, a critic will evaluate not only the performances of individual actors, but sets, lighting, the words written by the playwright, and the way the director brings all elements together to form a play. In this workshop, we will explore the multiple ways of viewing, responding to, and writing about theatre. Yoga - An introductory level class focusing on yoga poses and breath-work to minimize stress and increase circulation to the brain. Learn basic techniques to prepare for tests and performances! For more information please contact Scott Kadera at 970-247-7089 or kadera_s@fortlewis.edu. |
