CURRENT SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
2009

Ongoing weekly workshops rotating between Stretch work, Scene Study (incorporating the Trigger Approach), and Audition & Cold Reading Technique.

Class Location:
Seydways Acting Studios
Native Sons Building
414 Mason Street, 4th Floor, Suite 406
(between Geary and Post Streets)

Monday/Wednesday Class
The Monday and Wednesday classes are currently focusing on improvisational "stretch" work, where we used structured improvisation design to help actors expand their range, and audition work.

The stretch work is one of the core ways of working at our studio. Starting with the assumption that all actors have strengths and weaknesses in their work, we identify an area to focus on. Using very structured improvised scenarios, we work towards going more deeply into this new area, expanding emotional range, language and physicality.

The audition work introduces a wide variety of concepts designed to very quickly and effectively improve your audition technique when working from a script in an audition, both cold and prepared. We will cover the process of how to quickly analyze a script and make strong choices, create a routine and checklist for yourself whenever you analyzing a script, learn to control the time and create rhythmic variety, find essential physical actions, scan for punctuation, and much more. I will also give you a series of exercises to practice on your own that will vastly improve your ability to pick up lines off the page quickly. Also covered will be topics such as working with a reader, headshots, resumes, cover letters, reels, and agent and casting director submissions.

Time: 6:30PM - 10:30PM
Cost: $70.00 / week
Class size is limited to 12

Tuesday Acting For Singers Class
Acting For Singers is a unique class I have been developing over the past 10 years in my work with singers at the SF Conservatory of Music and with musical theatre, jazz and cabaret performers in the SF Bay Area.

This class is designed to help experienced singers feel less self-conscious on stage and more connected to their emotions, while allowing the music to inform rather than hinder their ability to be in the moment. Many singers, especially in the classical world, believe that focussing on their acting choices while singing gets in the way, but my experience with singers has found just the opposite to be true. The very act of being present and in the moment as an actor frees up the breath, irons out pitch and diction problems and allows the inner life to ride on the voice with full expression, effortlessly. The effects on the voice are often quite dramatic when singers incorporate acting techniques into their work, and many students find a tremendous new-found freedom vocally and emotionally when they place their focus on character, situation, physicality, and making strong choices imaginatively with the text, instead of watching and listening to themselves. Acting for Singers is about bridging these acting techniques in to the world of the singer/performer. This class is for singers of all types (opera, musical theatre, cabaret, jazz, etc.) but requires vocal training and experience with working on music. The focus is primarily on the acting side of performing as a singer, rather than vocal production, breath technique, diction, etc. Sight reading is not a requirement, though I will ask you to bring your own pieces to work on, including sheet music for the accompanist.

Time: Two sessions: 2:00PM - 6:00PM and 6:30PM - 10:00PM
Cost: $75.00 / week
Class size is limited

Acting for Film Weekend Intensive
If your focus is on-camera work, LA-based filmmaker Daniel Gamburg and I will be teaching our next film intensive on May 16th and 17th, 2009. The film class is limited to 10 students. Acting for Film is a weekend workshop designed to teach actors of all levels the techniques needed to work in film and television. This class is co-taught by Bay Area acting coach Bobby Weinapple, and LA based filmmaker Daniel Gamburg. Unlike other on-camera classes this workshop is taught by experienced filmmakers who give an in-depth analysis as to how your on-camera performance is crafted in the editing room, shot by shot, moment to moment - giving you the tools necessary to work in film. For best results and use for acting reels, all scenes are lit and shot with a professional camera and microphone.

For Sample Clips from class and more information on Daniel Gamburg, go to http://www.actingoncamera.org

Here's what the class offers:

• Scene work from film scripts with individual feedback.
• How the camera sees your type.
• How to prepare without rehearsals, using trigger work.
• Delivering one-liners for Commercials and Day Player roles.
• Film Set rules (eye line, continuity, and blocking - working with camera movement).
• Auditioning on camera.
• Scenes on digital video for use on your film reel.

Time: Saturday, May 16th, 10am - 6pm and Sunday, May 17th, noon - 6pm
Cost: $275.00 for 2 day seminar ($100 non-refundable deposit to reserve space)
Class size is limitedto 10 students