Workshops
SESSION 1 ONLY
Acting Technique: First You Find the Monologue
Anne Bergeron, University of Minnesota, Duluth
The first step to a successful audition is finding the material to showcase your skill. This workshop will help you choose wisely for your next open call.
Choosing a College for Any Major: Things You Need to Know
Janet McLean, Viterbo
Learning about what you need to start doing in your junior year of high school if you want to go to university. How to prepare for the college application process including what to ask when you visit campuses and what you need to do in high school if you want get the best financial aid package possible.
Creating with the Voice
Stan Brown, University of Nebraska Lincoln
Basic breathing, sound production, and speech taught within the context of games/play. Actors will work through a progression of exercises to explore the unique qualities they each bring to inhabiting character through text.
Laban Movement Analysis
Tracy Salter, Graceland University
Ever feel stuck or trapped in your choices for movement while developing your characters? Learn the movement technique of Rudolf Laban. Concentrating on Laban Motion Factors (Space, Weight, Time and Flow) and Efforts (Float, Glide, Dab, Flick, Punch/Thrust, Press, Slash and Wring) students will learn and apply Laban Movement through kinesthetic experience. Laban may also be applied to vocal choices as well as assist actors in emotional connection!
Lighting in Real Theatres with Real Budgets
Brian Hatfield, DesignLab Chicago
Lighting systems are a complicated system including power distribution, dimming, consoles, signal and fixtures. In this discussion of Lighting systems we will discuss how to evaluate your current lighting system from the ground up. Work through basic budget numbers and a timeline of how to approach your administration. We will help you the theatre user figure out if it is really necessary to upgrade your system or should you really wait another year.
Musical Theatre
Karla Kash, Drake
Love musical theatre? Want to learn how to improve on auditions and know what auditors are looking for? Then join Karla Kash, Head of Musical Theatre at Drake University to learn more. You can come and participate or come and observe. If participating, please bring audition sheet music, in correct key. Prefer 16 bars (90 seconds or less).
Practical Playwriting
Jonathan Dorf, Professional Playwright
I’ve written a play. Now what? In this workshop, we’ll talk about the practical side of playwriting as we discuss such topics as Where to Submit Your Play, What to Do When They Say “Yes”, the Playwright’s Bill of Rights, Getting Published and Marketing Your Work.
Scenic Design: Thinking Outside the Box
Jerry Onik, Heartland Scenic Design
This workshop will discuss play analysis and using parallels in creating a design for directors. Come with an open mind.
Set Design: Creating an Environment for Your Actors
Bob Fowler, Practical Technical Theatre
This workshop addresses the basic concepts of set design: production/design concept, line, script analysis,
mass space relationship, working with other designers and the rest of the production team, sight lines, directional compositions, theatrical styles, basic scale drawing, designing sets that can be quickly changed, and model sets. Participants should bring a pencil and blank paper to this workshop.
SESSION 2 ONLY
Audition Techniques: Shaping Your Audition for Success
Ann Bergeron, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Every moment of your audition counts. This workshop will breakdown the component parts of an audition and provide insights on how to use each effectively.
Being Successful in the Tech Challenge
Jerry Onik, Heartland Scenic Design
This session will discuss the things that can make or break your tech challenge ultimate outcome, discussing the events tips and tricks. Strengthen and expand your physical stage presence! Don’t know what to do with your hands or arms on stage? This workshop will utilize aspects of mask performance to expand your physical presence on stage as well as increase your sense of play. Come dressed to move!
Careers in Theater
Bob Fowler, Practical Technical Theatre
So you’re thinking about a career in theater? This workshop addresses NY and regional theaters, touring
productions, and ways to make a living doing theater as a teacher, performer, designer, technician, or administrator. How to work your way into the different unions is explored, along with how to live a “normal” life and still make a living doing theater.
Directors Round Table
Randy Stone, Indianola High School, Facilitator
Come discuss your successes and frustrations of the past year. Get suggestions from fellow directors on how to handle issues facing you and your program.
Introduction to Stage Combat
Karla Kash, Drake
Interested in learning how to fight on stage safely, while still making it look realistic? Then join fight director Karla Kash, Head of Musical Theatre at Drake University for an introduction to unarmed stage combat moves. Please come prepared to move.
LEDS in Color Theory
Brian Hatfield, DesignLab Chicago
LEDs are a new source of light for the theatre industry but how does this change the color theory we use everyday? Where can we use this new technology? Should we still use our old lights? LEDs are a source of great mystery for many designers. While still new LEDs should be considered in your arsenal of tricks and strategies! In this class review basic color theory and begin branching out into the world of LEDs. Learn what they are and how our eye mixes their color. Find out how LEDs compare with incandescent fixtures and if they are better or worse than you thought. We will have a live demonstration of color theory during the discussion to help illustrate what is really happening.
No Fear Shakespeare
Stan Brown, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Students will work through a progression of steps and exercises to discover their physical, emotonal, and intellectual response to Shakespeare’s text.
Preparing an Audition Package
Janet McLean, Viterbo
Discover what makes a good audition package if you are auditioning for a university program in theatre or music theatre ( or for a professional company). How to prepare your resume, consider your headshot, pick appropriate monologues, approach physicalizing your character in limited spaces, and dress appropriately.
The Scottish Dialect
Tracy Salter, Graceland University
Vary Your Voice! Expand Your Character Choices! Students will learn the Russian Dialect through the use of the incomparable tool of IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet), audio-visual clips, coaching and practice.
Screenwriting 101
Jonathan Dorf, Professional Playwright
Want to write a movie script? Whether you want to shoot a short in your backyard or hope to sell your feature script to a production company, learn all the basics of format, structure and visual storytelling that you need to get started.
SESSIONS 1 & 2
Beginning Playwriting
Robert AuFrance, Waldorf College
Do you want to write a play, but don’t know where to start? This workshop is set up as a series of writing games to help the beginning playwright start developing those great ideas into original plays. Participants should bring pencils, paper, and lots of creativity.
Breaking in to the Business
Scott Slechta, Fairfield High School
Are you interested in pursuing a career in talent / modeling / acting? Many guidelines and hints will be given to those students and adults who want to know basic information: vocabulary / terminology, agents / managers, auditions / call backs, and photos / resumes. The participants will actually begin resume writing as their first step in this career choice.
Building a Portfolio
Chad Kolbe, Viterbo
In this session I will cover the basics on how to create a design and technology Portfolio. I will show examples and go over the dos and don’ts of portfolio development. Students who have a portfolio started are encouraged to bring it, along with questions about the process. Questions and discussion are encouraged.
Cold Reading Audition Techniques
Steven Marc Weiss, Coe College
Cold readings can be daunting, to say the least. They are especially challenging toactors who may be unfamiliar with the entire playtext from which a scene derives. It is never enough just to get the words out right and to project them adequately, although that is as far as many auditionees ever get. Farmore essential is the ability “on the spot” to make strong, playable choices that are vitally active--even if they may not turn out to be the choices ultimately made in production. And it is even more essential to “make connections” with the other readers and share a true “give-andtake-in-the-moment” with them. This workshop is designed to help student actors negotiatecold readings to make the best possible impression regarding their “castability.” Scene “sides” from a contemporary play will be provided, and the session will include a mock “trial” audition.
Defending the Caveman—An Advocacy Plan to Get out of Your Safe Place and Promote Your Program While It is Still Strong
Ben Martin, Educational Theatre Association Board of Directors
For BOTH students and teachers. In a time when we feel like our programs are threatened, here are steps we can take to find allies in surprising places to not only keep our programs alive but to allow them to flourish. Ideas for local, state, and national application. Handouts will be available. Be ready to get fired up and motivated about being an arts advocate!
Ensemble Building
Danny Yuska
Recommended for both the leader and the follower. For the teacher and the student. The coach and its player.
And the director and his actor/technician. In this workshop you will approach a group of dynamic people, and learn how to use everyone’s skills to better both the process and the product when it comes to working on any type of production. Learn how to become an effective team member through the use of game playing exercises. Also learn how the act of listening helps concentration and focusing abilities. A fun and interactive workshop. Prerequisite: An open mind and participation; no needed preparation.
Exploring Viewpoints
Ryan Decker, UNI
Participants will explore shape, gesture, kinetic response, spatial relationship, and other Viewpoints as tools for spontaneity, awareness, and creating performances.
Landing the Role: From High School to Hollywood
The New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts
In this dynamic on your feet, on-camera workshop we explore the keys to landing the role in anything, anywhere. Whether you want the lead in the school play, to get accepted to the college of your dreams, or the book the lead in a feature film, this is the insider information you need to know. Taught by a professional actor who has worked in theatre, television and film, this is the chance to see what it REALLY takes to land the role.
Makeup 101
Duane Cowger
A class for student interested in leaning to apply stage make up. From basic to the sublime. No matter what show you are designing for. Come and learn from a professional make up artist (for both on stage and off) Demonstrations will be given, and your make up questions will be answered.
(Neo-) Futurism & the High School Actor / Writer
Neil Scharnick, Carthage College
The Italian Futurists and Chicago Neo-Futurists created and refined a theatre unlike any other -- explosive, fastpaced, confrontational, and personal. This workshop will provide students and teachers with the understanding and tools to develop this type of work themselves, providing opportunities for students to write, act, and direct, while making meaningful, personal, enjoyable theatre.
Play’s the Thing
Kenosha Carr and Jessi Kadolph, University of Northern Iowa
Need to put the festive back in your festival? Come play with us! Play interactive and fun activities with two current UNI Theatre students in an open minded and creative atmosphere. This session will focus on icebreakers, energizers, and relaxation activities. Come ready to move and to make new friends at the festival!
Publicity
Mike Bawden, Bawden & Lareau Public Relations
Mike Bawden covers all the publicity essentials for your next show. Subjects covered include: Setting objectives for your PR effort, Identifying essential resources, Creating a killer show synopsis, Designing graphics with impact, Using social media to promote your show, How to pitch your story, Stunts that work, and How to learn from your mistakes.
Rendering Tips and Tricks
Scott Olinger, Cornell College
This workshop will focus on simple methods to improve your costume/scenic/lighting rendering skills, with
consideration of mixed media, collage, and computer applications in particular. Participants are encouraged to bring work to consider as well as drawing pencils, colored pencils and other easily portable media. All skill levels encouraged.
Shakespeare’s Roadmap
Kenneth Z. Kendall
This workshop will offer an introduction to the Folio Technique, which uses clues in Shakespeare’s texts to help actors perform the words of the Bard. Attendees should come into the workshop with a basic knowledge of Hamlet and Iambic Pentameter.
Simple Modelmaking for Decision Making
Mark Parrott, University of Northern Iowa
The workshop will be an exploration of super simple model making techniques to assist in scenic design decisions. Participants will have the opportunity to develop a simple scenic design for a popular Shakespeare production. Bring a digital camera!
Singing on the Broadway Stage
Jacqueline Thompson, Potpourri Fine Arts Academy
Singing on stage is totally different than singing in a choir or competing in a solo contest. Learn how to project with or without amplification. Also learn how to utilize blocking and choreography for vocal projection. And ways to support your voice while you’re dancing.
Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Thespian Festival
Jessica Vaught and Jeff Rohrick
Comedic performance is based as much in physicality as it is in dialogue. This seminar will explore comedic physicality in three ways: through introductory movements/freeze techniques with a comedic approach; character development through the use of facial and body masks to portray comedic emotions; and finally, the application of two types of physical comedy - comedic stage violence and acrobatic lazzi. Participants will then synthesize all these techniques through a brief, improvised scene.
Special Effects Make-Up
Mike Saunders, Prescribed Films
Learn how to create effects such as burns, bruises, cuts, scars, and wounds all on a modest budget.
Status
Hardy Koenig, North Dakota State University
As we go through life sometimes we are assigned a certain status by different aspects of our life. Sometimes we earn status by what we do. Status and how we fit in with the world around us can change from moment to moment. This workshop will explore the ways status can be identified and used by actors to help solidify dramatic action, goals and obstacles, and character.
Styles of Musical Theatre Dance
Christina Myatt, Owner & Artistic Director,
Center Stage Performing Arts Academy
Just as musicals are classified differently, so is the dance within them. Typically, dance in musicals fits into 1 of 4 different overarching styles. Come find out what they are, learn a combination in each style and find out how knowing can improve your performance during a dance audition. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to move. Dance shoes welcome but not necessary.
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