Can’t wait until age nine to start at Drama Studio? Then wait no longer! Due to popular demand, we are now offering a class for younger actors. In “Acting Up” we’ll explore a fun introduction to acting through improv games, theatre play, stories-on-stage, and creative movement. Bring your imaginations as you get a head start and join us for a Drama Studio class just for you!

Acting Up (AU)

Ages 6-8. beg. 9/15/23 for 20 weeks

Section A : Fridays, 4:30-5:15PM, beg. 9/15/23

Section B: Fridays, 5:20-6:05 PM, beg. 9/15/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Introduction to Acting is a full year course, September—May. This course offers an exciting curriculum to introduce students to the acting process. Both 201 and 301 offer work in improvisation, movement, scene and monologue work, and ensemble building. As students advance in acting skills, they learn to take risks, work comfortably within a group, concentrate, and think on their feet. They develop skills of self-expression, awareness, and “being in the moment.”

Introduction to Acting 201

Ages 9-12

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Section A: Mondays, 5:50-7:20 PM, beg. 9/11/23

Section B: Thursdays, 4:15-5:45 PM, beg. 9/7/23

Section C: Saturdays, 1:15-2:45 PM, beg. 9/9/23

Introduction to Acting 301

Ages 13-18:

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

Tuesdays, 4:30-6:00 PM, beg. 9/12/23

This course is a great way to start "life at the Drama Studio" in the spring and will prepare students for the 201 or 301 class in the fall. Come join us for a fun introduction to the Drama Studio's theatre classes! In just one semester, we'll sample improvisation games, scenes, monologues, and ensemble theatre. Students will also receive free tickets to all productions, and the chance to attend shows as a class.

Introduction to Acting 101

Ages 9-12

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Saturdays, 3:00-4:00PM, beg. 1/20/23

#101 Teen Ages 13-18: for new students

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

Saturdays, 3:00-4:00 PM, beg. 1/20/23

No previous experience needed for this fun introduction to choreography! This course introduces students to basic dance technique, emphasizing foundations of creative movement, modern and jazz dancing. Students will grow in body awareness, strength, flexibility, and coordination as they learn basic dance vocabulary, contact technique, and choreograph their own dances.

Introduction to Dance for Actors (IDA)

Ages 9-18

Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 AM, beg. 9/9/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Prepare to advance your theatre training! What do you need in your next year of acting? In YAP each actor will have the chance to build his/her acting technique and skills through a broad range of improv games, script work, monologues and created ensemble theatre pieces. YAP allows for more in-depth individual focus on each actor’s goals, as the improv games and script selections will be developed based on each actor’s needs and advancement. What will your YAP year bring?

Young Actor Prepares (YAP)

Ages 10 - 12

Section A : Ages 10-12

Mondays, 4:15-5:45 PM, beg. 9/11/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest and Austin Yelinek

Through creating and exploring different character forms, students will advance in acting skills, build scene study techniques, and gain improv experience. This course will allow students to zero in on their character work, and have the fun of creating a wide range of characters, from realistic to stylized. Through improv, monologues, stories, scenes, fantasy, and theatre games, students will have the challenge of fully investing in the characters they create and bring to life.

Character Work, (CW)

Ages 10-13

Thursdays 5:50-7:20 PM, beg. 9/7/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

With material drawn from contemporary scripts, monologues, and improvisation, students learn how to approach a script, how to stage a scene, and how to bring a character to life. Students explore subtext, motivation, and relationships and learn about character development, improvisation, timing, and movement.

Introduction to Scene Study (ISS) Ages 10-14

Wednesdays, 4:15-5:45PM, beg. 9/13/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Through improvisation, ensemble forms, writing, and scene work, students will develop monologues and scenes using material and stories from their own lives. The class will learn how to create a range of characters, interact in a performance ensemble, and further refine acting and movement skills. This course will create a series of pieces that highlight each student’s personal narrative.

Inside Out (IO)

Ages 11-15

Wednesdays, 5:50-7:20 PM, beg. 9/13/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

Using techniques of story theatre, students will create pieces based on the well-loved Aesop’s fables. They will select fables that have meaning for them and set them in improv pieces relating to their own lives. They will gain experience in creating a range of characters, both fabled and realistic, and develop monologue, movement, and ensemble skills.

Aesop’s Improv, (AI)

Ages 10-15

Saturdays, 11:30–1:00 PM, beg. 9/9/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

An introduction to the basic concepts of Improvisation for Actors. Students will learn how to create clear scenes by focusing on the Who, What, and Where. We will understand how to craft a good scene in the moment, using the tools of Yes And. A variety of fun and fast-paced games and exercises will give students a strong base from which to grow their improv skills.

Improv Technique I

Ages 11-14

Wednesdays,4:45-6:15pm, beg. 9/13/23

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

Students will hone their improvisational skills through in-depth work creating exciting characters and relationships that can be sustained over time leading to exercises in long-form improv. In this class students will be challenged to build strong foundations of scenes and avoid going for the easy laugh. The course provides a solid base of skills for anyone who wishes to pursue work in advanced comedy.

Improv Tech II

Ages 14-18

Thursdays, 6:30-8:00PM, beg. 9/7/23

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

Students will develop an ensemble approach to improvised comedy scenes, with an emphasis on long form improv and character development. Enrollment by audition.

Advanced Improv Troupe (AIT)

Ages 13-18

Mondays, 6:00-7:30 PM, beg. 9/11/23

Instructor: Phoebe Olin

No previous experience needed for this fun introduction to choreography! This course introduces students to basic dance technique, emphasizing foundations of creative movement, modern and jazz dancing. Students will grow in body awareness, strength, flexibility, and coordination as they learn basic dance vocabulary, contact technique, and choreograph their own dances.

Introduction to Dance for Actors (IDA)

Ages 9-18

Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 AM, beg. 9/9/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

ICW is an intensive workshop class for dancers wishing more experience with choreography. Students will focus on developing small group dance pieces, working one on one with the instructor to develop the work, using choreographic principles, music, poetry, lighting, and...who knows? Enrollment by permission of instructor.

Intermediate Choreography Workshop (ICW)

Ages 13-19

Fridays, 7:00-8:30PM, beg. 9/8/23

Instructor: Amelia Hays-Rivest

This class will ground the young performer in a nuts-and-bolts approach to acting. Students will learn in-depth text analysis, including how to divide a scene into beats, identify character objective, and tactics, and recognize operative words and phrases. Students will also learn how to get the most range from their natural speaking voice and how to connect with and support their acting partner. Course will include field trips to college and professional theatres.

Advanced Scene Work (ASW)

Ages 14-18

Fridays, 5:00-6:30 PM, beg. 9/8/23

Instructors: Dan Morbyrne

This class offers advanced professional training for experienced actors who have completed upper level courses at the Drama Studio. Students will study a variety of techniques from a diverse array of approaches to actor training. The class will use a mix of contemporary and classical scenes and monologues, as well as the creation of original work, to explore these different methods of performance. Training will include voice and text work that will allow students to maximize their vocal power; movement techniques to help actors become more clear, grounded, and dynamic on stage; and exercises designed to help students increase their emotional range and achieve greater truth and honesty in their performances. 

Permission of the instructor is required.

Advanced Acting Technique (AAT)

Ages 15-18

Tuesdays, 6:15-7:45 PM beg. 9/12/23

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

An exciting course for students interested in the craft of playwriting, based on the premise that playwriting is an extension of acting. Students will learn the basic principles of playwriting through written exercises as well as improvisation work and complete a one-act play (10-15 pages in length). Plays written on the adolescent experience will be eligible for production in the Studio's annual Winter Shorts Festival of one-act plays.

Playwriting (PW)

Ages 9-adult

Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 PM beg. 9/13/23

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne & Amelia Hays-Rivest

An intensive course in musical theatre, with the emphasis on classical American song from the period 1910-1960. Students will build repertory, explore acting choices in presenting songs and develop a musical revue of songs to be presented at the final class each semester. Private coaching is a vital part of this course.   As in recent years, the students will meet as a group about 5 times a semester; the remaining classes will be individual and can be flexibly scheduled.  

Permission of the instructor is required.

Musical Theatre (MT)

Ages 13-18

Thursdays, 4:00-5:00 PM, beg. 9/14/23

Instructor: Steve Hays

An eight week course in the art of stage combat, introducing students to hand-to-hand, quarterstaff and pole exercises, then moving to rapier and dagger, broadsword and longsword. Students will learn the rudiments of fight choreography and the rules of performing safe combat on stage

Stage Combat

Ages 14-18

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

Session A

Saturdays, 11:15-12:45PM,beg. 9/16/23

Session B

Saturdays, 11:15-12:45PM,beg. 1/20/24

This course offers an exciting curriculum to introduce adults to the acting process. Through an exploration of improvisation, scene work, movement, voice, and ensemble building, students will learn a variety of approaches to the art of performance. We will play, take risks, and develop skills of self-expression, awareness, and clear, truthful communication. Open to anyone ages 18 and up.

Adult Acting

Ages 18+

Saturdays, 1:00-2:30pm, beg. 9/9/23

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne

This course offers an exciting curriculum to introduce adults to the acting process. Through an exploration of improvisation, scene work, movement, voice, and ensemble building, students will learn a variety of approaches to the art of performance. We will play, take risks, and develop skills of self-expression, awareness, and clear, truthful communication. Open to anyone ages 18 and up.

Adult Acting

Ages 18+

Saturdays, 1:00-2:30pm, beg. 1/20/24

Instructor: Dan Morbyrne