July 6, 13, 20

Donna McKechnie
Auditioning for Musical Theatre
3 Sundays, July 6, 13, 20
3:00pm - 5:30pm
Class Fee $102

This class will focus on the student’s individual and personal approach to integrating music, text, and movement; whether auditioning for Broadway, opera, cabaret, or concert; through relaxation exercises, improvisation, and personalizing character and story. For dancers, singers, and actors!!! This is a 2 1/2-hour class for fifteen students. Basic acting training or experience is required for this course. Interested students please submit a picture and resume to the Studio’s 3rd floor office by June 6, or by email to info@hbstudio.org. Please mark to the attention of Donna McKechnie.

Donna McKechnie on Broadway: original production of A CHORUS LINE (Tony Award), Sally in FOLLIES (1998), STATE FAIR (Fred Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer), HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED... (national tour), THE EDUCATION OF HYMAN KAPLAN, and SONDHEIM—A MUSICAL (choreography also). Regional: Cole Porter’s YOU NEVER KNOW (Pasadena Playhouse), I DO! I DO!, MISALLIANCE, THE GOODBYE GIRL, and GYPSY. London’s West End: Cole Porter’s CAN CAN (Strand Theatre) and NO WAY TO TREAT A LADY (choreography also, Arts’ Theatre). Music and cabaret: full-length autobiographical show INSIDE THE MUSIC (text by Christopher Durang), opera debut in DIE FLEDERMAUS (1996, San Francisco Opera), and other concert, cabaret, and orchestra performances. Nominations: Mac Award for Best Female Singer and Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Major Engagement for her cabaret show MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, Helen Hayes Award for Bob Fosse’s SWEET CHARITY, and L.A. Theater Alliance League’s 2001 Ovation Award for Best Featured Actress in MACK AND MABEL. TV: FAME, CHEERS, FAMILY TIES, TWIRL, DARK SHADOWS, and others. Her memoir, TIME STEPS, MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, was released last year by Simon and Schuster.

July 12, 13

Janine Pearson and Ann Skinner
A Language Bath: Shakespeare to Contemporary
Saturday/Sunday, July 12 and 13
11:30am - 2:30pm
Class Fee $60

As artists, we find ourselves living in a predominantly visual culture while pursuing a craft which demands oral attention. This two day Language Bath hopes to address the concerns that actors face while working with different kinds of text. Skills gleaned by working with classical text can be applied to any script. In Shakespeare we believe that all words are important, but do we really believe this not to be the case with contemporary text? I have never met a living playwright who thought that each word did not hold meaning. So, how do we work with language? How do we get it into our body, into our voice, and eventually moving through an action. This Intensive will provide a practical journey into this connection. Text(s) will be provided, but participants are also encouraged to bring their own.

Janine Pearson is head of voice and coaching for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. She is an instructor in the Festival's Conservatory and teaches for the Education program there. She teaches at and is on the board of the Centre for the Arts (Toronto) and is on the advisory council for Ryerson University's Theatre School. Previously: Head of voice and associate artistic director (English program) of the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. She has taught and given workshops across Canada, the U.S. and England. Coaching/teaching credits include HB Studios (New York) and Brock University (Voice Care and Development for Educators). Recent television credits include Triple Sensation (CBC). Janine holds an ADVS from the CSSD (England); Bmus and a BFA from the University of Regina; AssocMusDip from the University of Alberta; and singing and language studies at the Humboldt Institut (Germany). Janine lives in Stratford, Ontario, with her husband, Ian Watson, and their daughter, Anik.

Ann Skinner is the former head of voice at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival (1989-1997), The National Theatre School of Canada and George Brown College (Toronto). Ann has taught at Equity Showcase and Maggie Bassett Studio (Toronto), University of Ottawa, Concordia University, Caravan Stage Company and B.C.'s Open Space. With Richard Pochinko she co-directed student young companies at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and founded the Theatre ResourceCentre. She has led workshops at the Magdalena International Voice Festival for Women in Wales.

With Marion Woodman and Mary Hamilton she co-created Body Soul Rhythms, an eight-day intensive for women. This work has taken her across Canada, to Europe and the U.S. She's also external examiner for the voice studies program at University of Texas, Austin. She has kept her connection with Stratford as guest artist, teaching workshops and master classes for actors and coaches as well as coaching for the Festival’s Conservatory.

July 27

Tony Vellela
Character Studies: Thornton Wilder's OUR TOWN
A one-day intensive
Sunday, July 27
10:30am - 1pm AND 2:15pm - 4:30pm
Class Fee $45

For Actors, Playwrights, and Directors. Hone your skills for researching and analyzing a role! U sing his experience as an award-winning playwright, journalist, theatre critic, and as writer/producer of the PBS series “Character Studies,” Mr. Vellela shows how to examine a script in detail, providing tools and insight for discovering the playwright’s backstory for its characters and their internal agendas.This special one-day workshop will use George, Emily, and the other inhabitants of Thornton Wilder’s classic OUR TOWN as examples, exploring why they are who they are, their relationships with the other characters in the play and to each other. Character Studies will expand your ability to make personal choices in creating a role, to scour the text for clues about behavior, motivation and action. Actors, directors and writers will discover methods to employ to make each character real, three-dimensional and alive. Please come prepared for this session, having read or re-read the play at least once within a week of the workshop. There will be an hour lunch break between the two parts of the class.

Tony Vellela is the writer/producer of the PBS series “Character Studies,” [www.characterstudies.net]. His award-winning play ADMISSIONS which received three New York productions all directed by Austin Pendleton, won the Best Play Award at the New York International Fringe Festival, and was published by Playscripts. He has also served as a Broadway critic and theatre reporter for several publications and is the resident critic at dramabookshop.com.

August 3, 10

Alec Harrington
Advanced Shakespeare Workshop
Two Sundays, August 3 and 10
12:00pm - 3:00pm
Class Fee $42

This 6 hour workshop is for students who have already had some Shakespeare training. All students will participate in vocal and physical warm-ups and be introduced to advanced scansion of verse and the approach to verse speaking used by Professor Harrington. All students are expected to bring a prepared Shakespeare speech to the workshop. Work with each student will be based on the instructor’s observations of the speeches and discussions of the student’s experience with and current approach to acting Shakespeare.

Alexander Harrington is artistic director of The Eleventh Hour Theatre Company for which he has directed Richard II; Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2; and Henry V. He has also directed Twelfth Night, Much Ado about Nothing, and a second production of Henry V. Other classical and modern classic productions include Aeschylus’ Agamemnon; Anouilh’s Antigone; Seneca’s Trojan Women; Seamus Heaney’s adaptation of Antigone, The Burial at Thebes, and Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Harrington is an assistant professor of Theatre at Clemson University, where he teaches directing, theatre history, and acting Shakespeare. He has been an adjunct Professor at the Gallatin School at NYU, where he taught courses on Shakespeare, Greek tragedy, and directing. He has been a guest instructor at the Actors Studio Drama School and Simon’s Rock College. He has published several critical articles on Shakespeare which have been anthologized, as well as publishing his two-part stage adaptation of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, which he directed at the Culture Project and La MaMa.

August 6

John Charles Murphy
Introduction to Comic Acting/Clown
Wednesday, August 6
6pm-8:30pm
Class Fee $19

An introductory workshop for students interested in Mr. Murphy's Fall term Comic Acting/Clown class. This class builds on a particular brand of comedy tailored to the student’s personality. The work explores the boundaries of comedy by discovering and developing the character (and mask) of the clown. Movement incorporating objects and costume further expand the comic presence. Individual and group improvisations lead to the construction and the staging of scenes. Student investigate the humorous side of their characters, by drawing upon their own unique way of seeing and experiencing the world. The course includes exercises to refine the senses, to strengthen awareness, studies in the qualities of movement, rhythm, tempo, and aesthetics. Open to students with stage or theatrical experience and/or the desire to communicate through humor.

John Charles Murphy received an M.A. from the University of Colorado; and Completion Diploma, Ecole Jacques Lecoq. He is a Certified Teacher of Feldenkrais Method, Awareness Through Movement; actor, director, writer, and producer; has taught acting and performance studies in Europe and the United States; has acted in plays, film, television and commercials; collaborator with Mummenschanz.

August 11

Janis Brenner
Movement/Voice/Theatre Improvisation
Monday, August 11
1:00pm - 4:00pm
Class Fee $30

This one-day workshop intensive integrates movement, voice and acting by delving into the mind/body connection, sensations and experiences through structured improvisations. The class includes a movement warm-up as well as a vocal/singing warm-up from which we will move into free-spirited improvisations first in duets and groups, culminating in solo character studies using this interdiscipliinary approach to performance. We will work on building both a "community" of performers as well as an holistic, fully-integrated, solo artist. The workshop is open to all actors, singers, dancers and "triple threat" performers. Ms. Brenner's work is based on her many years with Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Meredith Monk, and her own unique approach as a dancer/choreographer/singer/actor/teacher. These workshops have been conducted throughout the world including Russia, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Senegal, Austria, Germany and throughout the U.S. and New York City.

Janis Brenner, award-winning dancer/choreographer/singer/actor/teacher, is Artistic Director of Janis Brenner & Dancers in New York. She has toured in 30 countries and is recognized as a "singular performer" with a multifaceted artistic range. Grants/awards: a "BESSIE" for her performance in Meredith Monk's work, Lester Horton Award for Choreography in LA, NY Foundation for The Arts Fellowship, grants from the US State Department., Asian Cultural Council, Trust For Mutual Understanding, UNESCO, and The Fund for US Artists at International Festivals for tours to Indonesia, Taiwan, Senegal and Russia. Her work has been commissioned/restaged on companies and colleges in Europe, Asia and throughout the US. She is a sought-after teacher conducting workshops in technique, improv, repertory and vocal work. Brenner has an acclaimed debut CD with Theo Bleckmann, Mars Cantata. She's worked extensively with Michael Moschen as Co-Choreographer (including PBS' "Great Performances") and with Murray Louis Dance Company working with Rudolf Nureyev, Placido Domingo, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Joseph Papp, Alwin Nikolais, and has appeared Off-Broadway at The NY Shakespeare Festival. In February, 2007 "Janis Brenner & Guests: A 25th Anniversary Celebration" was a critically-acclaimed highlight of the New York winter season. www.janisbrenner.com
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August 12, 19, 26

Matthew Arkin
Commercial Voiceover Intensive
Tuesdays, August 12, 19, 26
12:30pm - 2:30pm
Class Fee $51

This is a practical workshop designed to acquaint the student with the specific techniques involved in performing commercial voiceover and radio copy. Students will practice the basics of mike technique, acquire tools to discover the point of view demanded by the commercial copy, and will learn how to translate that understanding into a compelling performance at an audition or a recording session. The student will also gain perspective on demo tapes, casting directors, agents and the audition process.

MATTHEW ARKIN studied technique, scene study and Shakespeare with Ms. Hagen, and also studied with Austin Pendleton and Sheldon Patinkin. Broadway: THE SUNSHINE BOYS, with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall, LOSING LOUIE, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR (also national tour). Off-Broadway includes Gabe in Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize winning DINNER WITH FRIENDS (Drama Desk nomination), MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS, ROUNDING THIRD, and Barbara Dana’s WAR IN PARAMUS, directed by Mr. Pendleton. He has worked extensively in regional theater, most recently receiving acclaim as Charlie in Theresa Rebeck’s THE SCENE at both The George Street Playhouse and Hartford Stage. Film includes indies SECOND BEST, and RAISING FLAGG, THE CURSE, and BITTERSWEET PLACE, as well as DEATH TO SMOOCHY, LIAR, LIAR, NORTH, and AN UNMARRIED WOMAN. Television includes recurring roles on RESCUE ME, 100 CENTRE STREET and ALL MY CHILDREN, as well as the PBS pilot COPSHOP, THIRD WATCH, HACK, THE EDUCATION OF MAX BICKFORD, ED, THE STREET, SIMPLE JUSTICE for PBS, KOJAK, THE DEFECTION OF SIMAS KUDIRKA, as well as all incarnations of LAW AND ORDER. He has also performed voiceovers for hundreds of television and radio commercials, and for more than two years was the voice of Discovery’s The Science Channel.

August 13, 20, 27

Ian Marshall
Stage Combat: Contemporary Weapons
3 Wednesdays, August 13, 20, 27
12:30pm - 3:30pm
Class Fee $63

Knives, bats, lamps, extension cords and other handy props. Why fight with your hands when you can use your environment - safely. An introduction to some useful stage combat techniques.

Ian Marshall is a theater/opera director and movement specialist. Teaching: Yale University (graduate acting and opera departments), NYU, Circle in the Square, and The Classical Studio. Directing: HAMLET, KING JOHN, COSI FAN TUTTE, SUOR ANGELICA, and the NY premiere of A.R. Gurney’s THE GUEST LECTURER (among many others). Movement, choreography, and fight direction: HB Playwrights Foundation, Ensemble Studio Theater, Atlantic Theater, National Shakespeare Company, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Bronx Opera Company, Chelsea Opera, Pulse Ensemble Theater, 13th Street Rep, CBS’ The Learning Channel, Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, music videos, commercials and many independent films. Ian is also the co-founder of United Stages, the audience-building resource for Off-Off Broadway and all New York performance.

August 3, 10, 17