Acting & Musical Theatre

The Acting and Musical Theatre program gives interested students the opportunity to study the practical and theoretical elements of live theatre. The program integrates classwork and practical workshops with an active production schedule that includes two main-stage productions a year and a variety of student projects.

Emphasis on acting preparation through the study of various techniques in acting (Meisner and Stanislavsky, Bogart, Chekov method), voice and diction, and physical techniques are highlighted. Students will hone their powers of observations and attention to detail as well as their creative problem solving skills. Learning to form, organize and articulate ideas and listen to others in rehearsal and performance is the ultimate goal.

The Acting Department offers several 7 Week Class Series options throughout the year. Check out our Spring 2022 series of ‘The Hobbit’ directed by Robin Frome.

Class Levels

Center Stage 1: Ages 7-11

This course is an overview of the American Musical Theater through the study of its’ elements and its’ history as well as hands on experience with 2 musical pieces. This course addresses how to approach the imaginary circumstances of musical acting by working with objectives, obstacles, tactics, relationships, beats and personalization. as well as explores the music, lyrics and libretto of a musical and teaches the student to look at (and listen to) these components of a musical for clues to character development.

Students will perform in our annual Winterfest & SpringFest shows.

Center Stage 2: Ages 12+

Students will perform in our annual Winterfest & SpringFest shows.

7 Week Acting Class Series (Spring): Ages 9-12

Wind in the Willows
Directed by Robin Frome
Ages 9-12

Beginning Tuesday, March 28th
(No class on Tuesday, April 11th)
5:00-7:00pm
$350

A performance class culminating in a production of Wind in the Willows on Sunday, May 21st at 3:00pm & 6:00pm

Take a wild ride with Toad, Ratty, Moley, Badger and the rest of the colorful characters in our exciting rendition of Wind in the Willows; a hilarious romp in the British Countryside circa 1908. Actors will audition and take on the major parts of the story in appropriate ‘Mercer’ costuming, against a ‘Scott Wise; original set from that time era. Each actor will be fully trained in the British dialect that will make the written story come to life.

Register Here!

Teen Theatre: Ages 12-15

This class explores the principles of the Stankislavski method tailored especially for this age level. Through improvisations, scene and monologue study, audition techniques, voice and diction training, some stage dialect work and performance in one or more one act plays or scenes, students will learn the basics of character development, technical blocking and stage directions and performance values. The class will culminate in a performance of scenes, monologues or a one act and a collection of improvisation games in front of a live audience.

Scenes and Monologues: Ages 14-18

This class explores more in depth the Stanislavski method principles tailored to the high school age. Students will continue to explore the human condition through scene and monologue study, more advanced audition techniques including mock auditions in front of professional actors and/or teachers, more advanced voice, diction and physical acting practices including basic Alexander method breathing techniques and more advanced stage dialect work. The class will culminate in a performance of rehearsed scenes and monologues from various genres.

7 Week Adult Acting Series (Winter): Ages 18+

7 Week Adult Acting Class Series with Robin Frome

Ages 17+

Beginning Wednesday, January 11th
7:30-9:00pm
$225

Celebrating the late Neil Simon’s playwright genius with study and performance of scenes and monologues from his hit shows.

Class will culminate in a performance of these works.

Masks Optional. Register Here!