2-DAY CLASSICAL ACTING WORKSHOP
SHAKESPEARE'S TRAGEDIES:
THE SCOTTISH PLAY
Saturday & Sunday, February 16 & 17, 2019
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Manhattan Theater Club
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Instructors: JULIE CONGRESS, DANIEL SULLIVAN and ANDREW WADE
‘Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it.’
For four hundred years Shakespeare’s dark contemplation on the moral destruction brought on by regicide has held us riveted. Come learn how to make some of Shakespeare’s most famous language come to tense, riveting life with DANIEL SULLIVAN, one of the best most-acclaimed directors of our era and brilliant voice instructors ANDREW WADE and JULIE CONGRESS. Whether you’re interested in brushing up your Shakespeare chops for your next production, or simply in having a good time this is the intensive for you.
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Essential Question:
How do actors use Shakespeare’s text along with their physical instruments to fully explore the potential of a scene? How can we utilize those same skills to be more effective actors, listeners, and creative communicators?
Course Objectives:
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Increase the flexibility of your physical and vocal instrument
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Develop a greater awareness of your body and voice
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Explore techniques for delivering language from Shakespeare’s plays with nuance and truth
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Explore how Shakespeare utilizes prose or verse to create complex characters
Enduring Understandings:
Shakespearean Plays are universal and have stood the test of time. A flexible, confident voice and body are essential for effective presentation of a character on the stage. A deep understanding of Shakespeare’s prose and verse, his use of rhythms and rhetoric is essential to finding the timing, honesty and humor in his plays.
Instructors:
DANIEL SULLIVAN has directed more than forty productions on Broadway—outpacing any living director—in addition to scores of productions Off Broadway and at regional theatres throughout the United States. He has served as artistic director for the Seattle Repertory Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. He also serves as resident artist for the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theatre. He was honored with the 2001 Tony Award for his direction of the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Proof by David Auburn. He has also been nominated for the Tony Award on six other occasions. Productions directed by him have been nominated for more than fifty Tony Awards. Awards: Theatre Hall of Fame, George Abbott Lifetime Achievement Award, the Obie Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, the NAACP Image Award, the Ovation Award, the Joan Cullman Award for Extraordinary Creativity, and the Julia Hansen Award for Excellence.
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ANDREW WADE joined Royal Shakespeare Company in1987, as Voice Assistant to Cicely Berry and from 1990 to 2003 was Head of Voice. Since leaving RSC, Andrew has worked extensively in a freelance capacity leading workshops, master-classes and coaching productions. He is now Director of Voice & Speech, Public Theater, Adjunct Faculty at Juilliard and Director of Voice, HARRY POTTER, Broadway. With Cicely Berry they recorded WORKING SHAKESPEARE, a series of workshops with leading American and British actors exploring practical approaches to Shakespeare's language. Andrew trained at Rose Bruford College and is a Fellow.
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JULIE CONGRESS is currently Voice Associate on the upcoming Broadway production of King Lear. She serves as Voice Associate at the Public Theater, working with Andrew Wade on nearly 20 productions downtown/Shakespeare in the Park, as well as being his associate on Othello (NYTW) and Matilda the Musical. Julie has been the voice coach on productions at Trinity Rep, Vineyard Theater, Long Wharf, and the national tours of Motown the Musical and American Girl Live. Faculty: Stella Adler Studio of Acting.
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Schedule:
Saturday
12:00 - 2:00: Voice Work with ANDREW WADE
2:00 - 3:00: Meal Break
3:00 - 6:00:Table Work with DANIEL SULLIVAN
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Sunday
10:00 - 12:00: Open Rehearsal Space
12:00 - 2:00: Voice Work with JULIE CONGRESS
2:00 - 3:00: Meal Break
3:00 - 6:00: Scene Work with DANIEL SULLIVAN
Preparation:
A scene will be assigned a week before the class. Prepare it as best you are able. Memorization is encouraged but not required.
Materials:
A Copy of the Scene Packet and a journal is recommended to record notes and observations. Comfortable clothing that you can move and breathe freely in and a water bottle is strongly encouraged.
Concerns? Questions?
Contact Nathan Winkelstein.
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Faculty subject to change.
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