By Southwester Staff
Arena Stage’s line up of virtual classes for winter has something for everyone. Families, theater lovers, students, adults, and emerging theater artists have a wide choice of events to choose from. Any one of these offerings would make the perfect gift to share with family and friends, or yourself, in 2021!
Family Creativity Workshops use theater games, visual art and imagination for family members to build connections while they explore what makes their family unique. Arena’s Director of Education Ashley Forman leads these workshops which are open to participants ages 5 and up. Family members should be in the same physical space. Classes will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 and March 13, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Each class is $30 per family and $25 for members and Southwest neighbor discounts. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/202021-family-workshops/.
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Classes for Theater Lovers:
Insider Lecture Series is for everyone but is designed specifically for theatergoers that are interested in learning more about the process of making theater. Each class is $30/$25 member and Southwest neighbor discounts. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/202021- theater-lovers/.
Feb. 6, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Bit by Bit, Putting Steps Together: Inside the Choreographer’s Process with Parker Esse is an in-depth look at the collaboration between director, music director, costume designer, set designer, lighting and sound designer, and the role they play in shaping a choreography for a production, spanning from the first creative team production meeting to the opening night performance.
Feb. 20, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Prop Culture: The Oddities and Adventures Backstage with Jenn Sheetz features the extraordinary skills the prop shop brings to each project by highlighting specific props, showing their first concept from the script, describing how they are found or built, and ending with their final design onstage. Stories about a dead goat (Sylvia), a tiger sofa that breathes, gutting a large fish, kitchen destruction, blood rig hidden in a chair, rolling cigars, real animals, and many more!
March 6, from 10:30 a.m.-Noon
Dressing to Impress: Costuming the Leading Ladies of Arena Stage with Joseph Salasovich features the process of bringing the garments to life on the stage and celebrate the fantastic designers and skilled artisans in the costume shops.
Drama Book Club: Reading and Watching Contemporary Plays with Naysan Mojgani and Rebecca Campana
features four contemporary American plays. Participants will explore the context of the play on the page and in performance, analyzing artistic choices, themes and characters, and discussing their discoveries. A list of plays will be provided in January 2021. Participants will furnish their own copies of the plays and pay any associated streaming fees. Classes run from Feb. 4–March 25, 2021, and meet every Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. The 8-week class is $250/$200 member and Southwest neighbor discounts. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/202021-theater-lovers/.
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Masterclass Workshops for adults (ages 18 and up) are interactive opportunities to learn more about an aspect of theater and participate in related activities. Each class will meet twice for two-hour sessions on Wednesday and Friday via Zoom in an intimate setting of 10-16 people per class. Each class is $70/$60 member and Southwest neighbor discounts. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/202021-winter masterclasses/.
Feb. 3 and 5, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Choreography with Parker Esse
Note: Participants will have an opportunity to create choreography and should be dressed to move.
Feb. 10 and 12, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Directing Snapshot: The Heiress with Seema Sueko
Feb. 17 and 19, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Acting: Audition Preparation with Franchelle Stewart Dorn
Note: 20 seconds! The decision to hire is generally made within the first 20 seconds. Make the most of that time in an audition setting. In preparation, bring a favorite or new audition piece, no longer than 2 minutes and age appropriate.
Feb. 24 and 26, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Playwriting: Writing Dialogue with Eduardo Machado
March 3 and 5, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Stage Management: Solving Puzzles with Christi B. Spann
March 10 and 12, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Lighting: The Heart, The Mind and Lighting Design with Xavier Pierce
March 17 and 19, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Playwriting: How to Write a Monologue with Jacqueline E. Lawton
Note: Read Elinor Fuchs’ A Visit to a Small Planet, Suzan-Lori Parks’ Advice to Young Playwrights, and José Rivera’s 36 Assumptions about Playwriting. These documents will be emailed to participants prior to the workshop.
March 24 and 26, 2021, from 5-7 p.m.
Acting: Script Analysis for Scene Work with Nehal Joshi
Note: Participants who want to perform need to prepare a monologue or song no more than 3 minutes long. Memorization is preferred. Performers should have read and be familiar with the play or musical their piece is from.
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Virtual Winter Classes for Youth are one hour and meet once a week for eight weeks via Zoom. Classes range from $120-$145. Zoom links are emailed to registered participants. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/202021-winter-classes/.
Mondays: Feb. 1–March 26, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Acting for the Camera for with Mauricio Pita
Grades 6–8
*Note: No class on Monday, Feb. 15 (Presidents Day)
Final class on Friday, March 26 (in lieu of Presidents Day)
Tuesdays: Feb. 2–March 23, 2021, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Hip-Hop Dance with Brandon Glass
Grades 4–5
Wednesdays: Feb. 3–March 24, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Fashion Design with Jamila Madyun
Grades 4–5
Thursdays: Feb. 4–March 25, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Mini Musical with Wes Braver and Rebecca Campana
Grades 5–8
Fridays: Feb. 5–March 26, from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Sign and Song with Brandon Glass
Grades 6–8
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Voices of Now Mead Ensemble is for dedicated young artists, performers, writers and activists in grades 7–11. The ensemble will provide a fun and engaging environment in which to write, perform, and share stories. For the 2020/21 season, the Mead Ensemble will train via Zoom in the Voices of Now devising process and will be introduced to the work and techniques of other notable companies that devise original theater and film. The Mead Ensemble will perform in and contribute to an original, autobiographical feature film that will be presented globally via our Arena Stage website, as well as international film festivals in June of 2021. The film will be the combined work of 10 ensembles. Space is limited. Previous performance experience is not required. Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., starting Feb. 6 and ending May 22, 2021. To register and learn more, visit https://www.arenastage.org/education/voicesofnow/mead-ensemble/.