**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than a year and a half to no tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Anyone can memorize lines, but an actor has to bring their character and dialogue to life through “truth.” How does an actor approach a scene and how do they recreate, process and control emotion? How do proper breath support, body language, physicalization of character and intention play a role in the success of an actor’s performance? How do they discover, process and respond to what is in the scene around them, and how do they convey their objectives and obstacles to the audience? Learn how to find clues in the text that relate to who your character is as a person, their objectives and obstacles, and how to make character-driven choices that lead you to a more truthful performance. Explore techniques that push you to greater heights, build confidence, help you become a stronger scene partner, and a better-rounded performer.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with more than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Using song, character expression and choreographed movements and gestures as storytelling tools, students will assemble a mini-musical based upon a story or fable that they will perform for families on the final class. (A new mini-musical is explored each session for recurring students.) Students will be cast in various roles and provided with a script and recorded music tracks. The class will also include special craft projects which will be incorporated into their performance. All students must be available for their performance on the final date (March 14). Class materials will be provided through a Google Classroom.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Explore a variety of exercises and techniques of “Method Acting”: how to develop a character, to commit to the circumstances and truth of the moment, to play intention instead of just emotion, and bring more truth and realism to your acting performance, and apply those techniques to scene work.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
In this class, we will explore the actors job from the moment the script is in your hand. Learning how to recognize beats (thought transitions) that the playwright has written, to character development, this class will explore the relationship between the actor and the playwright. The class will work cohesively as an ensemble working on scenes, monologues and even song interpretation, (you don’t have to be singer) with special guest directors and accompanists.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. Explore a variety of comedic styles including improv, sketch, physical comedy, parody and stand-up. Sharpen your timing, heighten your creative instincts, develop your own comedic characters and ideas, while you also build trust in your scene partners, learn to listen and “pass the ball,” commit to the given circumstances in a scene, and bring freshness and spontaneity to your acting performance.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
Improv is unscripted, allowing artists to draw from their own instincts, shed their inhibitions, and build confidence and ease onstage. It also allows them to build trust among their fellow performers, commit to the given circumstance of a scene or situation, build upon their ideas, and bring freshness, adaptability and spontaneity in their performance. These skills also apply to social, presentational, interview, and business situations. In this eight-week class, you’ll develop creative reflexes through a series of theatre games, impromptu scenarios, and character and team-building exercises.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Young actors will build comfort and confidence in learning to use their bodies as acting tools. Acting requires more than words. Actors use their bodies and facial expressions to inform the audience of what kind of personality they are, and what they are feeling and thinking. Just simply how a character stands or how they walk can tell us an awful lot about them. (A giant would move very differently than a mouse, for example.) In this class, students will use music and movement exercises to get in tune with their bodies creatively, and explore how body language, posture, gesture and facial expression can be used as effectively as a costume in order to create a character. They will also use masks and work with props.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Musical theatre singing is not just about vocal quality, but also character and storytelling as well. In this class, students will examine a few different Broadway numbers, not just building vocal technique and blending as an ensemble, but also exploring character choices and story line as well. Over the eight-week session, students will rehearse and stage their numbers, and perform them for families in a showcase during the final class! (Different musical selections are made each session for recurring students.)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
Writing the sort of content you see from Saturday Night Live or Key and Peele is about more than simply doing something funny for the sake of being funny. Solid writing always comes from forming a strong central idea, then utilizing humor to explain your idea to the audience. The same applies to dramatic forms of writing: each scene of a play must center around a strong idea around which all dialogue and character choices are built. In this class, learners will identify themes that they are passionate about, format a strong thesis about those themes, then evolve those thesis statements into an original piece of writing where their unique creative voices shine. By the end of this class, you will not only present hilarious content to your audience, but you will identify who you are as a storyteller and deliver comedy that speaks to your audience in the unique way of which only you are capable.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
This low-pressure class environment allows students to explore a variety pack of acting tools and techniques for budding young talents including improv, character creation, scripted scenes/sketches and commercials, without the pressure of rehearsing and preparation associated with putting on a show. Build confidence, presentation, social and public speaking skills. Highlights of the students’ work have often been presented in a showcase for an invited audience at the end of the session if the class is comfortable.
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for young actors looking to develop more comfort and confidence with dance and movement, particularly musical theatre styles such as theatre jazz and tap. Build basic skills that will help you in both audition and performance situations and give you more assurance while also having fun!
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. In this class, young actors will tap into their own creative ideas and instincts as they explore improv, sketches, physical comedy, parody and joke-telling! They’ll build confidence and teamwork as they learn to trust in themselves and their fellow actors, and recognize the difference between appropriate and inappropriate humor. (Games and exercises are often varied from session to session for recurring students.)
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for actors who may not necessarily be trained dancers but are looking to improve their dance skills for musical theatre performance and auditions, this class will lay a foundation of technique while providing a fun and exciting classroom environment that will help you develop comfort and confidence.
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than a year and a half to no tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Anyone can memorize lines, but an actor has to bring their character and dialogue to life through “truth.” How does an actor approach a scene and how do they recreate, process and control emotion? How do proper breath support, body language, physicalization of character and intention play a role in the success of an actor’s performance? How do they discover, process and respond to what is in the scene around them, and how do they convey their objectives and obstacles to the audience? Learn how to find clues in the text that relate to who your character is as a person, their objectives and obstacles, and how to make character-driven choices that lead you to a more truthful performance. Explore techniques that push you to greater heights, build confidence, help you become a stronger scene partner, and a better-rounded performer.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with more than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Using song, character expression and choreographed movements and gestures as storytelling tools, students will assemble a mini-musical based upon a story or fable that they will perform for families on the final class. (A new mini-musical is explored each session for recurring students.) Students will be cast in various roles and provided with a script and recorded music tracks. The class will also include special craft projects which will be incorporated into their performance. All students must be available for their performance on the final date (March 14). Class materials will be provided through a Google Classroom.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Explore a variety of exercises and techniques of “Method Acting”: how to develop a character, to commit to the circumstances and truth of the moment, to play intention instead of just emotion, and bring more truth and realism to your acting performance, and apply those techniques to scene work.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
In this class, we will explore the actors job from the moment the script is in your hand. Learning how to recognize beats (thought transitions) that the playwright has written, to character development, this class will explore the relationship between the actor and the playwright. The class will work cohesively as an ensemble working on scenes, monologues and even song interpretation, (you don’t have to be singer) with special guest directors and accompanists.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. Explore a variety of comedic styles including improv, sketch, physical comedy, parody and stand-up. Sharpen your timing, heighten your creative instincts, develop your own comedic characters and ideas, while you also build trust in your scene partners, learn to listen and “pass the ball,” commit to the given circumstances in a scene, and bring freshness and spontaneity to your acting performance.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
Improv is unscripted, allowing artists to draw from their own instincts, shed their inhibitions, and build confidence and ease onstage. It also allows them to build trust among their fellow performers, commit to the given circumstance of a scene or situation, build upon their ideas, and bring freshness, adaptability and spontaneity in their performance. These skills also apply to social, presentational, interview, and business situations. In this eight-week class, you’ll develop creative reflexes through a series of theatre games, impromptu scenarios, and character and team-building exercises.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Young actors will build comfort and confidence in learning to use their bodies as acting tools. Acting requires more than words. Actors use their bodies and facial expressions to inform the audience of what kind of personality they are, and what they are feeling and thinking. Just simply how a character stands or how they walk can tell us an awful lot about them. (A giant would move very differently than a mouse, for example.) In this class, students will use music and movement exercises to get in tune with their bodies creatively, and explore how body language, posture, gesture and facial expression can be used as effectively as a costume in order to create a character. They will also use masks and work with props.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Musical theatre singing is not just about vocal quality, but also character and storytelling as well. In this class, students will examine a few different Broadway numbers, not just building vocal technique and blending as an ensemble, but also exploring character choices and story line as well. Over the eight-week session, students will rehearse and stage their numbers, and perform them for families in a showcase during the final class! (Different musical selections are made each session for recurring students.)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
Writing the sort of content you see from Saturday Night Live or Key and Peele is about more than simply doing something funny for the sake of being funny. Solid writing always comes from forming a strong central idea, then utilizing humor to explain your idea to the audience. The same applies to dramatic forms of writing: each scene of a play must center around a strong idea around which all dialogue and character choices are built. In this class, learners will identify themes that they are passionate about, format a strong thesis about those themes, then evolve those thesis statements into an original piece of writing where their unique creative voices shine. By the end of this class, you will not only present hilarious content to your audience, but you will identify who you are as a storyteller and deliver comedy that speaks to your audience in the unique way of which only you are capable.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
This low-pressure class environment allows students to explore a variety pack of acting tools and techniques for budding young talents including improv, character creation, scripted scenes/sketches and commercials, without the pressure of rehearsing and preparation associated with putting on a show. Build confidence, presentation, social and public speaking skills. Highlights of the students’ work have often been presented in a showcase for an invited audience at the end of the session if the class is comfortable.
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for young actors looking to develop more comfort and confidence with dance and movement, particularly musical theatre styles such as theatre jazz and tap. Build basic skills that will help you in both audition and performance situations and give you more assurance while also having fun!
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. In this class, young actors will tap into their own creative ideas and instincts as they explore improv, sketches, physical comedy, parody and joke-telling! They’ll build confidence and teamwork as they learn to trust in themselves and their fellow actors, and recognize the difference between appropriate and inappropriate humor. (Games and exercises are often varied from session to session for recurring students.)
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for actors who may not necessarily be trained dancers but are looking to improve their dance skills for musical theatre performance and auditions, this class will lay a foundation of technique while providing a fun and exciting classroom environment that will help you develop comfort and confidence.
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than a year and a half to no tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Anyone can memorize lines, but an actor has to bring their character and dialogue to life through “truth.” How does an actor approach a scene and how do they recreate, process and control emotion? How do proper breath support, body language, physicalization of character and intention play a role in the success of an actor’s performance? How do they discover, process and respond to what is in the scene around them, and how do they convey their objectives and obstacles to the audience? Learn how to find clues in the text that relate to who your character is as a person, their objectives and obstacles, and how to make character-driven choices that lead you to a more truthful performance. Explore techniques that push you to greater heights, build confidence, help you become a stronger scene partner, and a better-rounded performer.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with more than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Using song, character expression and choreographed movements and gestures as storytelling tools, students will assemble a mini-musical based upon a story or fable that they will perform for families on the final class. (A new mini-musical is explored each session for recurring students.) Students will be cast in various roles and provided with a script and recorded music tracks. The class will also include special craft projects which will be incorporated into their performance. All students must be available for their performance on the final date (March 14). Class materials will be provided through a Google Classroom.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Explore a variety of exercises and techniques of “Method Acting”: how to develop a character, to commit to the circumstances and truth of the moment, to play intention instead of just emotion, and bring more truth and realism to your acting performance, and apply those techniques to scene work.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
In this class, we will explore the actors job from the moment the script is in your hand. Learning how to recognize beats (thought transitions) that the playwright has written, to character development, this class will explore the relationship between the actor and the playwright. The class will work cohesively as an ensemble working on scenes, monologues and even song interpretation, (you don’t have to be singer) with special guest directors and accompanists.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. Explore a variety of comedic styles including improv, sketch, physical comedy, parody and stand-up. Sharpen your timing, heighten your creative instincts, develop your own comedic characters and ideas, while you also build trust in your scene partners, learn to listen and “pass the ball,” commit to the given circumstances in a scene, and bring freshness and spontaneity to your acting performance.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
Improv is unscripted, allowing artists to draw from their own instincts, shed their inhibitions, and build confidence and ease onstage. It also allows them to build trust among their fellow performers, commit to the given circumstance of a scene or situation, build upon their ideas, and bring freshness, adaptability and spontaneity in their performance. These skills also apply to social, presentational, interview, and business situations. In this eight-week class, you’ll develop creative reflexes through a series of theatre games, impromptu scenarios, and character and team-building exercises.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Young actors will build comfort and confidence in learning to use their bodies as acting tools. Acting requires more than words. Actors use their bodies and facial expressions to inform the audience of what kind of personality they are, and what they are feeling and thinking. Just simply how a character stands or how they walk can tell us an awful lot about them. (A giant would move very differently than a mouse, for example.) In this class, students will use music and movement exercises to get in tune with their bodies creatively, and explore how body language, posture, gesture and facial expression can be used as effectively as a costume in order to create a character. They will also use masks and work with props.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Musical theatre singing is not just about vocal quality, but also character and storytelling as well. In this class, students will examine a few different Broadway numbers, not just building vocal technique and blending as an ensemble, but also exploring character choices and story line as well. Over the eight-week session, students will rehearse and stage their numbers, and perform them for families in a showcase during the final class! (Different musical selections are made each session for recurring students.)
SPECIAL, ONE-DAY IMPROV WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS AND ADULTS with award-winning comedic performers and Curtain Call alums Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show!”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023:
Teens (Grades 8 to 12): 5:15pm to 7:15pm (This class is no longer available.)
Sunday, February 26, 2023:
Teens (Grades 8 to 12): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
* Workshops are nonsequential. The information covered on one date will be the same information covered on the other. You can sign up for just one or are welcome to sign up for both (at a discount).
Taught by international sketch comedy award winners Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show,” this is a physical comedy workshop for performers of any skill level – from beginner to expert. Prepare to explore the world of improv and sketch while being pushed to take greater risks in your acting. Classes focus on physicality, building an environment, trusting your fellow scene partner, self-editing, embracing silence, character creation, taking big chances and overcoming a fear of failure. Chris and Paul will equip you with the tools to think outside of the box in the world of improv, clowning, sketch and beyond.
Paul Valenti is a seasoned performer, writer and improviser in New York City. He has had the opportunity to perform throughout the US and in the UK. Paul also has directed numerous short plays and sketches and is an Improv coach as well. Winner of Best Actor at the NYTV Festival for the pilot of The Chris and Paul Show and Best Newcomer at The Montreal Sketch Festival. Nominated for Best Newcomer at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and proud alumnus of Second City NYC.
Christopher John O’Neill is a comedian and Broadway actor, best known for playing the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in the musical The Book of Mormon. While performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his two-man traveling comedy act, The Chris and Paul Show, O'Neill was spotted by a casting director and invited to audition for the role of Elder Cunningham. He won the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for the role, during the show’s run at The Kennedy Center.
SPECIAL, ONE-DAY IMPROV WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS with award-winning comedic performers and Curtain Call alums Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show!”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023:
Adults: 7:30pm to 9:30pm (This class is no longer available.)
Sunday, February 26, 2023:
Adults: 10:00am to 12:00pm
* Workshops are nonsequential. The information covered on one date will be the same information covered on the other. You can sign up for just one or are welcome to sign up for both (at a discount).
Taught by international sketch comedy award winners Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show,” this is a physical comedy workshop for performers of any skill level – from beginner to expert. Prepare to explore the world of improv and sketch while being pushed to take greater risks in your acting. Classes focus on physicality, building an environment, trusting your fellow scene partner, self-editing, embracing silence, character creation, taking big chances and overcoming a fear of failure. Chris and Paul will equip you with the tools to think outside of the box in the world of improv, clowning, sketch and beyond.
Paul Valenti is a seasoned performer, writer and improviser in New York City. He has had the opportunity to perform throughout the US and in the UK. Paul also has directed numerous short plays and sketches and is an Improv coach as well. Winner of Best Actor at the NYTV Festival for the pilot of The Chris and Paul Show and Best Newcomer at The Montreal Sketch Festival. Nominated for Best Newcomer at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and proud alumnus of Second City NYC.
Christopher John O’Neill is a comedian and Broadway actor, best known for playing the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in the musical The Book of Mormon. While performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his two-man traveling comedy act, The Chris and Paul Show, O'Neill was spotted by a casting director and invited to audition for the role of Elder Cunningham. He won the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for the role, during the show’s run at The Kennedy Center.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
Writing the sort of content you see from Saturday Night Live or Key and Peele is about more than simply doing something funny for the sake of being funny. Solid writing always comes from forming a strong central idea, then utilizing humor to explain your idea to the audience. The same applies to dramatic forms of writing: each scene of a play must center around a strong idea around which all dialogue and character choices are built. In this class, learners will identify themes that they are passionate about, format a strong thesis about those themes, then evolve those thesis statements into an original piece of writing where their unique creative voices shine. By the end of this class, you will not only present hilarious content to your audience, but you will identify who you are as a storyteller and deliver comedy that speaks to your audience in the unique way of which only you are capable.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
This low-pressure class environment allows students to explore a variety pack of acting tools and techniques for budding young talents including improv, character creation, scripted scenes/sketches and commercials, without the pressure of rehearsing and preparation associated with putting on a show. Build confidence, presentation, social and public speaking skills. Highlights of the students’ work have often been presented in a showcase for an invited audience at the end of the session if the class is comfortable.
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for young actors looking to develop more comfort and confidence with dance and movement, particularly musical theatre styles such as theatre jazz and tap. Build basic skills that will help you in both audition and performance situations and give you more assurance while also having fun!
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. In this class, young actors will tap into their own creative ideas and instincts as they explore improv, sketches, physical comedy, parody and joke-telling! They’ll build confidence and teamwork as they learn to trust in themselves and their fellow actors, and recognize the difference between appropriate and inappropriate humor. (Games and exercises are often varied from session to session for recurring students.)
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for actors who may not necessarily be trained dancers but are looking to improve their dance skills for musical theatre performance and auditions, this class will lay a foundation of technique while providing a fun and exciting classroom environment that will help you develop comfort and confidence.
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
SPECIAL, ONE-DAY IMPROV WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS with award-winning comedic performers and Curtain Call alums Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show!”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023:
Adults: 7:30pm to 9:30pm (This class is no longer available.)
Sunday, February 26, 2023:
Adults: 10:00am to 12:00pm
* Workshops are nonsequential. The information covered on one date will be the same information covered on the other. You can sign up for just one or are welcome to sign up for both (at a discount).
Taught by international sketch comedy award winners Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show,” this is a physical comedy workshop for performers of any skill level – from beginner to expert. Prepare to explore the world of improv and sketch while being pushed to take greater risks in your acting. Classes focus on physicality, building an environment, trusting your fellow scene partner, self-editing, embracing silence, character creation, taking big chances and overcoming a fear of failure. Chris and Paul will equip you with the tools to think outside of the box in the world of improv, clowning, sketch and beyond.
Paul Valenti is a seasoned performer, writer and improviser in New York City. He has had the opportunity to perform throughout the US and in the UK. Paul also has directed numerous short plays and sketches and is an Improv coach as well. Winner of Best Actor at the NYTV Festival for the pilot of The Chris and Paul Show and Best Newcomer at The Montreal Sketch Festival. Nominated for Best Newcomer at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and proud alumnus of Second City NYC.
Christopher John O’Neill is a comedian and Broadway actor, best known for playing the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in the musical The Book of Mormon. While performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his two-man traveling comedy act, The Chris and Paul Show, O'Neill was spotted by a casting director and invited to audition for the role of Elder Cunningham. He won the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for the role, during the show’s run at The Kennedy Center.
SPECIAL, ONE-DAY IMPROV WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS with award-winning comedic performers and Curtain Call alums Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show!”
Wednesday, February 22, 2023:
Teens (Grades 8 to 12): 5:15pm to 7:15pm This class is no longer available.)
Sunday, February 26, 2023:
Teens (Grades 8 to 12): 12:30pm to 2:30pm
* Workshops are nonsequential. The information covered on one date will be the same information covered on the other. You can sign up for just one or are welcome to sign up for both (at a discount).
Taught by international sketch comedy award winners Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti of “The Chris and Paul Show,” this is a physical comedy workshop for performers of any skill level – from beginner to expert. Prepare to explore the world of improv and sketch while being pushed to take greater risks in your acting. Classes focus on physicality, building an environment, trusting your fellow scene partner, self-editing, embracing silence, character creation, taking big chances and overcoming a fear of failure. Chris and Paul will equip you with the tools to think outside of the box in the world of improv, clowning, sketch and beyond.
Paul Valenti is a seasoned performer, writer and improviser in New York City. He has had the opportunity to perform throughout the US and in the UK. Paul also has directed numerous short plays and sketches and is an Improv coach as well. Winner of Best Actor at the NYTV Festival for the pilot of The Chris and Paul Show and Best Newcomer at The Montreal Sketch Festival. Nominated for Best Newcomer at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and proud alumnus of Second City NYC.
Christopher John O’Neill is a comedian and Broadway actor, best known for playing the role of Elder Arnold Cunningham in the musical The Book of Mormon. While performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with his two-man traveling comedy act, The Chris and Paul Show, O'Neill was spotted by a casting director and invited to audition for the role of Elder Cunningham. He won the 2015 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for the role, during the show’s run at The Kennedy Center.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than a year and a half to no tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Anyone can memorize lines, but an actor has to bring their character and dialogue to life through “truth.” How does an actor approach a scene and how do they recreate, process and control emotion? How do proper breath support, body language, physicalization of character and intention play a role in the success of an actor’s performance? How do they discover, process and respond to what is in the scene around them, and how do they convey their objectives and obstacles to the audience? Learn how to find clues in the text that relate to who your character is as a person, their objectives and obstacles, and how to make character-driven choices that lead you to a more truthful performance. Explore techniques that push you to greater heights, build confidence, help you become a stronger scene partner, and a better-rounded performer.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with less than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/27
Designed for actors with more than two years tap experience looking to get a “leg up,” our Broadway Tap classes explore a trademark style featured in popular musicals like Anything Goes,42nd Street, Shuffle Along, Book of Mormon, Newsies, Something Rotten and TV shows like So You Think You Can Dance.
Registration: $136 for all eight weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Using song, character expression and choreographed movements and gestures as storytelling tools, students will assemble a mini-musical based upon a story or fable that they will perform for families on the final class. (A new mini-musical is explored each session for recurring students.) Students will be cast in various roles and provided with a script and recorded music tracks. The class will also include special craft projects which will be incorporated into their performance. All students must be available for their performance on the final date (March 14). Class materials will be provided through a Google Classroom.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
Explore a variety of exercises and techniques of “Method Acting”: how to develop a character, to commit to the circumstances and truth of the moment, to play intention instead of just emotion, and bring more truth and realism to your acting performance, and apply those techniques to scene work.
*No class 2/21 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/21, 3/28
In this class, we will explore the actors job from the moment the script is in your hand. Learning how to recognize beats (thought transitions) that the playwright has written, to character development, this class will explore the relationship between the actor and the playwright. The class will work cohesively as an ensemble working on scenes, monologues and even song interpretation, (you don’t have to be singer) with special guest directors and accompanists.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. Explore a variety of comedic styles including improv, sketch, physical comedy, parody and stand-up. Sharpen your timing, heighten your creative instincts, develop your own comedic characters and ideas, while you also build trust in your scene partners, learn to listen and “pass the ball,” commit to the given circumstances in a scene, and bring freshness and spontaneity to your acting performance.
*No class 2/22 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/22, 3/29
Improv is unscripted, allowing artists to draw from their own instincts, shed their inhibitions, and build confidence and ease onstage. It also allows them to build trust among their fellow performers, commit to the given circumstance of a scene or situation, build upon their ideas, and bring freshness, adaptability and spontaneity in their performance. These skills also apply to social, presentational, interview, and business situations. In this eight-week class, you’ll develop creative reflexes through a series of theatre games, impromptu scenarios, and character and team-building exercises.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Young actors will build comfort and confidence in learning to use their bodies as acting tools. Acting requires more than words. Actors use their bodies and facial expressions to inform the audience of what kind of personality they are, and what they are feeling and thinking. Just simply how a character stands or how they walk can tell us an awful lot about them. (A giant would move very differently than a mouse, for example.) In this class, students will use music and movement exercises to get in tune with their bodies creatively, and explore how body language, posture, gesture and facial expression can be used as effectively as a costume in order to create a character. They will also use masks and work with props.
*No class 2/23 (Winter Break for most area public schools)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/23, 3/30
Musical theatre singing is not just about vocal quality, but also character and storytelling as well. In this class, students will examine a few different Broadway numbers, not just building vocal technique and blending as an ensemble, but also exploring character choices and story line as well. Over the eight-week session, students will rehearse and stage their numbers, and perform them for families in a showcase during the final class! (Different musical selections are made each session for recurring students.)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
Writing the sort of content you see from Saturday Night Live or Key and Peele is about more than simply doing something funny for the sake of being funny. Solid writing always comes from forming a strong central idea, then utilizing humor to explain your idea to the audience. The same applies to dramatic forms of writing: each scene of a play must center around a strong idea around which all dialogue and character choices are built. In this class, learners will identify themes that they are passionate about, format a strong thesis about those themes, then evolve those thesis statements into an original piece of writing where their unique creative voices shine. By the end of this class, you will not only present hilarious content to your audience, but you will identify who you are as a storyteller and deliver comedy that speaks to your audience in the unique way of which only you are capable.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
This low-pressure class environment allows students to explore a variety pack of acting tools and techniques for budding young talents including improv, character creation, scripted scenes/sketches and commercials, without the pressure of rehearsing and preparation associated with putting on a show. Build confidence, presentation, social and public speaking skills. Highlights of the students’ work have often been presented in a showcase for an invited audience at the end of the session if the class is comfortable.
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for young actors looking to develop more comfort and confidence with dance and movement, particularly musical theatre styles such as theatre jazz and tap. Build basic skills that will help you in both audition and performance situations and give you more assurance while also having fun!
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/25, 4/1
If you’ve got a talent and a love for making people laugh, this eight-week workshop is for you! Humor speaks to all personalities and is an effective way of channeling creativity to make poignant and relevant commentary. In this class, young actors will tap into their own creative ideas and instincts as they explore improv, sketches, physical comedy, parody and joke-telling! They’ll build confidence and teamwork as they learn to trust in themselves and their fellow actors, and recognize the difference between appropriate and inappropriate humor. (Games and exercises are often varied from session to session for recurring students.)
JUST SIX CLASSES: 1/21, 2/4, 2/11, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11
*No class 2/18 (President’s Day Weekend)
**Make-Up Dates (in case of weather-related closings): 3/18, 3/25
Designed for actors who may not necessarily be trained dancers but are looking to improve their dance skills for musical theatre performance and auditions, this class will lay a foundation of technique while providing a fun and exciting classroom environment that will help you develop comfort and confidence.
Registration: $102 for all six weeks or register as a drop-in at just $20 per class.
Broadway Tap for Tweens and Teens: Beginners and Intermediate, Grades 6 to 10
