Primary Stages ESPA Summer Registration Now Open

Primary Stages Marvin and Anne Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), the company's professional training school, has announced its 2011 summer schedule of classes. ESPA will offer new classes in auditioning for contemporary theater, building your monologue repertoire, Alexander Technique, and short form playwriting, among other classes. Special guest instructors Zakiyyah Alexander, Bekah Brunstetter, and Jonathan Tolins join returning faculty members Tanya Barfield, Karen Braga, Cusi Cram, Rogelio Martinez, Caridad Svich, Daniel Talbott, Richard Topol and Sheri Wilner.

ESPA is a multidisciplinary educational institution with departments in acting, writing, and directing. Since its 2007 inception, ESPA has become a leader in performing arts education through its excellence in training, unique collaboration & networking opportunities, and strong professional community. ESPA is open to all artists, in all stages of their careers.

Primary Stages Literary Manager and Director of ESPA, Tessa LaNeve, spoke about the upcoming classes and programs, "This Summer, we're ramping up to the start of ESPA's 5th Anniversary. We're offering a new scene study class with Denis Butkus on the works of Annie Baker and Keith Reddin - both of whom will visit our students to provide personal insight on how to approach the work. Daniel Talbott will be challenging site-specific directing students with 'stages' all over the city - from under the Brooklyn bridge to the High Line. New writing instructors Bekah Brunstetter, Winter Miller, Zakiyyah Alexander, and Jonathan Tolins are joining veterans Tanya Barfield, Cusi Cram, Rogelio Martinez, and Edwin Sanchez for five and ten-week classes that cover short form writing, revising, and everything in between." LaNeve went on to add, "But the classes are just a small percentage of what ESPA is delivering this summer. Keep an eye out for more Detention performances at Jimmy's No. 43 led by directors Jackson Gay and Hal Brooks. And of course, mark your calendars for August 18 and 25 for the Second Annual ESPA*Drills Reading Series, which provides extensive workshopping followed by fully staged readings at 59E59 Theaters for four student written plays."

Primary Stages launched its educational programs in 2007 with classes in playwriting, acting and directing. Classes have included Scene Study: 20th Century, Advanced Scene Study: Neil LaBute, Alexander Technique, Viewpoints, Pilates for Actors, Voice and Speech, Improvisation, Musical Theater Auditioning, Adaptation, Advanced Libretto: From Treatment to First Draft, Advanced Playwriting, Advanced TV Writing, and Directing for Actors.

Instructors have included Betsy Aidem, Mark Blum, Michelle Bossy, Karen Braga, Casey Childs, Denny Dillon, Gary Donatelli, Sarah Elliott, Carl Forsman, Jackson Gay, Randy Graff, Kait Kerrigan, Michael Laibson, Tessa LaNeve, Linda & David Laundra, Andrew Leynse, Rogelio Martinez, Lisa Rothe, Julian Sheppard, Leigh Silverman, Blair Singer, Kim Weild, Sheri Wilner, Mary Louise Wilson, and Walton Wilson.