MET's Ensemble School Returns with Fall Schedule

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is proud to announce its fall schedule of classes for The Ensemble School. Taught by working actors and directors, the Ensemble School is a training ground for professional and aspiring actors of all skill levels with classes for students from age seven to adult. All classes are 12-week sessions that begin the week of September 14, meet once a week and have limited class sizes. All classes are held at Maryland Ensemble Theatre located in the historic FSK Hotel at 31 W Patrick Street in downtown Frederick.

Caitlyn Joy, a veteran of The Ensemble School and a graduate of the Theater program at Towson, will teach four classes this semester: "Acting Out!", "Teen Improv", "Musical Theatre" and "Teen Performance Ensemble". "Acting Out!", open to ages 7-9, features games and exercises that build self-confidence and encourage the creative mind. For students age 13-17, "Teen Improv" will feature an hour of short and long form improv games and scenes that encourage on-the-spot thinking, creativity and fun. The more advanced "Teen Performance Ensemble" is for teens that have taken at least one class previously with TES. Lastly, for the very first time, "Musical Theatre" will be available to ages 13-17. This class will explore vocal technique, choreography and acting skills. Music instructor, Thom Huenger, will assist Joy in providing students with all the skills needed to become a "triple threat"

Students will gain the skills to tackle any role they may encounter as well as the ability to explore core concepts in understanding the actor's process, in "Teen Acting," taught by Matt Lee. "It's important for students of theatre to keep training. Like dancers or musicians, actors need to refine skills in the classroom that will transfer to the actual performance. Of course, actors can be cast in shows without training, however, this often leads to bad habits that become extremely difficult to break and prevents artistic growth," said Director of The Ensemble School, Gené Fouché.

The Ensemble School will be offering two classes for adults. "Adult Improv" will be taught by current member of The Comedy Pigs, Laura Stark, who has performed with improv troupes in DC and NYC. Also offered is the "Adult Acting" class, taught by Caitlyn Joy, which will include scene study to incorporate script analysis and research, along with characterization, to assist students in preparing for any role. Students will also work on auditioning techniques.

In addition The Ensemble School will offer music lessons taught by MET Ensemble Member and long time music instructor, Thom Huenger. There are private lessons for voice, piano, guitar and music theory. For more info on music classes you can contact Huenger directly at 301-401-9189 or thom.huenger@gmail.com.

Since 1995 The Ensemble School has been offering classes to students who have gone on to work on stage, TV and film in NYC, Chicago and Hollywood. In addition to The Ensemble School, MET offers thought-provoking theatre, fun family entertainment, artist residency programs for public schools and side-splitting comedy.

For more information on The Ensemble School including class schedules and tuition rates please visit

marylandensemble.org.

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