Local Professional Acting Classes Offered at Rubicon Theatre

Rubicon offers process-oriented acting classes for kids (beginning at age five) and adults. These
programs focus on developing skills and technique, basic theatre terminology, building confidence and stage presence, learning proper voice techniques and developing an awareness of body language through character work, and other fundamental techniques through improvisation, scene study and theatre games. We operate in a nurturing environment where participants are encouraged to increase their comfort zone and participate at their own pace.

Classes provide participants the opportunity to study with “teaching artists.” Teaching artists are Working Theatre professionals who hold a high level degree or experience in voice and speech, acting, playwriting, Shakespeare, movement or audition techniques. With an average class size of 15, these courses offer close interaction and individual attention and culminate with a final presentation of the student’s work for family and friends.

Prices of classes range from $185-$310. The deadline to register is February 27, 2012.To read
more about specific class information, such as starting/ending dates, pricing, and class
synopses, please visit the Education and Outreach section of www.rubicontheatre.org

SPRING SCHEDULE:
Acting (Ages 5-7): A perfect introduction to the world of theatre! Students play imagination
games and learn the elements of storytelling. This is an excellent class for young readers. On
the last day of the workshop, family and friends are invited to a presentation of the students’
work.
When: 8 Saturdays starting March 10, 2012 – April 28, 2012, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Final Presentation on Saturday, April 28, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: $185
Instructor: Patti StricklandActing (Ages 8-10): This is an introductory class that exposes students to scripted scenes and
monologues. Students will learn memorization techniques, stage presence, listening and
working together with a scene partner as they work on contemporary scripted material.
Preliminary exposure to acting is beneficial but not necessary. This is an excellent class for
young actors who are ready to take the next step. On the last day of the workshop, family and
friends are invited to a presentation of the students’ work.
When: 8 Saturdays starting March 10, 2012 – April 28, 2012, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Final Presentation on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
Tuition: $235
Instructor: Patti Strickland
Acting (Ages 11-13): These fast-paced classes are challenging and great fun. In a nurturing
environment, students learn self-assurance while acquiring intermediate acting skills. Script
analysis and character development are taught through monologue and scene work as well as
theatre games, voice and movement exercises and improvisation. Individual attention is given
to each student and the class culminates in a final presentation for parents, family and friends.
When: 8 Tuesdays starting March 6, 2012 – April 24, 2012, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Final Presentation on Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuition: $285
Instructor: Alison Freeman
Acting (Ages 14-18): These fast-paced classes are challenging and great fun. In a nurturing
environment, students learn self-assurance while acquiring intermediate acting skills. Script
analysis and character development are taught through monologue and scene work as well as
theatre games, voice and movement exercises and improvisation. Individual attention is given
to each student and the class culminates in a final presentation for parents, family and friends.
When: 8 Mondays starting March 5, 2012 – April 23, 2012, 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Final Presentation on Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Tuition: $285
Instructor: Joseph Fuqua
Acting (Ages 19+): This very popular class looks to further student’s skills or allow them to try
acting for the first time. Students focus on script analysis, character development,
memorization techniques and stage presence while learning how to free the voice and body for
individual expression. Contemporary scenes and monologues are chosen by the instructor for
each student based on their personal needs and wishes. This is a fast-paced three-hour course
that meets for 8 Mondays culminating in an informal final presentation for family and friends.
When: 8 Mondays starting March 5, 2012 – April 23, 2012, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Final Presentation on Tuesday, April 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Tuition: $310
Instructor: Joseph Fuqua

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:

BRIan McDonald (Education and Outreach Director) directed Rubicon Theatre’s productions
of Bus Stop (nominated for an L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Production of a Play),
Forever Plaid and A Rubicon Family Christmas. Other directing credits include Tennessee
Williams’ Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen, Hooters, Our Town, Little Women, Bye Bye
Birdie, HONK!, Babes in Arms, Once on This Island, Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE!, Seussical the
Musical, Footloose, The Great White Way, Godspell, Free to Be You and Me and Hello! My Baby.
Before moving to California, Brian appeared in the National Tours of Miss Saigon and Forever
Plaid. Other acting credits include Room Service (Denver Center), Gifts of the Magi (Theatre
Virginia), “Master Harold”…and the boys and Shaw’s You Never Can Tell (Lyric Stage), Grease (La
Mirada Performing Arts Center), 3hree (Ahmanson), Musical Theatre Guild’s production of
Saturday Night (Pasadena Playhouse and Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center) and The
Importance of Being Earnest and Man of La Mancha (Rubicon). Brian received an LA Weekly
award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Gaveston in Circle X’s production of
Brecht’s Edward II directed by Michael Michetti. In 2007, Brian was honored to receive a
Mayor’s Arts Award as “Emerging Artist” from the City of San Buenaventura. This past year his
work in the community has earned him the Phi Delta Kappa Community Partnership Award and
an Honorary Service Award from the California State PTA. Brian has been on staff at Rubicon
since 2002 and served as Production Manager and Associate Producer before becoming the
Company’s first Education and Outreach Director. He is the founder and program director of
Rubicon’s Summer Youth Program, which offers training intensives in Musical Theatre, Drama
and Technical Theatre. Brian is a B.F.A. graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance
and Theatre. Presently, Brian is working with writer Cheri Steinkellner and arranger/composer
Georgia Stitt on the further development of The New-Fashioned Musical Hello! My Baby, as
well as directing the Festival of Talent Fundraiser for the Ventura Unified School District’s arts
programs.

Patricia Lynn-STRICKLAND is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts West.
Her directing credits include over 100 productions in addition to acting in numerous
productions throughout Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Patricia is a 2009 recipient of the
City of Ventura Mayor’s Arts Award for Arts Educator of the year, 2007 recipient of The City of
Ventura Artist’s Fellowship Award for directing, a 2005 recipient of The City of Ventura Artist’s
Fellowship Award for playwriting, a 2001 recipient of the REP Award for Excellence in
Performance, and a 1990 recipient of the County of Ventura Arts Commission’s Award for
Outstanding Achievement in the Performing Arts. Ms. Strickland served as the Artistic Director
for the Elite Theatre Company for 8 years. For the past ten years, she has served as the music
and drama teacher at St. Bonaventure High School and Our Lady of Assumption School. Besides
her extensive theatrical background, Ms. Strickland has an A.A. in Theater Arts from the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts, a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (emphasis on
Humanities/Business/Behavioral Sciences) from NYIT’s Ellis College, and a Master’s of
Communication and Leadership from Gonzaga University.

ALISON FREEMAN is excited to be teaching at Rubicon! She is a voice coach who has taught
acting, musical theatre and improve to all ages. She has also served as vocal director for middle
school productions of West Side Story, My Fair Lady, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of
Horrors and more. As an actress, Alison has recently appeared in W;t, The Philadelphia Story,
and A Christmas Carol at Actors Co-op in Hollywood. Alison’s teaching philosophy is that the
imagination is a powerful tool. She loves to use games and exercises that help channel energy,
emotions, and creativity into positive characters and stories. She focuses on teamwork,
cooperation, and confidence- skills that students will carry with them wherever life leads!

JOSEPH FUQUA has been a professional actor for twenty years having graduated from the
M.F.A. program at Yale School of Drama where he studied acting with the legendary Earle
Gister. Before Yale, Mr. Fuqua also attended many schools and university programs including
studies at James Madison University (Communications and Costume Design), S.U.N.Y. Purchase
(Voice and Acting), University of London: Birkbreck College (Architecture and Theatre), Rhode
Island School of Design (Architecture and Fine Arts), as well as master classes at H.B. Studios
with Uta Hagen, (Author of “Respect for Acting” and “Creating a Role”). Joseph became a
member of the Renegade Cuccaracha Theatre Company in New York City performing for several
years in the popular Underground Soap. A membership with the Circle Rep Lab soon followed.
Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs, 110 in the Shade (Lincoln
Center), Raft of the Medusa and Yours, Anne. Regionally Joseph has appeared on the stage in
varying roles of many well known theatres including Octavius Caesar in Antony and Cleopatra at
Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Alexei in A Month in the Country at the Arena Stage, Iago in Othello
at the Dallas Shakespeare Festival and Louis in Angels in America at the Dallas Theatre Center.
While in Dallas, Joseph had the honor of teaching advanced acting at Southern Methodist
University with Miss Sheridan Thomas. Moving to Los Angeles in 1997, he worked extensively in
television, film and theatre. Joseph has guest starred on “The X-Files,” “The Profiler,” “Brooklyn
South,” “The Pretender,” “Chicago Hope,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Becker.” On film,
he has appeared in “Ed’s Next Move,” “David Searching,” “Heyday,” and as J.E.B. Stuart in
“Gettysburg,” a role he reprised in the Warner Brothers film “Gods and Generals” with Robert
Duvall. L.A. audiences have seen him in The Cat’s Meow (Drama-Logue Award), Very Truly
Yours, On the Jump at South Coast Rep, and All My Sons at the International City/Theatre of
Long Beach. He made his professional directorial debut with J for J (featuring Jenny Sullivan and
the late great, John Ritter), presented by Rubicon and 11th Hour Productions at the Court Theatre. In 2000, Joseph joined Rubicon as its first company member having appeared in over 16 productions with Rubicon, including the title character in Hamlet. He has taught Middle
School, High School and Adult acting for the company since that time. Joseph is a member of
the Screen Actors’ Guild, Actors’ Equity Association and the American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists.

To read more about and register for classes, please visit the Education and Outreach section at
www.rubicontheatre.org or call Jessica at (805) 667-2912 ext. 230 for assistance.

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