American Stage Theatre's Ed Dept Launches Classroom Offerings for Adults and Teens

American Stage Theatre Company's Education Department recently announced the formation of theatre-based classes for teens and adults, the first of their kind offered in the theatre's 32 year history. Classes will include beginner and advanced acting for teens, adult acting, a play reading/discussion class called The Play's the Thing and the Mainstage Lecture Series.

Meg Heimstead, who was named director of education at the professional theatre company a year ago, is very excited about the new offerings. "Historically, the direction American Stage took with its educational offerings was to go into public and private schools to offer classes and workshops to students, mainly because we never had the space at the theatre to offer classes in-house" said Heimstead. "With all the new space we now have open to us from moving into the Raymond James Theatre a little over a year ago, it was a logical progression to start offering adult and teen classes here."

Scheduled classes for the 2010-2011 season are:

The Play's the Thing, Play Appreciation Classes

PULITZERS PAST: 65 Years of Great Family Dramas in the American Theatre
Read, discuss, and enact scenes from some of the greatest works for the theatre - all Pulitzer Prize-winning plays - all showing the American family in every dimension...from comic to tragic, from epic to absurd. Plays include; The Skin of Our Teeth, A Streetcar Named Desire, Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey Into Night, The Effect of Gamma Rays in Man-In-The-Moon Marigolds, Buried Child, ‘Night Mother, Wit and August: Osage County.

Schedule: Thursdays, September 23 through November 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Instructor: Todd Olson
Fee: $175 for subscribers, $200 for non-subscribers. Fee includes copies of all plays.

DRAMTIC STYLES: From Romanticism to Theatre of the Absurd
Read, discuss, and enact scenes from all of the major dramatic styles. Styles will include; Commedia dell'Arte, Romanticism, Restoration Drama, Theatre of the Absurd, Naturalism and more. Students will explore some of the most significant plays in the history of the theatre.

Schedule: Thursdays, February 24 through April 21 2 to 4 p.m.
Instructor: TBD
Fee: $175 for subscribers, $200 for non-subscribers. Fee includes copies of all plays.

Adult Acting
Created for curious students with limited experience in acting, this class invites students to take the first step in becoming an expressive, confident stage actor. Through the use of improv exercises and games, focus will be placed on listening, concentration, moment-to-moment work, creativity and ensemble building. A student showcase of scenes and monologues will be performed at the end of each semester.
Schedule:
Fall - Tuesdays, September 14 through November 16 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Spring - Tuesdays, February 15 through April 19 from 3 to 5 p.m.
Instructor: Angela Bond
Fee: $200 for subscribers, $225 for non-subscribers per semester

Teen Acting I
This entry-level class invites students to take the first step in becoming an expressive, confident stage actor. Exercises and activities will help students develop an awareness how an actor's voice and body are used as primary instruments of expression, and how the imagination is used to bring the world of the play to life on stage. Students will apply the skills they learn in class to a performance of select scenes and monologues that will be showcased at the end of the semester.

Schedule: Saturdays, September 18 through November 20 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Instructor: Jean Calandra
Fee: $200 for subscriber families, $225 for non-subscribers

Teen Acting II - Ages 12-17

In this mid-level class students who have a basic understanding of stage acting will be introduced to the process of creating a role. Students will read a play to learn how its words, plot and characters can inform the choices an actor makes in developing a specific character. Select scenes from the play will be cast and rehearsed in preparation for a performance at the end of the semester.

Schedule: Saturdays, February 19-April 23 from 12-2pm at American Stage
Instructor: Jean Calandra
Fee: $200 for subscriber families, $225 for non-subscribers

Advanced Teen Acting - Ages 12-17
This advanced level acting class will challenge students with previous acting experience, helping them to take their skills to the next level. Focus will be placed on finding the "truth" on stage, drawing from personal experience, and making powerful acting choices to deliver the most dynamic performances possible. Taught by professional actors, this course will help elevate the serious acting student. A showcase of student work will be performed at the end of each semester. Placement in the class is by audition only. To schedule an audition, please call Meg Heimstead, the director of education, at 727-823-1600 ext. 201.

Schedule:
Fall - Saturdays, September 18 through November 20 from 10 to12 p.m.
Spring - Saturdays, February 19 through April 23 from 10 to 12 p.m.
Instructor: Becca McCoy-Engle
Fee: $200 for subscriber families, $225 for non-subscribers

Mainstage Lecture Series
Take your theatre going experience to the next level. American Stage Education is now offering a Mainstage lecture series to enhance your theatre going experience. Dedee Aleccia, a retired literature professor, will speak on the history of select plays in our season. Following her presentation, a member of the artistic staff will talk about their approach to the production being discussed. The lectures are free for subscribers and $5 for the general public. Lectures are on Sunday's from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at American Stage on the following dates:

The Mystery of Irma Vep
Sunday, September 5th, 2010
Opus
Sunday, October 24th, 2010

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
Sunday, January 9th, 2011

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Sunday, February 27th, 2011

Rent
April 3rd, 2011

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Sunday, May 22, 2011

A Steady Rain
Sunday, July 10, 2011

For more information or to register for a class, go to the American Stage web site at americanstage.org or contact Meg Heimstead, the Director of Education, at 727-823-1600 ext. 201 or at mheimstead@americanstage.org.

American Stage Theatre Company is located at the Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd Street North in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, Florida.

American Stage Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1977. The company's mission is to create the most satisfying live theatre in the Tampa Bay area, accessible to all members of the community. Their vision is to preserve the greatest human stories from our past, while creating the most defining stories and storytelling of our time. American Stage presents its six play Mainstage Series in its brand new, 182-seat Raymond James Theatre each year. The theatre's other programming includes: American Stage in the Park, "After Hours" Series, Susan R. Hough Cabaret Series, School Tour and camps and classes for children. The Hough Family Foundation is the Season Sponsor, Raymond James is the Mainstage Sponsor and Bank of America is the Education Partner.

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