Performance Network Theatre Kicks Off 2013-14 Curriculum Today

Performance Network Theatre invites artists and students of all skill levels to participate in their 2013 - 2014 Curriculum by offering a wide range of courses taught by the industry's top players beginning today, October 12 with Acting for the Camera with award winning writer/director Christina Morales Hemenway, as the instructor.

Other classes include Building Strong Characters with David Wolber, Carla Milarch, and other veteran actors, Fundamentals of Acting with Aral Gribble, Auditions that Kill with Carla Milarch, Vocal Performance Intensive with Naz Edwards and R. MacKenzie Lewis, The Playwrighting Sessions with David Wells, Acting for the Camera with Christina Morales, The Do's and Dont's of Auditions with Carla Milarch and David Wolber, and The Business of Acting with Erin Sabo.

For registration and more information call 734-663-0681.

Performance Network Theatre's Professional Curriculum is a great opportunity for emerging artists to network with popular actors and casting directors and for seasoned professionals to hone their craft. Tips for auditions, defining the distinction between stage and camera acting, enhancing vocal performances, playwrighting, and overall guidelines for best practices in the entertainment industry are some of the benefits that can be obtained in this year's courses.

"At the heart of Performance Network Theatre, in the very fabric of its being, are its artists. People like Naz Edwards, Aral Gribble, David Wells, and R. MacKenzie Lewis, who bring a tremendous wealth of talent and craft to Michigan. PNT's 2013-2014 Professional Acting Curriculum uses their prodigious skills as a resource, with classes geared toward High School students interested in theatre, early career professionals looking to take their "game" to the next level, or experienced pros who want to add new skills to their toolbox. To be your best, you've got to train with the best, and the teachers at PNT are some of the finest artists in Michigan," said Performance Network Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch.

Acting for the Camera: Award-winning writer/director Christina Morales Hemenway, Instructor
Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Class Fee: $100
Learn what casting directors want, script analysis, film lingo, how to improve cold readings, turning theatrical acting into on-camera performances and more!

About the instructor: Christina has written and directed feature films, won awards for acting, singing, writing and directing and has taught acting since 1992 in Los Angeles. A Cal-Arts grad with a BFA in Theatre, her film Dreammaker won the Audience Choice Award at LA's Broad Humor Festival and Chicago's Indiefest, and Best Feature at Louisville Cinefest.

Master Class - Building Strong Characters: with veteran actors Carla Milarch, David Wolber, and others TBA
October 14, 2013 from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $40
Artistic Director David Wolber and Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch lead an in-depth discussion of the techniques, tools and tricks some of Michigan's most successful actors use to bring brilliant performances to life.

About the instructors: About the instructor: In her 13 years at Performance Network, Carla Milarch has played many roles including Director, Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director, and has cast literally hundreds of roles. Of the 9 plays she's directed, 8 have been nominated for Wilde Awards for Best Play and 2 have won. Other awards include: "Most Valuable Player" and "Best Season/Artistic Direction" (Oakland Press) and "Outstanding Ensemble Contributions" (Detroit Free Press.)

David Wolber became the Artistic Director at Performance Network Theatre in 2007. At the Network, he directed Dead Man's Shoes (Best New Script - Wilde Award 2012, and a co-production with Williamston Theatre) "The War Since Eve" (Best New Script 2011- Wilde Award), "Sonia Flew" (a co-production with the Jewish Ensemble Theatre), "Christmas Carol'd", "The Blonde, The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead" (Best Local Play - Ann Arbor.com 2009), "Exits and Entrances", "Souvenir" (co-director in a co-production with Boarshead Theatre), "The Clean House", "A Doll's House", Language Lessons (Best New Play - Ann Arbor News 2007), "The Stillness Between Breaths" (Best New Play - Oakland Press), "Necessary Targets" by Eve Ensler, "The White Rose" and more. As an actor, David has performed at the Network in "Retreat From Moscow", "A Life in the Theatre", "Take Me Out", "The Home Team" (Favorite Male Performer-Comedy - Wilde Award), "The Spirit House", "The Maiden's Prayer and Three Days of Rain" (Best Actor - Ann Arbor News, Best Ensemble Awards - Oakland Press) among others, as well as "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Outstanding Ensemble Performance - Oakland Press) for Chimera. He has performed with the JET, Detroit Repertory Theatre and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. David is a member of Actors' Equity Association and Americans for the Arts, and has served on several committees for The Arts Alliance of Washtenaw County, the National New Play Network, the Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan, and the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance.

Fundamentals of Acting: Aral Gribble II, Instructor
October 21 through November 25, 2013, Monday nights from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $250
Get a $50 discount for registrations made at least one month before the start date of the class!
This class is designed to introduce or refresh students on the acting fundamentals and tricks of the trade needed to deliver honest, invested performances night after night. Creating "high- stakes," playing the verb, and other applicable tools will help you take your own method to the next level. Includes the acting master class as the first session. Limit 16 students.

About the instructor: Aral Gribble grew up right here in Michigan, studied Theatre Performance at the University of Michigan and has been working as a professional actor for 15 years, having joined Actor's Equity, the stage actor's union, 8 years ago. He was last seen at the Performance Network in Joseph Zettelmaier's, Dead Man's Shoes. Aral currently lives in Lansing, Michigan with his partner, Lynnette Lammers, where he helps create and perform interactive theatre pieces around inclusion and unconscious bias with Michigan State University's Transforming Theatre Ensemble.

The Dos and Don'ts of Auditioning
with Artistic Directors David Wolber and Carla Milarch
Monday, January 27, 2014 from 7:00 pm - 9:00pm
Class Fee: $40
They're silly mistakes, so why do so many actors keep making them? Learn the top 10 mistakes you may be making at your general auditions, and the top 10 ways to make sure that callback is yours.
Space is limited, reservations recommended.

Auditions that Kill: Carla Milarch, Instructor
February 3 through March 17, 2014 (6 weeks, Feb 10 off), Monday nights from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $250
Get a $50 discount for registrations made at least one month before the start date of the class!
It's the two minutes that will make or break your season... or your career. How do you make it count and avoid common audition pitfalls? Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch draws on 10 years of professional casting experience to help you hone your next audition. Gain valuable insight on choosing monologues and sculpting your presentation, and leave with a fully prepared, fully polished audition. Includes The Dos and Donts of Auditioning and the Business of Acting.
Limit 10 students

Vocal Performance Intensive: Naz Edwards and R. Mackenzie Lewis, Instructors
February 8 & 9 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, February 10 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $250
Get a $50 discount for registrations made at least one month before the start date of the class!
This three day master class is the perfect way to prep for an upcoming musical audition, polish a special performance, or bring your presentation style to the next level. Students bring three pieces (one Broadway Standard, one Great American Songbook, and one Broadway Contemporary) to work on in this intensive 13-hour experience that is part voice class, part personal coaching session, and part professional prep.
Limit 10 students

About the instructors: Naz is a New York actor now living in Ann Arbor. She has starred on Broadway, in National Tours and Regional Theatre. She has created many Cartoon voices for animated series. Her favorite is Queen Beryl from the cult cartoon, Sailor Moon. Ms. Edwards has also done many Cabaret Acts in New York City and works with Michael Feinstein as a coach and judge on his Great American Songbook Competition in the spring.
R. MacKenzie Lewis is a composer and music director for Eastern Michigan University's Department of Theatre, a lecturer with their Department of Music and Dance as well as being a guest artist and music director for Michigan State University. Aside from his university responsibilities, R. Mac music directs, composes, orchestrates, and arranges music for various theaters, bands, orchestras, and musicals. Recent works include composing for "Jason Invisible" and "The Wings of Ikarus Jackson", both commissioned by the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., orchestrating and music directing the National Tour and Off-Broadway premiere of "The Berenstain Bears LIVE: Family Matters", composing "Video Games: The Rock Opera" and the world premiere musical with Ben Vereen, "Soaring on BlacK Wings". He keeps himself busy by writing and performing in a wide variety of venues and genres around the country including the Las Vegas production of "Ain't Misbehavin'".

The Playwriting Sessions: David Wells, Instructor
April 7 through May 12, 2014, Monday nights from 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $250
Get a $50 discount for registrations made at least one month before the start date of the class!
This "pens on" workshop engages writers of all ages and career stages. With a focus on the basics of dramatic structure, it serves as an introduction to the elements of playwrighting for the novice, while refreshing the tool set for the veteran working on a revision or a new script. Participants who wish to write pages to be read in class will have that opportunity. A perfect way to learn or hone your craft!
Limit 16 students.

About the instructor: David Wells studied playwrighting at the University of Michigan and San Francisco State University, where he was the recipient of the Lawrence and Lee Playwrighting Award. He spent a while in L.A. as a screenwriter working on projects at Disney, Sony, and New Line Studios. Last season's, Brill at Performance Network was a finalist for the National New Play Network 2012 Showcase, and his upcoming World Premiere at PNT, County Line, is an Edgerton New American Play Award winner.

The Business of Acting
With Managing Director Erin Sabo
March 24, 2014, from 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $40
From headshots and resumes to finances, agents, and Equity - this class is designed to provide insight on the things that make a career actor beyond the craft. Led by Performance Network Theatre's Managing Director and former New York casting director, Erin Sabo.

About the instructor: After interning with PNT twelve years ago, Erin Sabo received her Bachelor's Degree at Albion College in Speech Communications and Theater and her Masters of Fine Arts in Producing Theater and Film from California Institute of the Arts. While at CalArts, Erin had the privilege of working with Suzan-Lori Parks and Raelle Myrick Hodges on the West Coast Premiere of "In The Blood" and Karin Coonrod on an avant-garde approach to "All's Well That Ends Well." She also received the Motion Picture of Arts and Sciences grant for her work on "Me and You and Everyone We Know," directed by Miranda July. While producing work for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for CalArts, Erin also worked as the development and marketing assistant for REDCAT, located inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall complex, during its inaugural season. After graduating from CalArts, Erin moved to New York City where she worked with MCC Theater, Telsey and Co. Casting, Fire Dept. Theater Company, Trevor Brown Productions and ran her own event and Production Company.

Reservations can be made at the Performance Network Box Office at 734-663-0681, or at Performance Network Theatre (120 East Huron St., Ann Arbor, 48104) Monday - Friday 10am-6pm, and Saturday 11am-6pm.)

Founded in 1981, Performance Network Theatre has grown from a fledgling company to Ann Arbor's resident, professional theatre. The Network reaches 40,000 theatre patrons and children each year through the year-round Professional Series and the Children's Theatre Network. Performance also presents the Fireside Festival of New Works and a series of classes on theatre-related topics. The Network provides uncompromising artistic leadership in the region and produces works that engage, challenge and inspire audiences and artists.

Pictured: Aral Gribble II

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