This fall, when the theatre season takes off with the world premiere of Yellowjackets, theatre enthusiasts can take flight with dozens of fun classes at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Among the classes offered at its School of Theatre for students of all ages and all levels of experience is an innovative physical theatre class – The Flying Actor, taught by James Donlon – and a six-month Performance Ensemble designed specifically for committed middle-school students interested in a professional experience. All activities are held next door to the Theatre in the Nevo Education Center, at 2071 Addison Street in downtown Berkeley.
"At Berkeley Rep, we like to combine fun, original material with high caliber instructors for our classes," remarked Rachel Fink, the director of the School of Theatre. "James Donlon does just that. As a great teacher who has worked with some of the top acting schools in the country, James has created a unique class that teaches physical acting through the use of mask, mime, and other exciting techniques. The Flying Actor fits perfectly in our fall session, which offers classes for everyone from eager beginners to seasoned professionals."
The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre offers an interactive environment where students immerse themselves in all aspects of the craft and artistry of theatre. All classes meet weekly for two to three hours with instructors who are nationally recognized teaching artists and theatre professionals. The fall session, which begins on September 22, includes the following activities:
* Classes for youth (kindergarten through grade 8) include two workshops focusing on storytelling – Superheroes and Acting Up – as well as Musical Theatre (beginning through advanced), Performance Workshop, and the Performance Ensemble for middle-school students. In the first several months, participants learn the art of pursuing objectives and playing actions and benefit from highly focused and personalized direction.
* Classes for teens (grades 9-12) include Acting Violence, Teen Performance Lab: Shakespeare, and an Audition Lab preparing youth for high-school and college auditions.
* In addition to The Flying Actor, classes for adults include Acting (beginning through advanced), Acting Chekhov, Acting: Imagination and Specificity, Acting Shakespeare, Acting Violence, Audition, Combat for Couples, Improv (beginning and intermediate), Improvisation Performance Lab, Playwriting, Voice for Performance, and Voice for Emerging and Working Actors. There will also be a daylong course entitled Acting Techniques for Confidence and Persuasive Communication in Corporate and Courtroom Worlds.
The Berkeley Rep School of Theatre provides a wide array of programming for individuals of all ages. In addition to classes for youth and adults, the School offers Target® Story Builders, a drama workshop for elementary-school classrooms; the Student Matinee Series for middle- and high-school students; the Playmaking Project for high-school students and incarcerated youth; in-school residencies; teacher training; and a variety of outreach activities that encourage lifelong learning. The School also hosts the Teen Council, which allows youth to participate in all aspects of the dramatic process: on stage, backstage, and in front of the stage. Housed in the Nevo Education Center, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre is supported by the Mosse Foundation for Arts and Education. For complete details – including schedules, faculty bios, course descriptions, and registration information – call 510.647.2972 or visit
berkeleyrep.org.
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