Training with Richmond Shakespeare
Richmond Shakespeare’s Training Department is dedicated to enriching Central Virginia’s theatre community by providing affordable, topical training in the theatre arts that is both accessible to beginners and useful to professionals.
In accordance with Richmond Shakespeare’s mission and artistic values, the Training Department is guided by the principle of primacy of text in Shakespearean study and production. In short, we believe that the most effective way to approach theatre in general, and Shakespeare specifically, is through careful and educated examination and realization of the text.
All classes and workshops are held at Second Presbyterian Church (5 N. 5th Street). Participants should bring a bottle of water and dress for moderate physical activity.
Reserve your spot today! Email Andrew@richmondshakespeare.com or call 232-4000.
Upcoming Workshop:
 "Auditioning for Shakespeare"
with Daryl Clark Phillips
Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 7:00-9:30 PM
$20 to participate/ $10 to audit
at Second Presbyterian Church (5 N. 5th Street)
This workshop is designed to help actors develop focused and clearly understandable monologue material from Shakespeare’s plays. Actors are guided through the “how to” of finding a suitable selection from the plays, how to use the whole body of the play to create an environment which supports their delivery, and how to create an appropriate aesthetic distance and focus which can maximize their efforts. They are also guided through simple techniques for physical realization of the environment and tips on how the poetry in the language can aid them in the creative process.
Each participant must have a monologue either completely memorized or be VERY familiar with it with book in hand. High School seniors (seriously committed) and older. Previous experience performing Shakespeare is not important, just a love of the process. Actors should wear comfortable clothing in which they will feel free to get down on the floor, if needed.
Daryl has been a professional Actor, Singer, and Speech and Theatre Arts educator for 30 years. He has a B.A. in Speech, Communication and Theatre from Monmouth University and an M.S. in Speech and Oral Interpretation from Emerson College. The colleges, universities and private schools at which he has taught include: The Ranney School, Ocean County College, Northeastern University, Monmouth University and The University of Richmond. He was an Associate Artist at TheatreVirginia for many years and created the noted, “No Holds Bard” in-class teaching supplement program for TVA, which toured middle and high schools in Virginia for 10 years. Daryl is also a free-lance Theatre Arts and Voice, Articulation and Dialect Coach who has worked with actors and singers all across the country to prepare material for a wide range of audition situations. He currently lives in Richmond and teaches Theatre Arts at Prince George High School. He can be seen this summer in the Richmond Shakespeare Festival's production of Henry IV, Part 2, wherein he will reprise his critically acclaimed performance as Falstaff.
Email Andrew@richmondshakespeare.com or call him at 804-232-4000 for more information or to make a reservation.
Upcoming Class:
 "Clown Intensive "
with Matthew Ellis
June 16 - 20, 2008, 6:00-9:30 PM
$250
To accomodate the many parties who have expressed interest in this class but who could not make the daytime hours, we have moved the Clown Intensive into evenings. If you wanted to take this class but could not do it before, now is your chance!
Matthew Ellis, Professor of Movement at the University of Oklahoma and director of this summer's Richmond Shakespeare Festival production of The Compleat Works of Wllm Shkspr (Abridged), will teach a five day Clowning Intensive for Richmond Shakespeare's Training Department.
Matt says: “The clown is not just a circus performer or a birthday party attraction. The clown is the part of us that lives in a simpler place. Our inner clown is rife with problems to solve, and he or she solves those problems in a variety of ‘creative’ ways.”
The classes will focus on the discovery of that inner clown through a process developed by world renowned teacher Jacques LeCoq, taught to Matthew by the world famous clown Avner Eisenberg and master teacher Jonathan Becker. “You won’t learn how to ride a unicycle or how to walk in big shoes. This is an acting class that develops strong awareness and a powerful presence on stage. This work will improve all aspects of your performance, not just the slapstick comedy.” The workshop will consist of technique training and sketch development, culminating in a short show for the public on the final day.
The class is open to actors of advanced high school age and up. Participants should, as always, bring a bottle of water, a lunch, and be prepared to move. Some scholarships are available for interested participants with financial needs, and actors who have worked with Richmond Shakespeare in he past year are eligible for discounted tuition.
Email Andrew@richmondshakespeare.com or call him at 804-232-4000 for more information or to make a reservation.
Check out some images from Matthew's previous clown classes at the University of Oklahoma:
  
Spring 2008 Schedule
A C T I N G C L A S S
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Building Characters
with Director of Training Andrew Hamm
Mondays, March 31 – May 5, 7:00-9:30 PM. $150
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W O R K S H O P S
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Sound and Rhythm in Performance
with David Hall
Tuesday, January 15, 7:00-9:30 PM. $20 |
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Playing Multiple Characters
with Jill Bari Steinberg
Tuesday, February 12, 7:00-9:30 PM. $20 |
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Professional Development
with David Sennett
Tuesday, March 11, 7:00-9:30. $20 |
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Auditioning for Musical Theatre
with Scott Wichmann
Tuesday, April 8, 7:00-9:30 PM. $20 |
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Auditioning for Shakespeare
with Daryl Clark Phillips
Tuesday, May 13, 7:00-9:30 PM. $20 |
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More details to follow.
Times and dates are subject to change. Please check our website for confirmation.
Training in the Classroom
Richmond Shakespeare’s Training Department works closely with our Education Department to provide quality workshops for school and home-schooling groups. New workshops available for 2007-2008 include:
Acting 101
One of our professional actor/teachers comes to your drama or English class to teach the basics of acting for the stage. Topics include blocking (where to go), projection (being heard), enunciation (being understood), and personalizing (being yourself). All participants will get up on their feet and act. We can bring our own dramatic material to work on or adapt our instruction to the play of your choice, Shakespeare or otherwise. This workshop is adapted to the age and skill level of the participants.
Size Limit: 30
Length: 60 minutes (a 90-minute version can also be created)
Cost without show: $150/hour
Cost with show: $100/hour
Age range: Grades 5-8 and older
Acting in Action
For older or more advanced students, this workshop brings the essentials of modern acting to your class. Your students will learn how to analyze a script for clues about character, action, and relationships, then turn it into action! All participants will get up on their feet and act. We can bring our own dramatic material to work on or adapt our instruction to the play of your choice, Shakespeare or otherwise. Our Training department emphasizes an emotionally responsible approach to acting; acting should be therapeutic, not therapy. This workshop is adapted to the age and skill level of the participants.
Size Limit: 20
Length: 90 minutes
Cost without show: $150/hour
Cost with show: $100/hour
Age range: Grades 9-12 and older
Playwriting Lab
You don’t have to be a Shakespeare to create powerful works of drama. One of our professional writer/teachers comes to your drama or English class to teach the basics of writing for the stage. Topics include plot, character, relationships, dramatic structure, and writing dialogue. Your own personal experience may be more interesting than anything you could make up! All participants will write, and all participants will have their work read. Nothing brings an appreciation of how dramatic literature works like writing your own. This workshop is adapted to the age and skill level of the participants.
Size Limit: 30
Length: 60 minutes (a 90-minute version can also be created)
Cost without show: $150/hour
Cost with show: $100/hour
Age range: Grades 5-12, and older
Careers in Theatre Arts
What does it take to work in the theatre, and what kinds of jobs are there? How do you get started, how should you study, and what can you do right now to set off on the road to becoming a professional (or amateur) theatre artist? One of our professional theatre artist/teachers will visit your group to share his or her experience, give some advice, and take all the questions you can come up with.
Size Limit: 100
Length: 60 minutes (a 90-minute version can also be created)
Cost without show: $150/hour
Cost with show: $100/hour
Age range: Grades 5-12, and older
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"Clown Intensive "
