Matt Zrebski

The evaluations have been returned and the verdict is in.  Matt Zrebski is a hero.  Matt teaches playwriting courses for both beginners and advanced playwrites at our GreenHouse school of Theater.  We recently wrapped up our Fall ‘08 term of courses and here are a few quotes from Matt’s students.

“Here’s my feedback. The short version: Matt’s my hero.”

“I so appreciate the safe, supportive, disciplined, focused atmosphere that Matt fostered from the outset.  The exercises were challenging, sometimes even terrifying, but always very, very satisfying.”

Matt wasn’t the only hero of the term.  PCS’ very own Dr. Fun, Mead Hunter, taught an appreciation course on Shakespeare’s romance plays prompting one student to write “Mead has an encyclopedic knowledge - I think I would enjoy him discussing/teaching many topics”. 

Dr. Fun, Mead Hunter, and Mary McDonald-Lewis

Portland’s favorite Voice Over Actor, Mary McDonald-Lewis, taught a Voice Acting Intensive.  One student commented “Anyone who wants to pursue voice actor work would be well-served by starting with this course, with this instructor.  Mary Mac is a treasure, and we are all lucky to have her!!”

We can’t help but bring these two back for more.  Mead will be teaching again in the Spring, and Mary Mac has turned her Voice Intensive class into a full 8 week course scheduled to begin in January.

My good friend Marc Acito (pictured below), the Author of “HOW I PAID FOR COLLEGE (A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, & Musical Theater), taught an appreciation course on, you guessed it, Musical Theater.  Dirty Martini member McKinley took Marc’s course and wrote  ”Marc’s class provides very practical information for anyone interested in writing a musical, or simply telling stories with simple songs.”  Another student who just wanted to better appreciate the art form wrote, “I absolutely have a new way of listening to musicals, of thinking about them, of accepting them for what they are.”  It is obvious GreenHouse needs to bring this class back for an encore.  Marc will be back for a second round of “Mastering Musicals” in January and February.

Marc Acito

You may not know that we offer beginning acting classes for theater lovers who want to try their hand at performing.  One of our beginning acting teachers, Devon Allen, seems to be turning PCS patrons into stage artists.  One student wrote “It was clear from the beginning that this class was the real deal.  I wasn’t interested in a watered down curriculum, and Devon gave me plenty to think about.”  Devon will be teaching classes all year if this strikes your fancy.

Finally, some feedback from our popular Art of Business series taught by Laura Faye Smith, Julie Huffaker and Barb Klansnic. 

Laura Faye                Julie                          Barb

This series for business men and women uses improv exercises and performance techniques to improve presentation, communication and leadership skills.  Here are a few comments from our Fall batch of students.

“I know my company would like to send more people to these classes”

“I was surprised but delighted by the amount of games and hands-on learning.  Many of them made me rethink my own presentation and communication style - and become more aware of myself.”

“Julie, Barb and Laura were really great at making everyone feel at ease.  No judgments.  They encouraged us to try, to fail, to learn to succeed.”

GreenHouse will be offering Art of Business courses all through out the year.  For more information on our Winter term, and a detailed description of classes, visit our education page of the website.