art of business || summer teen intensives
Q&A and Prologues || stage door || visions & voices || study guides || matinees
GreenHouse Course List for Winter 2008
Portland Center Stage’s GreenHouse is a unique new school offering theater training and related studies for people at all degrees of involvement with the living stage. Our courses are taught by exceptional teachers drawn from Portland’s diverse community of talented professionals, many of whom are familiar to you from PCS’s productions and programs. Improve your presentation and communication skills by enrolling in our Art of Business sequence, or unleash your inner playwright by joining a Topics in Playwriting course. Take the stage in one of our Focus on Acting classes, or delve into drance with a Dance Styles course. Whether you’re honing skills you already have or nurturing new ones, GreenHouse has something for you.
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Click on any class title to read a detailed description and an instructor bio.
Focus on Acting: Beginning with The Bard—Acting Shakespeare
Instructor: Devon Allen
Course dates: Saturdays Jan. 24 through Mar. 28, from 9:00am to 11:00am*
*No Class Feb. 28 or Mar. 21
Tuition: $225
Focus on Acting: Compelling Performance, Page to Stage
Instructor: Damon Kupper
Course dates: Mondays Feb. 2 through Mar. 23, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tuition: $200
Focus on Acting: Voice Acting in Theory and Practice
Instructor: Mary McDonald-Lewis
Course dates: Saturdays Jan. 31 through Mar. 21, 9:00am to 11:00am
Tuition: $225
Topics in Playwriting: The Dramatist’s Toolbox
Instructor: Matthew B. Zrebski
Course dates: Saturdays, Jan. 31 – Mar. 21, from 9:00am to 11:00am
Tuition: $200
Topics in Playwriting: Play Sculpture
Instructor: Matthew B. Zrebski
Course dates: Mondays, Jan. 19 – Mar. 23, 7:00pm to 9:00pm*
*No Class Feb. 23, and Mar. 2
Tuition: $225
Dance Styles
Segment I: Musical Theater Dance
Instructor: Amy Palomino
Course dates: Mondays, Jan. 5 through Jan. 26, 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Tuition: $100
Segment II: Tap
Instructor: Amy Palomino
Course dates: Mondays, Jan. 5 through Jan. 26, 8:00pm to 9:30pm
Tuition: $100
The Art of Business Courses
Register for one or both Art of Business courses designed for the business professional. Learn how to use tried-and-true theater techniques to enhance your performance in the workplace.
Segment I: The Art of Presentations
Instructor: Laura Faye Smith
Course dates: Saturdays, Jan. 3 through Jan. 24, 9:00am to 11:00am
Tuition: $150
Segment II: The Art of Communication
Instructor: Barb Klansnic
Course Dates: Mondays, Feb. 2 through Feb. 23, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tuition: $150
Segment III: The Art of Innovation
Instructors: Gary Hirsch and Brad Robertson
Course Dates: Mondays, Mar. 2 through Mar. 16, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tuition: $125
For enrollment, or any other questions, please call Kim Morris
at 503.445.3795 or email her at kimm@pcs.org.
Beginning with The Bard—Acting Shakespeare
One of the most useful and far-reaching lessons an actor can learn is how to shape text to reveal inner life. Most of the great actors are classically trained and they use their voices to convey meaning. Classical text tools and training can be applied to any acting text or style. In this exciting class, students will learn the basics of handling classical text, including specific vocal techniques and how to enliven the body to live in an epic moment, applicable to any play. All levels are welcome in this class as Ms. Allen can target lessons to your current abilities. Ms. Allen last introduced this class at The Actor’s Centre in London, England and we are pleased to offer this unique course at PCS.
Instructor: Devon Allen
Devon Allen is artistic director of OUR SHOES ARE RED/THE PERFORMANCE LAB. She teaches acting, directing, and creative process privately and at major universities in the United States and the U.K, and directs and acts professionally. Ms. Allen holds a certificate from RADA and an MFA in Acting from the University of California at San Diego. She is a member of Actor’s Equity and the Lincoln Center Directors Lab.
Compelling Performance, Page to Stage
This course is designed to introduce the beginning actor to the fundamental vocabulary, skills and concepts of acting. Through a combination of in-class exercises, theatre games, text analysis, observation and scene work, this class will serve as a foundation for all future performances—both onstage and off. This course is an examination of the actor’s role in making compelling theatre.
Instructor: Damon Kupper
Damon has worked as a Theatre Arts instructor for Pacific University, George Fox University, Portland Community College as well as various youth educational theatre programs both domestically and abroad. Damon is a company member of Third Rail Repertory and was seen recently in their production of Dead Funny. Locally, he has also acted with Portland Center Stage, Artist Repertory Theatre, Profile Theatre and the Well Arts Institute. Beyond the Portland stages, his credits include shows at the Texas Shakespeare Festival, the Buffalo Shakespeare Festival and the Pacific Conservatory for the Performing Arts among others. Damon has a BA in Theatre from SUNY Buffalo and an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine.
Voice Acting in Theory and Practice
Benefit from Mary McDonald-Lewis’ 25 years of experience as a VO pro as she shares techniques for commercial copy analysis and interpretation, character creation, and recording booth skills, which you will apply in an ongoing workshop setting. Recording, playback and critique will be provided in a safe, intimate environment. This is a comprehensive course for beginning to advanced actors wishing to expand their craft. Please note: class size is limited to 12 participants. Instructor approval is required for participation.
Instructor: Mary McDonald-Lewis
Mary has worked as a professional voice actor since 1979. She was Lois Lane and Wonder Woman on Superfriends, Lady Jaye on GI Joe, Princess Goleeta on Galtar and the Golden Lance and had roles on myriad other cartoons, including Batman, The Mask, Where’s Waldo and more. Her voice has been heard on hundreds of commercials and she now tells millions of people where to go as the voice of OnStar, General Motors’ global navigation system. MaryMac is co-artistic director of Readers Theatre Repertory, was seen most recently onstage in Metamorphoses for ART, and just finished directing A Doll’s House for Theatre Vertigo. MaryMac is Oregon’s national board member for SAG, and is vice president of Portland’s AFTRA council. She holds her MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Portland.
The Dramatist’s Toolbox
Designed for any skill level, this course focuses on tools that will spark ideas on both what and how to write. Writer’s block will never again be an excuse as Matt introduces numerous prompts and techniques to keep the pen flowing and the key-strokes going. Each writer will end this course with a minimum of three ten-minute plays. They will also walk out with a notebook of exercises for future reference.
Instructor: Matthew B. Zrebski
Matt has had eight original plays produced in Portland, and/or Dallas, TX. He is a two-time recipient of the Rosenfield Playwriting award and has been a guest instructor of playwriting for Portland Actors Conservatory, Literary Arts Writers in the Schools program, and Portland Center Stage’s Visions and Voices program. Matt holds a BFA in Acting, Directing, from Southern Methodist University.
Play Sculpture
Utilizing both instructor and peer-driven critique, this class is for writers who have an idea they wish to fully develop and solidify for drafting. These ideas will pass through various filters: how should the story be told; what aspects of the story must be seen (or hidden); when does the story climax. Outlines will be formed, reformed, turned upside down and sideways. Drafts will be written, trashed, and written again. By the course’s conclusion, your first draft will be well on its way and the shape of the play will be coming into focus. (Pre-requisite: Light Bulbs in Playwriting OR instructor approval)
Instructor: Matthew B. Zrebski
See bio above
Dance Styles
Segment I: Musical Theater Dance
A fun environment where actors can brush up on their dancing styles. Learn a new combination in every class—each a different style from a different musical. Practice picking up choreography, learning the nuances of each dance style, and singing while you dance! In addition to the dance combinations, there will be a short warm-up at the top of each class to stretch and tone and the opportunity to practice various steps and techniques across the floor.
Instructor: Amy Palomino
Amy Palomino moved to Portland shortly after closing the Broadway revival of 42nd Street. Prior to that, she played “Lorraine” in the National Tour of 42nd Street and was assistant dance captain. She graduated with honors from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has been a performer and choreographer in numerous regional New York musicals. Amy most recently appeared as “Anybodys” in Portland Center Stage’s West Side Story, a “Kit Kat Girl” in Cabaret and multiple characters in the current production of Guys and Dolls. She served as Assistant Choreographer and Dance Captain for all three productions.
Segment II: Tap
A class for adult tappers who are dying to pull out and dust off the tap shoes and brush up their skills. Mostly geared toward advanced beginners and intermediate tappers, this class will include a warm-up, chances to practice steps across the floor, and tap combinations at the end of each class to learn and perform for the group.
Amy Palomino
See bio above
The Art of Business
Segment I: The Art of Presentations
This segment will utilize performance exercises and techniques to help you focus on creating confident, engaging presentations. Move your audience from captive to captivated by helping them understand quickly and clearly why they should listen to you. Learn how to keep the flow of energy between you and your audience by keeping the audience actively involved while finding your own presenting style.
Instructor: Laura Faye Smith
Laura Faye Smith is a Drammy and OTAS award-winning actress who has worked professionally for several Portland theaters and has toured nationally and internationally. She has taught classes in numerous disciplines, such as improvisation, auditioning, voice over, and sketch comedy/stand up comedy.
Segment II: The Art of Communication
This segment will utilize performance exercises and techniques to help you switch off your automatic pilot and be fully in the moment by shifting status, adjusting body language and heightening your listening skills. Learn how to adjust on the spot to captivate your audience and to be a malleable and effective communicator.
Instructor: Barb Klansnic
Barb Klansnic is a founding member of the sketch/improv group Inflatable Betty, Los Angeles; voice over/writer for Planet’s Funniest Animals, ensemble member of Unexpected Productions, performer/writer for Almost Live! and NPR’s Rewind with Bill Radke, and improv instructor in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland.
Segment III: The Art of Innovation
An introduction to non-discussion based ideation techniques that help participants find new ways to begin conversations, find solutions and innovate with others. We use methodologies from improvisation that include being “unserious”, using constraints, and asking different questions. Using a combination of games and facilitated discussions, participants will emerge with new ideas on real issues, as well as an understanding of how to use these new techniques in the future. On Your Feet has used these concepts with real clients including GE, Nike, Proctor and Gamble, and multiple advertising agencies.
Instructors: Gary Hirsch, Brad Robertson, Shelley Six and others from On Your Feet www.oyf.com
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For enrollment, or any other questions, please call Kim Morris
at 503.445.3795 or email her at kimm@pcs.org.
*Please note: GreenHouse students may cancel their enrollment and receive a partial refund if PCS is notified prior to any courses second class. There will be no refunds given after the second class of any GreenHouse course.
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