workshops
all grades
Our workshops are one time only events usually centered around a Mainstage or young company performance.
On the 2nd Saturday of each Mainstage show, we offer a show-specific workshop from 1pm-2:30pm and students receive a ticket to the 3pm performance.
Lumberjacks in Love workshop "Household Instruments" taught by cast members Steve Barkhimer and Bill Gardiner: Saturday, September 22nd, 1:15pm -2:30pm, $20
Double Indemnity workshop "Film Noir Acting" taught by cast members: Saturday, October 27, 1:15pm -2:30pm, $20
Wonderful Life workshop "Page to Stage: Adapting a Film" taught by cast members: Saturday, December 1, 1:15pm -2:30pm, $20
Fall 2012 Classes, & Voice Lessons
Fall Classes Began on September 10
Performances can be exhilarating, but we also love to focus on an actor's process. Each fall and spring, the young company offers a variety of programs to support and challenge developing actors. For performers in grades 1-12, we hold weekly acting and dance classes, private voice lessons and special workshops connected to young company and Mainstage productions. We vary the structure and focus of our programs to better address the developmental stage and needs of each age group.
$175 PER CLASS
Note: There will be no classes on October 8
Download the Registration Form
Programs
Overture (grades 1-3)
act 1 (grades 4-6)
act 2 (grades 7-9)
act 3 (grades 10-12)
Workshops (for all ages)
Private Voice Lessons (for all ages)
About our Instructors
overture
grades 1-3
Theatre is the art of telling a story. Our interdisciplinary overture classes develop voice, acting and dance skills through the exploration of various tales from around the world. Each class will focus on different dance styles and acting skills.
overture: Hip-Hopera
Saturdays | 9:00am-10:10am
instructed by RYE Members Bernie Baldassaro and Sarah Smith
In our classes for older performers, every individual starts by taking an Introduction to Acting class at his or her grade level. Based in Stanislavsky's system, the introductory classes give all our actors fundamental skills as well as a shared vocabulary. After Introduction to Acting, students can take the "Next Level" classes in whatever order makes sense for their schedule and skills.
act one
grades 4-6
Living truthfully in imaginary circumstances is one definition of acting that elementary aged actors usually don't have trouble with! We work to help them confidently channel their energy and imagination into performance!
act 1: Introduction to Acting
Mondays | 3:30pm-4:40pm
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Allison Russell
Through games, improvisation and ensemble exercises, this class will help young actors to develop confidence, stage presence and their ability to work as part of a group. We will use the five Ws-- who, what, when, where and why-- to create fully realized imaginary worlds and characters, giving young actors tools to, in the words of Sanford Meisner "live truthfully in imaginary circumstances."
Next Level: Monologues & Audition Prep
Mondays | 3:30pm-4:40pm
Small Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Michael Buckley
act 1*/2 dance: Broadway Dance
Saturdays | 9:10am-10:00am
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Bradley Jensen
*act 1 by permission
act two
grades 7-9
Actors constantly balance a strong sense of self with an ability to work together as a group. These classes for act 2 focus on developing strong ensembles and instilling self-confidence necessary "to be private in public".
act 2: Introduction to Acting
Mondays | 4:45pm-5:55pm
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Michael Buckley
Through games, improvisation and scenework, this class will help young actors to develop confidence, stage presence and their ability to work with text for clues and inspiration. We will use the five Ws-- who, what, when, where and why-- to create fully realized imaginary worlds and characters, both of our own and connected to theatrical plays, giving middle school actors a strong base for continued work in the theatre.
Next Level: Using Your Voice
Mondays | 4:45pm-5:55pm
Small Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Nick Sulfaro
Using the Linklater method as a spring board, this class will help act 2 actors with a background and comfort in performance to explore their natural voice, and how to use it in a healthy and creative way.
act 1/2 dance: Broadway Dance
Saturdays | 9:10am-10:00am
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Bradley Jensen
act 2*/3 dance: Lyrical Dance
Saturdays | 10:15am-11:25am
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Bradley Jensen
*act 2 by permission
act three
grades 10-12
Ways of thinking about acting did not begin and end with Stanislavsky. With act 3, we strive to open windows into both professional theatre artist training techniques -like those of Meisner, Suzuki, LeCoq, Laban and Linklater-and disciplines like directing and playwriting.
act 3: Intro to Acting
Mondays | 6:00pm-7:30pm
Small Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Caitlin Lowans
act 3: Linklater Voice Technique
Mondays | 6:00pm-7:30pm
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Melissa Baroni
This class will be an opportunity to explore Kristin Linklater's approach to Freeing the Natural Voice. It will focus largely freeing the body, breath, and vibration in order to awaken your creative connection to your voice as a powerful instrument.
act 2/3 dance: Lyrical Dance
Saturdays | 10:15am-11:25am
Large Rehearsal Room
Instructor: Bradley Jensen
Private Voice Lessons
For All Ages
The young company offers half-hour long private voice lessons. Students receive 12 lessons per semester. Private voice lessons are $350 per semester. The voice lessons begin the week of September 10th and continue through early December. Students work on vocal technique, musicianship, song repertoire and audition skills.
Instructors:
Antanas Meilus (Mondays 7-9pm, Thursdays 3-7pm, Sundays 5-9pm);
Min Lew (Tuesdays 3-7pm)
FULL!
Leah Hungerford (Mondays and Fridays from 3-7pm);
FULL! Penny Hansen (Tuesdays 3-6pm)
Instructors
Steven Barkhimer appeared this summer as Sir Wilfrid in Witness for the Prosecution and Froggy in The Foreigner at the Barnstormers Theatre in Vermont, after reprising the role of Norman in The Norman Conquests at Gloucester Stage. Other recent roles include Max in Superior Donuts (Lyric Stage) and Feste in Twelfth Night (Actors Shakespeare Project). Stoneham appearances include Romeo and Juliet, A Year with Frog and Toad, And Then There Were None, The Dino Musical, and Around the World in 80 Days. His own music can be found through CDBaby.com.
MELISSA BARONI is an actor and voice teacher. She has been trained by world-renowned voice teacher, Kristin Linklater, and is a Designated Linklater Teacher. She serves on the faculties at Emerson College, The Boston Conservatory, and Shakespeare & Company. As an actor, Melissa has appeared at Stoneham Theatre in Buddy Cop 2, and at other local theatres including New Repertory Theatre and Gloucester Stage Company. B.S. Skidmore College; M.A. Lesley University.
William Gardiner is thrilled to be back with his friends at Stoneham Theatre. He was previously seen here as Uncle Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, Ernie the Moocher in Guys on Ice, Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street and Clarence in It’s a Wonderful Life. Bill’s work with other Boston companies includes: New Repertory Theatre, Boston Theatre Works, Actor’s Shakespeare Project, North Shore Music Theatre and the Publick Theatre. Some of his favorite roles are Ernie the Moocher, Feste in Twelfth Night and Pseudolus in A Funny thing Happed on the Way to the Forum. Bill is currently the drama instructor at Boston University Academy
Penny Hansen, A native of the Chicagoland area, Penny is a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University (BM, Vocal Performance) and the Boston Conservatory (MM, Opera Performance.) Her sound background in classical study coupled with a lifelong love of musical theatre has helped to mold her into the passionate, dedicated, and energetic educator and performer that she is today. Her instruction focuses not just on the student's voice, but developing the student as a whole - working with breath, posture, confidence and artistry. She also incorporates the use of yoga and movement as tools free the singer in mind and body. Penny has been a private voice instructor for over ten years and works with students of all ages and experience levels. She is a Professor of Theatre Arts at Endicott College, as well as an active performer and director. Notable performing credits include She Loves Me (Huntington Theatre Company), Assassins (Company One), Baby (Riverside Theatre Works), and Songs for a New World (Turtle Lane).
BRADLEY JENSEN arrived at the Stoneham young company during the summer of 2003 and never left. As a young company educator, Brad has directed and choreographed productions of Oliver, Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and The Beast, and Seussical the Musical, and teaches Musical Theatre Dance, Jazz, and Hip Hop classes during the Fall and Spring. Brad also works as an urban educator, teaching Secondary English Language Arts and Theatre to students living in the Boston area.
MIN LEW is currently an active chamber musician and a collaborative pianist in the Greater Boston Area, playing for conservatory students at Longy School of Music as well as collegiate-level ensembles such as the Wellesley College Chamber Singers. She is also a dedicated music educator with faculty appointments at Powers Music School in Belmont, Keys-for-Kids Music School in Lexington and Stoneham Theatre. Min has a B.A. from Wellesley College and a Master's degree in Piano Performance from Longy School of Music.
Caitlin Lowans (Artistic Associate/Director of Education) In her tenth season at Stoneham, Caitlin has directed thirteen shows on the Mainstage, most recently Romeo and Juliet and The Full Monty, and directed or co-directed 24 shows for the young company, including the upcoming A Year with Frog and Toad. Her Thrill Me for the Emerging Stages series earned her an IRNE nomination for best musical and best director. In the spring, she will direct the world premiere of Ryan Landry's M at the Huntington Theatre Company. Caitlin is an alumna of Georgetown University, Harvard University's Arts in Education program, and the Lincoln Center Directors Lab.
ANTANAS MELIUS is a young tenor, recitalist, and composer who resides in the Boston area. Recently at the Starline Room he took part in full productions of Bye, Bye Birdie (Conrad Birdie) and The King and I (Lun Tha). Earlier this year he joined the Stoneham Theatre as a vocal instructor for the young company. Antanas graduated cum laude from Salem State University with a BA in Music. At Salem State he was a Presidential Arts Scholar and he was the recipient of the Center for Creative and Performing Arts Creativity Award with Distinction in Music. Antanas hopes to pursue musicology studies in Northern European music and cultural preservation.
ALLISON RUSSELL is thrilled to return to the young company after co-directing Legally Blonde with act 3, Curtains with act 2 and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with act 1. In addition to directing, you may also recognize Allison from her on stage credits including Maggie in A Chorus Line at Reagle Music Theatre and Agnes in Gypsy right here at Stoneham Theatre. A recent graduate of Boston College, Allison could not be more grateful to Caitlin for the opportunity to do what she loves!
Questions? Contact us! (781)279-7885, or: education@stonehamtheatre.org
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