ADULT FALL/WINTER CLASSES
September 13 – December 14, 2010

Improvisation, Games, & Risk Taking (Basic Piven) with Bernard Beck
Want to know what Piven is all about? This class allows students to discover the Piven Technique by learning theatre games & improvisation in a fun, supportive, ensemble-based environment. Taught by master teacher Bernard Beck, this class is perfect for all students looking to discover & re-discover their impulsive creativity through our work.

Games, Story & Scene: Family Relationships (Basic Piven plus Text) with Mikalina Rabinsky
In this class, students learn Piven’s core improvisational technique and apply it to scripted stories & scenes. Taking on a new theme every session, this fall session will tackle stories with interesting family relationships and dynamics. With instruction from one of our senior teachers, Mikalina Rabinksy, students will create and perform stories by focusing on text exploration, subtext, dialogue and narration.

Fitzmaurice Voicework® (Specialty Workshop) with Roger Smart
Intended for artists who have always wanted to work on their physicality, breath, resonance, and vocal quality while remaining genuine and impulsive, this physical and vocal workshop guides students to use their individual voices more effectively on stage (or in any public speaking occasion). The Fitzmaurice Voicework®
technique is taught at Yale School of Drama, Harvard University/American Repertory Theatre’s Institue for Advanced Theatre Training, New York University, and numerous other studios internationally. It explores the dynamics between body, breath, voice, the imagination, language and presence, and encourages vibrant voices that communicate intention and feeling without excess effort. We are excited to bring in Roger Smart to teach this exciting workshop for our student. He has worked as director, vocal coach, and designer throughout Chicago and London.

Basic Piven Scene Study: Playwright John Patrick Shanley (Basic/Intermediate Piven) with Ryan Kitley
In this class, students prepare and rehearse scenes from John Patrick Shanley’s body of work by using Piven improvisation and games todeepen characters and relationships. Just returning from LA, teacher Ryan Kitley explores how we use the impulsiveness of improvisationduring the rehearsal process while being restrained by and respectful of a script. Best for students who have taken Improvisation, Games,and Risk Taking or Games, Story, and Scene, but previous experience not required.

Piven Technique for the Actor: Chekov & Ibsen Scene Study (Intermediate/Advanced Piven) with Joanne Underwood
In celebration of our fall production of Three Sisters, students will prepare, rehearse, and perform scenes from the plays of Chekov & Ibsen by using Piven improvisation and games to deepen characters and relationships. Taught by senior teacher Joanne Underwood, and intended for students with acting experience or recommended from our basic Piven classes.

Master Class in Piven Technique (Advanced Piven) with Joyce Piven
Dedicated students are selected from among our adult population, and invited into this master class to continue building their improvisation muscles and ensemble skills. Studying how the games of the Piven technique apply to scripted work, the group will work with scenes or stories centered on a theme. Past themes have included Shakespeare, classical works, & the plays Sarah Ruhl.

Piven Empowerment through Enrichment Program (PEEP) with Nancy Schultz
Through theatre games and improvisation, this exciting class leads an ensemble of adults with development disabilities to expand creativity and assist in impulse training. After eight weeks of rehearsal, this lively ensemble put on a Story Theatre show for family and friends.

WINTER WEEKEND WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS

Weekend workshops are intensive short classes that are complementary to our students’ work in Piven technique classes.

Audition Technique Weekend Workshop with Erica Daniels of Steppenwolf
December 11th & 12th
Taught by Steppenwolf’s own Erica Daniels, learn the dos and don’ts of auditioning for large professional Chicago theatre companies. Monologues, cold readings, and sides are addressed in this intensive weekend workshop.