Spring Youth Classes

Join us for a class where we encourage girls to sing loud and proud! Master Piven teacher and accomplished opera director Susan Payne-O’Brien will coach girl-identifying students to share their voices confidently while exploring signature Piven performance tools: theatre games, improvisation, and story theatre. Class will culminate with a never-before-seen devised musical theatre piece created by the ensemble.

Spring Only!
Mondays •4:30-6:00pm $455

Perfect for the young student who wants to begin exploring theatre arts in a fun and supportive environment! Students stretch their creative muscles through theatre games while they begin to discover the art of storytelling and improvisation. This class provides the perfect introduction to the Piven training technique!

Tuesdays or Thursdays • 4:30-5:30pm $265

Come play with us! Students learn vital acting skills while learning to build ensemble, explore improvisation, and adapt and perform stories. Open to new and returning students who wish to unlock their creative impulses and find new ways to share their voices.

Saturdays • 12-1:30pm $355

In this scene study focused class, students use the fun and impulsive play of improvisation to create lively characters and realistic relationships. Students rehearse scenes from contemporary plays under the expert direction of their Piven teaching artist. Open to new and returning students, and perfect for those who wish to learn how Piven’s training can heighten their performances in school, community, and professional plays.

Saturdays • 9:00-10:30am $355

Students learn about improvisation ensembles, story theatre, and scene study in this class that explores all that the Piven Technique has to offer. Students will practice using improvisation as a tool in scene rehearsals. They will also apply their knowledge of theatre games to Story Theatre, Piven’s signature performance form. Open to new and returning students, especially those who are interested in learning about the techniques employed by Piven’s professional-level youth ensembles.

Thursday’s section features instruction by Artistic Director Jennifer Green.

Tuesdays or Thursdays • 4:30-6:00pm/ $355

Join us for a class where we encourage girls to sing loud and proud! Master Piven teacher and accomplished opera director Susan Payne-O’Brien will coach girl-identifying students to share their voices confidently while exploring signature Piven performance tools: theatre games, improvisation, and story theatre. Class will culminate with a never-before-seen devised musical theatre piece created by the ensemble.

Spring Only!
Mondays •4:30-6:00pm $455

Gain valuable experience in front of the camera! Learn how to apply the spontaneity and lively play of the Piven Technique to the world of acting and auditioning for film and television.

Saturdays • 2:00-5:00pm • 6 weeks only, March 16-April 27 $325

Teens gain confidence in their artistic voice in this class designed to teach students methods for shaping their personal stories into performance pieces. Incorporating writing exercises, guided improvisation and theatre games training, and solo performance workshops, this class will encourage students to embrace their own personal narratives developing trust in their creative impulses. Highlighting Piven’s mission to celebrate each individual’s unique voice, this class will culminate with a special Open Workshop performance sharing students’ work with family, friends, and the wider community.

Wednesdays • 4:30-7:30pm • 4 weeks only, February 27-March 20. Special Open Workshop Performance at 7:30pm on March 20.

$275

Explore improvisation as a tool for the actor! This is a great class for high school students new to Piven and for experienced actors who want to expand their improv skills. Students use games to build ensemble and explore improvisation, while also learning to apply the Piven Technique to scene work to bring spontaneity, deeper relationships, and realistic characterization to scenes from contemporary plays.

Saturdays• 2:00pm-5:00pm• 6 weeks only, February 2 – March 9 $325

Performance Project is comprised of Piven’s most advanced students in 7th – 9th grade. Students in this performance troupe study with us for several years before being invited into the ensemble, so they are already well-versed in the Piven Technique and are building the skills necessary to move on to more advanced coursework at the Workshop. Performance Project company members undertake an intensive 9-month training program focused on improvisation, ensemble-building, and crafting Story Theatre adaptations of myths, folktales, fairy tales, and modern short stories. Every winter, Performance Project presents a week-long festival of world premiere adaptations for Piven students as well as the wider community.

By invitation only

Performances February 11-February 16

This advanced, performance-oriented program is an intensive experience for actors in grades nine through twelve. Meeting for ten weeks, this class explores the full Piven canon, blending improvisation, theatre games, scene study, adaptation, and directing opportunities within a three-hour intensive class. At the end of the program, students perform the work they’ve explored on the Piven stage for family, friends, and the wider Piven community! This class is open only to high school students and admission is by invitation only.

Spring: Saturdays • 10:30am – 1:30pm 10 weeks only, February 2 – April 13

Spring Final Performance: Saturday, April 13th at 2:00pm $395