2011/2012 Workshop Series

Written by Ken Hildebrandt

Tuesday, 21 September 2010 20:14

A Time to Play. A Time to Learn.

Welcome to our 2011/2012 Workshop Series! Educational programming at Gallery 7 Theatre is integral to our vision and mission, and I'm very proud to put forward a series of courses that will help both beginning & veteran recreational artists, theatre teachers and church drama practitioners achieve excellence in the pursuit of their craft. I'm equally excited to mention that we have a top-quality roster of professional actors and directors leading these courses, individuals who are dedicated to creating a fun learning environment.

This year, our focus will be on acting as we explore professionalism, making effective choices, developing the voice and body, and, for the first time, stage fighting. Now, before you write us letters about this last one, please understand that many plays use physical action in order to express conflict and to underscore the thematic importance of a story. Our goal is to help actors and directors to perform these actions convincingly and safely.

These workshops are perfect for all who have a love and passion for performing on stage, whether you're a high school student, a teacher, or a recreational performer working in community theatre. I highly recommend that anyone who has either performed on our stage in the past or is interested in auditioning for us sometime in the future to seriously consider participating in this year's workshop series as well.

You can register for individual worskhops, take two workshops at 15% off or take all four at 25% off. As an added bonus, if you're a 2011/2012 season pass holder, you'll save 10% on individual workshops. All workshops held at the MEI Theatre, 4081 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford.

See details below. To register for all four workshops, please click here or download the mail-in registration form.

Happy exploring,

Ken Hildebrandt
Executive/Artistic Director

Keeping the Ball in the Air: 'Professional' Acting

with Erla Faye Forsyth

Saturday October 1, 2011
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (6 hours)

Costs:
$65.00 - Individual Workshop
$58.50 - Individual Workshop - Season Pass Holder Discount
$110.50 - Workshop Two-Pack (two workshops at 15% off or $55.25 per workshop. Select workshops at check-out.)
$195.00 - Workshop Four-Pack (available when registering for all four workshops.)

Click here to register online now!

Learn the hallmarks of a successful theatre craftsperson while exploring topics such as professionalism, communication, giving & receiving, spacial & situational awareness, finding stillness in your character, using text to propel you and even proper rehearsal etiquette! This workshop will help you 'keep the ball in the air' by making your acting more professional, lively and fresh. A must for all recreational performers!

Voice & Movement

with Erla Faye Forsyth

Saturday, November 26, 2011

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (6 hours)

Click here to register online now!

The actor's primary tools for communicating character are the voice and the body, yet the development of these crucial tools is often overlooked by the recreational artist. Explore how to use the body more effectively in performance while learning important vocal techniques that will help you be heard at the back of the theatre! Learn proper physical and vocal relaxation techniques, while building physical and vocal confidence on stage.

Making the Choice: Effective Acting Decisions

with Erla Faye Forsyth

Saturday, February 4, 2012

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (6 hours)

Click here to register online now!

The effectiveness and impact of your performance depends greatly on your ability to ask questions, to analyse the script for answers, and to translate these discoveries in to a three-dimensional character. This workshop will explore what questions actors should ask, and how they find answers using the play's text.

Meet the Instructor: Erla Faye Forsythe

Erla Faye Forsyth is no stranger to Gallery 7 Theatre. A graduate of Studio 58, Forsyth has appeared in numerous productions in Vancouver including The Howard Cycle, The Foreigner and Holy Mo & Spew Boy. More recently, she appeared in Driving Miss Daisy for Pacific Theatre and It's A Wonderful Life for the Arts Club Theatre. In spring 2011, she will appear in Pacific Theatre's production of Doubt. She is a Jessie Award nominee, resides in Abbotsford and is particularly gifted in creating a warm, friendly & encouraging environment where participants can freely explore the wonderful world of acting.

Stage Fighting: An introduction

with Paul Gelineau

Friday April 20th to Saturday April 21, 2012

7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Friday) and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Saturday)

Click here to register online now!

At times, stories express conflict through physical violence in order to explore important themes. This "hands-on" workshop will teach participants how to create the illusion of violence that is effective, but safe for the performer. Professionally accepted techniques for slaps, kicks, punches, trips and hair pulls will be explored as well as basic sword fighting techniques used on all professional stages and film sets. Come prepared to move, dodge and grunt!

Meet the Instructor: Paul Gelineau

This exciting special workshop is taught by Certified Fight Master Paul Gelineau, who has created Fight-Action choreography and coordinated combat workshops for such theatres as The National Arts Centre, The Shaw Festival, The Banff Centre for the Arts, The Citadel Theatre, Theatre Calgary and is currently starting rehearsals for West Side Story at the Vancouver Opera as their Fight Director. He holds a MFA from the University of Alberta and resides in Chilliwack, B.C.