Conference WORKSHOPS
(Fri & Sat)
- Please review these offerings – Select one workshop for each of the 3 sessions. Please understand that this list may change, and that some will fill quickly. Students should have alternate choices in mind.
- The workshop sign up window will open on Sunday, November 19th at 6pm and close at 6pm on Sunday, November 26th at 6pm.
- Each Troupe should have a least 1 member attend the STO leadership workshop. Students attending this workshop need to be signed up for both sessions. Troupes may have more than 1 student attend (up to the Troupe limit), however each troupe only gets 1 vote.
- All students must attend three sessions. (unless you are involved with a main stage load in)
- Directors need to sign up their students for workshops following the directions that will be sent out in mid-November.
- Workshop sign ups will close November 26th in order for the board to begin organizing tickets.
- You may have between 2 -10% of your delegation may attend the workshop on a day - if you have 30 students, you may only request 3 tickets for the 1st session – but you may select 3 for 2nd session as well, etc. – since all workshops are offered three times (except for the Leadership/STO and ITO)
- Admission tickets will be available when you arrive at the conference. Students can put their tickets in the back of their name badge for safe-keeping – but must have a ticket to enter a workshop – attendance lists will be given to each workshop presenter as well. Specific room assignments will be determined and made listed on guidebook.
Questions? Contact Andrea Roposh ASAP.
FOR DIRECTORS AND ADULTS...
We have sessions just for Troupe Directors.
We will need all chaperones to help monitor each workshop session (1 person for the same 3 sessions of that workshop). It will be the chaperones responsibility to help the teaching artist and to make sure the room is returned to the same condition it was before the Friday 1st workshop session.
STUDENT WORKSHOPS ...
Leadership/STO Selection - Jill Campbell & Marlene Thornton, PA Thespian STO Advisors (this is a 2 part workshop - Fri and 1st Sat session - you need to attend both sessions. All STOs, STO candidates need to attend. Each troupe should have at least 1 representative, but may have more (only get one vote per troupe)
How to Stage Change: Empowering Theatre Advocates - Meghan Crohe - ITO (this workshop is only offered once during the 2nd session Saturday)
Exploring Intention through American Sign Language - Elaine Bromka - NAAmerican sign language is the expressive language of the vibrant Deaf culture. With some basic ASL words and exercises, we explore ways to communicate nuance -- nonverbally! A blast, and a plus for any actor. Learn to perform with every fiber of your body!
Booked It! Self-Tape Auditions for Acting & Musical Theatre - Joey Zangardi-Dixon - NYFA - New York Film AcademyThis Acting Workshop will focus on Self-Tapes of Musical Theatre Songs and Contemporary Monologues from an "Audition/Casting" perspective. — Auditions are different now! Whether auditioning for a College/University Program, Pre-Screen, or a Professional Role, the ability to produce a strong Audition Self-Tape is an essential skill. Having worked in Casting at MTV, FOX, NBC, & Nickelodeon, as an Agent, and hosting countless auditions, my goal is to provide you with the essential tools to a successful self-recorded audition while showing off your voice, your acting-chops, and your ability to tell a compelling story to make a lasting impression. ** I am looking for volunteers - please bring contemporary monologues and musical theatre songs with backing tracks to perform. **
Scene-ing Green: Rethinking Design for Sustainable Theatre - Vandy Scoates - Wilkes University - This workshop will talk through basic ideas of sustainability within theatrical design. We will them take basic set designs and rethink ways to use the least amount , more sustainable materials, and/or stock without compromising the design or production.
Expressive Actor Training for Embodied Character Development - Lynne Perkins Socey - Earlham College - Ever have trouble playing a character the way you imagine it? Smart script analysis is essential but character is expressed through your body, voice, and behavior. How do you access those instincts and integrate them with your intellectual choices? Explore how the experiential research available through the Expressive Continuum can lead to more authentic physical, vocal, and emotional expression. It also provides a common vocabulary for actors and directors that makes collaboration easy, productive, and fun.
Building Physical Theatre - Alison Morooney - Wilkes University - This workshop is an interactive and collaborative approach to the creation of physical theatre. The workshop will consist of warm-up exercises for the body and the brain, and teach techniques for creating movement sequences that tell stories.
This work, while valuable for devising work or movement for production, is also applicable to the studio classroom for building mind body connection, creating a sense of ensemble, and inspiring ownership of choreography.
Presented in a masterclass format, it is intended for students interested in performance. This workshop if also valuable for directors and choreographers who are interested in collaborative creation. This workshop is accessible to all levels and experiences and does not require formal dance training.
Improvising Through Life - Matt Pozzuolo - UnScripted Productions - In this workshop students will learn the fundamentals of Improvisation and learn how the tenets of improv can make them a better improviser, performer, student, and person. Students will be coached through various improvised exercises, games, and scenes. They will learn many of the most important techniques to becoming a better improviser. Furthermore, this workshop will include teachings on both short form and long form. Relax, have fun, and Yes, And!
cancelled - Make It Less Weird: Intimacy Choreography and You!
replaced with - What's A TD? - Chris Russo - The job of the Technical Director is sometimes misunderstood. What is it that they really do in the theatre industry? What it takes to become a Technical Director and what the real responsibilities of a Technical Director are will be discussed and clarified in this session. Topics discussed will include Scenic Construction, Stage Rigging, Automation, and Production and Venue Management.
The Playwriting Workout - Jonathan Dorf - YouthPLAYS - In the words of the immortal Nike ad, "Just do it." Writing may not exactly be sports, but the best way to strengthen your writing muscles is to use them. A lot. In this workshop, we'll keep moving, brainstorming ideas and characters and creating scenes and monologues of all kinds. By the time you leave, you'll have broken one heck of a writerly sweat, and you'll have a pad or gadget filled with writing ideas that you can build upon.
Purple is a Lie: Color Theory for Lighting & Costumes - Elizabeth Polley - Albright College - This workshop will be presented by a lighting designer & a costume designer and focuses on the collaboration between the two areas of design in relation to color theory. How does lighting affect costumes and vice versa? How do you ensure that costumes look as great onstage as they do in the dressing room? How does color influence the audience’s perception of character, mood, and emotion? Is purple a lie? All these questions and more will be answered in this interactive workshop.
Warmup to Relaxation - Maya Evans - Summer at Sem Theatre Program at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, - A guided physical, vocal, and emotional warm-up to help performers ground themselves and prepare to work nimbly from a place of relaxation. As a group, we'll explore healthy techniques to prepare our instruments. We'll re-center and sooth while also tapping into energy and alertness. This workshop will incorporate elements of Fitzmaurice breath work, yogic stretching, Viewpoints physicality, and vocal resonation. Conference takes a lot out of us! Come join for a chance to chill, recharge, regulate, and reconnect. (Great for troupes and their troupe leaders to participate together!)
Yes! It can be a job! Non-Performance Careers in the Arts! - Curtis Craig - Penn State University - We will look at what opportunities are backstage, front of house, and management for performing arts.
Call to Action: Getting What You Want Onstage - Charlie DelMarcelle - West Chester University - Discover the path to exciting, organic, powerful, and repeatable performances. We’ll play some lively warm-up games, do a little improv, and even dive into some simple scene work. Every activity is designed to help you understand the foundations of effective acting: defining objective, obstacle, and action. Bring more ease to your work. Focus on your partner. Get what you want!
Dance for Musical Theatre - Margaret Rennerfeldt - Austin Peay State University - In this workshop you will be introduced and experience some basic dance steps utilized in musical theatre, have time for practicing and eventually learn a short dance phrase. All levels of ability are welcome.
The Broadway Dance Experience! - Brian Curl - daily8count & Teaching Artist Alliance - Come and learn a fun combination from a Broadway-style show in this interactive session. Grab your confidence, bring some water, and get ready to dance! Dress comfortably and be prepared to move. Open to all levels: students and teachers.
Intro to Stage Lighting - Josh Taylor - Pennwest California - An introductory course to lighting design for Theatre. This course will cover the controllable properties of light, functions of light, a brief overview of purpose and use of fixtures, color, and texture. Lastly, as a group we will create a sample light plot using the information covered in class.
Stress Free Distressing - Samantha Kuchta - Slippery Rock University - Often times one of the primary goals of the scenic artist is to make pieces which are shiny and new look distressed and uncared for. In this hands on workshop, students will explore unique methods of texture application that can be used to distress anything from an old store sign to farmhouse siding. Each student in the workshop will receive their own test piece to paint during the session and take home after.
An Introduction to Slow Tempo Movement for the Actor - Benjamin Roberts - Messiah University - This workshop is designed to give students and educators an overview of working in slow tempo, using this as an exploration of dramatic moments, and constructing character. We will explore rehearsal techniques and exercises designed to unlock the creative abilities and imagination of the actor. This workshop examines the work of Japanese theatre artists Shogo Ohta and Tadashi Suzuki.
Page to Stage: The Playwright as Adaptor - Noah Smith - Many plays started off as stories from other media -- novels, short stories, fairy tales, films, and more. This workshop will get you started on the process of adapting a story from its source material to turn it into something that could be performed onstage. We will discuss various forms of adaptations from faithful to loose, as well as parodies and pastiches. Students are encouraged to come in with an idea of something they might like to adapt.
Cardboard Armor - Sabrina Hykes-Davis - PennWest California - Beskar not in the budget? Learn how to cut and assemble cardboard armor using patterns. Great for the stage or for Cosplay.
Crafting a Warm-Up Routine for Singers - Jules Leddy - Slippery Rock University - This workshop will guide students through creating a functional warm-up routine to fir their individual voice needs! Students will engage in all different kinds of warm-ups, explore different vocal registers throughout the workshop, and leave with the skills to create a warm-up routine that they can use every day.
All Mixed Up: A Guide to 'Mixing' in Musical Theatre Singing - Joey Harrell - Broadway Vox - In All Mixed Up: A guide to "Mixing" in Musical Theatre Singing we will systematically break down the sounds of musical theatre singing through a process of both targeted listening and guided vocal exploration. In this session everybody sings! Come ready to explore some new sounds and expand your understanding of the wide range of vocal options that are available to you in the world of musical theatre singing. There will also be time in this session for one to one vocal work--so bring a 32-bar cut you have been wanting to explore!
Devising Theatre for All Audiences - Mary Lennon - Wilson High School - The workshop will look at the building blocks of devised theatre and give you a chance to create a short devised piece yourself! If you like the process of creating, this is the workshop for you!
Beyond The "Warmup": Doing More With Your Vocal Exercises - Joshua Harper - Wilkes University - If the only reason you warm up your voice is to get the voice moving, you're missing out! Warm ups hold the potential to directly relate technically to the piece or show you are performing, and should! Join Dr. Joshua Harper as we learn how to focus our warm ups on the specific vocal techniques you need to get the most out of your performance -- speaking or singing. Learn specific vocal and breath techniques that will help get your voice in the specific style, timbre, placement, or genre you need all in a fast and healthy manner. Do MORE with your vocal exercises and go Beyond The Warmup.
I'm In The Wrong Story- Romeo and Carrie? - Robert Rotenberry - Educational Theatre Association - In the style of Into the Woods this workshop uses existing characters from theatre to create long form improv mashups. What would happen if Romeo ran into Carrie White at a dance instead of Juliet. And what if Mulan, Usnavi or Seaweed Stubs show up? As in all improv the emphasis is on creativity, collaboration, building characters an pursuing the "I Want" of characters. This fun workshop is only limited by the imagination of the actors involved.
Creating Your Own Solo Show - cancelled
replaced with MAKE GOOD CHOICES - Steve Snyder - Penn State University - What are the things I MUST do for my audition to be a good one? What material should I use? How do I Prepare? What are colleges even looking for? This workshop will explore a step by step approach to preparing a great audition, in addition to space for Q and A. PLEASE bring a monologue to share and we'll work with you to shape a great audition.
Brush Up Your British Accent - Leonard Kelly - West Chester University - Learn the basics of a general middle class contemporary British Accent. We'll look at placement and sounds substitutions and ultimately practice our British accents by reading a few monologues!
Auditioning from Stage to Screen - Hunter Diaz - The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts - Whether it’s upcoming auditions for theater school, meeting agents or trying to break into the business through open castings, we want to help you personalize your work and let your unique personality shine through. Join us to learn audition techniques and how to best prepare. We’ll focus on identifying the important given circumstances of your scene, what does your character want to achieve, and who are you speaking to. Come prepared with a monologue, or work from a cold read if you’d like to be coached.
A2 Prep - Lauren Petrocelli - Penn State University - Learn the basics of being an A2! How to properly mic an actor and how to build different kinds of ear rigs are some of the things we'll talk about. Come learn and get hands-on experience!
Laughter through Tears is My favorite Emotion - Arthur Jolly - Playwright - In this workshop, we will delve into the art of exploring conflicting emotions on stage, whether you aim to infuse monologues with depth, create intricate, nuanced characters, or breathe life into your scenes. Join playwright Arthur M. Jolly as we explore the nuances of conveying conflicting emotions through writing, directing, and acting.
Focus on Staging - David Rigano - Focus on Staging is a workshop that looks at how to create focal points and guide the audience's eye through staging. In the hour, we'll examine how different stage shapes affect how the audience sees the action and what that means for storytelling through staging. Once we've looked at the differences between proscenium, three-quarter thrust, and in-the-round stages, the class will collaboratively stage a scene for the different types of stages. We will also briefly discuss staging for found spaces, site specific theatre, and immersive theatre.