​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 20th at 6pm and close at 6pm on Sunday, November 27th 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 27th 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 the Leadership/Advocacy workshop and the Thespy Info session).
  • 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 2 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 1st workshop session.
 
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STUDENT WORKSHOPS ...
3D Virtual Lighting with Vectorworks and EOS Augment3d - Riley Allsop - After a brief overview on placing lights in Vectorworks, attendees will be shown how to place lights in 3D and import them into EOS Augment3d. Once in Augment3d, the lights can be focused and used to previsualize lighting designs in a virtual space.

Audition Video Production – Lights, Camera, NAIL It - Robert Laconi - Submitting self-taped video auditions and screeners to colleges and theatres is more and more common, if not required. To make the cut, your video should be technically savvy, have a great story with clear choices, and show your personality and professionalism. Learn filming tips and guidance – using available equipment, lighting, directing choices, sound, wardrobe, & choice of material. See lots of sample video “do’s and don’ts.” Show yourself at your best and know the “traps” to avoid – all the tools that will enable you to shoot a strong audition video or reel.

Bringing Your Authentic Self to your Work: A Class in the Meisner Technique - Anthony Reimer - This renown acting technique, developed at the world famous Neighborhood Playhouse. Students will be guided through the exercises designed to ignite one's acting instincts and talent.

Cohesive Ensemble Building: Creative Strategies for Unified Movement - John Paul  "JP" Staszel - This is a movement-based workshop that explores devised theatre techniques for creating cohesive ensemble moments. The workshop will operate at a fundamental level while allowing those individuals who are more advanced and comfortable to work more intensely with their bodies and minds. The workshop is created to build on the work of the actor, while geared toward the eye of the director, and how directors can create physical narrative with implementing elements and techniques of play. The workshop focuses on developing group connections in performance scenarios, working on how individuals understand their body in space, and how the bodies of an ensemble create meaning through sound and movement. The workshop will also focus on confidence building exercises as a fundamental way to develop ensemble, and the ways creative and expressive sound emerge in moments of fear and trust. The workshop will work on the importance of implementing strong physical choices, in safe, yet dynamic ways to create staged moments.

Collaborative Choreography - Alison Morooney - So often in a dance rehearsal, the room is run in a hierarchal fashion; the choreographer is the expert and the dancer is the vessel for executing their vision. However, when we are rehearsing dance for musical theatre, our top priority must be authentic story telling. In scene work we often spend time analyzing the text, discussing character, and exploring different ways of execution, including the actors’ creative collaboration in the process. Why not use some of these very same principles in a dance rehearsal? This workshop is a practical exploration in pursuit of collaborative ensemble choreography for musical theatre. Using choreographic structures from Steven Hoggett’s work on the Broadway production of American Idiot, participants will work together to compose an original version of the physical story telling used in that production. Following a physical warm up, participants will be given an overview of the world of the play, the characters they are portraying, and the story that we are working to tell through our movement. Then, they will be given a directive to create a series of movement that reflects that discussion. They will break into groups to create this movement, working collaboratively to discern the most effective and compelling choices. Following this creative period, the full group will come back together to share what we’ve created. Finally, using the best pieces of all those offerings, we will create and perform a final, group sourced version of the movement series. This work is story centered and therefore it is actor centered. Participants need not have years of formal training, only an interest in physical story telling and a willingness to create collaboratively. Upon completion of this workshop, performers will have practical experience working as an active contributor in the rehearsal process.

Color in Light - White Light is a Myth! - Eric Haugen - White light isn't white? How can that be? Learn about basic color theory in lighting for the stage, how colors interact with each other, and how we perceive color with our eyes.

Corn Flakes: Food or Scenic Painting Tool? - Samantha Kuchta - There is a wide variety of tools used in scenic painting to create texture, some conventional and some non-conventional. Through this workshop students will explore the non-conventional tool of Corn Flakes to create dimensional rust texture.

Find Your Perfect Monologue - Arthur M Jolly - Have you struggled to find just the right monologue for your audition? In this workshop, we'll focus on the essence of what makes the right audition piece for you personally, how to use that insight as you go forwards in your acting career, and, of course, where to find your perfect monologue!

Finding Your Voice: Vocal Exploration of the Singing Voice - Julianne Leddy - This workshop is designed to give students (and educators) an overview of the singing voice from top to bottom! We'll debunk some popular voice myths (yes, you CAN have dairy!!), engage in some warm-ups and other vocal exercises to explore the full range of the singing voice, and learn about some tips and tricks for healthy singing. This workshop will benefit any level of singer from voice-lesson pros to beginning actors, and encourage students to express themselves with their most authentic voice!

Gore 101 - Sabrina Hykes-Davis - Come try your hand at SFX makeup, using various simple gore techniques. Create realistic wounds with 2D and 3D techniques.

How To Succeed on Broadway...While Really Trying - Jacob Porter – Do you know what would make a great musical??? There are so many opportunities to making it on Broadway…beyond the stage! Learn about the careers and business of Broadway from a 3-time Tony Award nominated producer. This workshop will be a hands on experience, creating and pitching a new Broadway musical, while highlighting the many roles available on Broadway the jobs that exist and how to best prepare for a career and a life in the theater. In this workshop students will have the opportunity to go beyond the curtain and gain a better understanding of the exciting roles on Broadway including Producing, Marketing, Advertising, General Management and everything in between!

Intro to Broadsword - Andy Felt - A hands-on introduction to basic broadsword for the stage including proper fight stance and footwork. Participants will practice safe partnering skills and work up to a 5-count combination of cuts and parries.

Introduction to the Harold: Building the Scenes, Creating the Characters - Michael Schwartz - This workshop introduces students to the traditional improv scene-building format, the "Harold." Students will perform exercises and play games that concentrating on developing scenes quickly and making strong choices to create characters. By the end of the workshop, students will begin with a single word to create elaborate scenarios and improbable (and engaging) situations that highlight teamwork, inclusion, and contributions from many different voices.

Learning to Work with Scale Mail - Rebecca Morrice - Scale mail is a type of chain mail that was historically used by various cultures to protect soliders and their horses. The scale shape of each individual metal piece gives any finished product the look of snake or dragon skin. In modern times, scale mail is made from lightweight products such as anodized aluminum and plastic, making the process very accessible and affordable for costume designers, propmakers, cosplayers, and crafters. If you are interested in learning more about this simple, yet dramatic, material, stop by this workshop to learn the basics and even make a little something to take home with you!

Meisner in Your Monologue and Beyond! - Sara Leone - Build your actor toolbox with the foundational concepts of the Meisner Technique. We will explore Meisner's theory through some group acting exercises and games.

Mixing and Marking Scripts - Lauren Petrocelli - What if you were hit by a bus tomorrow? Would someone else be able to step in and mix your script? We’ll learn how to properly mark your script, so anyone could step in. We’ll also go over proper mixing techniques and putting it into practice.

Musical Theatre Acting - John Bell - This workshop will demonstrate key techniques to assist singing actors in performing a musical theatre song with more specificity and playable action. Through an examination of the music and lyrics, actors will discover ways to bring their song to life, infusing it with truth and highlighting character arc.

Non-performance careers in the Entertainment Industry - Curtis Craig - A discussion about careers in the Entertainment Industry that AREN'T performance.

Performing Improv & Creating A Comedy Club - Robert Rotenberry - Having created an ongoing comedy club for students the participants will get the opportunity to do improvs that are designed for public performance. In small groups the students will have to create characters and dialogue with suggestions from the audience. This workshop will also go into a brief introduction to our comedy clubs in which we turned our black box into a teen night club and the students performed original stand up comedy, original comedy sketches and improv.

Playing Shakespeare - Nathan Thomas - This "hands-on" workshop will help actors identify acting clues provided in Shakespeare's verse. Actors will also experience several exercises that can help them energize their verse-speaking.

Playing with Shadows - Lisa Leibering - Don’t be afraid of the dark! In this participatory workshop, we will engage with all aspects of the amazing art of shadow puppetry. We will experiment with light sources, explore a range of building methods, and play around with manipulation techniques as we devise and perform simple, short shadow shows for each other. All abilities and skill levels are welcome.

Self-Tape Auditions: Acting & Musical Theatre (A Casting Director's Perspective) - Joey Zangardi - This 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 or a Professional Role, the ability to produce a strong Audition Self-Tape is an essential skill. Having worked in casting, 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. **

Storytelling with Stage Combat - Brent Shultz - Stage Combat is the choreographed illusion of violence. High school group learning introductory level stage combat, this one-day workshop focuses on consent, proper safety cuing, and basic unarmed stage combat techniques.

The Broadway Dance Experience - Brian Curl - 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.

To Project or Not To Project - Adam Mendelson - Projection Design as its own contributor to Theatre Design is one of the newer technologies in our story-telling stable. Join us as we explore some of the unique opportunities and challenges that this kind of story-telling presents. We will talk about defining goals, creating and organizing images, playback and control and collaborating with all of the other areas including acting, directing, costuming, lighting, sound and scenery. Bring your questions or your projects and we will explore them together.

Using Broadway Audition Techniques to get Cast! - Aaron Galligan-Stierle - In this Masterclass, students will learn Aaron’s step-by-step system for approaching auditions with confidence and clarity. Aaron’s holistic method has been honed over his decades-long career and has led to him booking 50+ professional acting jobs, including three Broadway shows. Students will learn Aaron’s repeatable method for producing quality work by combining elements of dramaturgy with the Meisner technique. This Masterclass uses sides from current Broadway shows to give students real-life opportunities to handle curve-balls thrown their way from behind the table. At the end of this Masterclass, students will be able to: -maximize audition prep time to make creative and dramaturgically smart choices -bring bold physicality and nimbleness into every audition room -navigate audition challenges, like multiple scene partners and complicated stage directions -decode confusing feedback from casting director

Viewpoints Exploration - Wm. "Perry" Morgan - Vocal Viewpoints/Physical Viewpoints. Come Experience and Explore the Space, and Tempo, Time, Shape, Flocking, - all the Viewpoints which will assist in making your work Deeper, Richer, Stronger.

Viewpoints for Performers - Kathy Morath - Creative physical solutions to staging & text interpretation. Using the seven Viewpoints, as codified by theatre artist Anne Bogart, we will explore space, tempo, architecture, duration and other applications for total immersion in physical reality. By utilizing new tools for exploration and “group mind” activity, fresh perspective and process will help young performers find creative solutions to theatrical challenges in acting, singing, and dance applications. Wear loose clothing and comfortable footwear. 

What's a Thespy? - Tips for Success - Melissa Mintzer - (this session will be presented once - during the session that the STO Selection/Leadership workshop is not happening) - This workshop will focus on providing tips for students who would like to learn more about the Thespy program. There are so many logistics with video submission, the OpenWater software, rubrics, choosing appropriate content, etc. We will clarify the process, discuss common errors to avoid disqualifications, share examples of Superior entries from the past and help to put your mind at ease. This year's submission deadline is December 31st - so this is just in time for students registered for 2022, but will also have value for those who would like to learn more to prepare to enter in next year's event as well. All are welcome!
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Writing the Vignette Play - Jonathan Dorf - CHECK, PLEASE. ALMOST, MAINE. My own 4 A.M. or DECLARATION. All very different, but all "vignette" plays, a form—and one that's become increasingly popular—that uses a series of scenes (and sometimes monologues) to tell the story. In this workshop, you'll get a crash course on what it takes to write a vignette play of your own—from hatching an idea to generating your "Scene Storm" to figuring out how to put all of the pieces together.

STO Selection/Leadership Training -  (this is a 2 session workshop - you need to attend both sessions) 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 STO and STO Candidates must attend these sessions. This workshop is designed to provide leadership training for students to take back to their troupes while selecting next year's STOs.

Better Than Bossy - Addie Blumburg (ITO Chair) - (this workshop will be offered one time - the session that the STO Leadership/Selection workshop is not happening)  - Join ITO Chair Addie Blumberg in this workshop about female empowerment for women in positions in leadership. Learn about your leadership style and embrace your strengths while adopting the motto “we are better than bossy.” Open to all gender identities!
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Improv Games
Dreena Moran - Learn basic improv techniques in the form of theater games. These fun, active exercises will get you moving, thinking quickly, and of course, laughing!

Putting the Pro in Improv
Ryan Huban - If you are competing in Improv Pairs, this workshop is a must! Learn from the pros about the advanced choices you can make on stage that lead to stronger scenes.