RELEASE: December 21, 2007

SCR’S THEATRE CONSERVATORY OFFERS A VARIETY OF ACTING CLASSES FOR ADULTS — FROM NOVICES TO CAREER-BOUND ACTORS AND WRITERS

COSTA MESA, CA. – South Coast Repertory’s renowed Theatre Conservatory, now in its 34th year, continues its year-round actor training program in the New Year with specially designed classes for both the career-minded professional and those interested in personal growth and development. The Adult Program’s nine-week winter session begins January 7 and includes five levels of acting and improvisation as well as Acting for the Camera and an introduction to Playwriting.

Actors Workshop, conducted by Adult Program Director and award-winning actor and director Karen Hensel, is the most advanced class in the curriculum, with private coaching in a group environment. According to Hensel, “Our curriculum is carefully developed so that serious students will be able to advance their training through progressively more intense sessions, with professional instructors, all the way to Actors Workshop. However, we have appropriate beginning levels in acting and improv, for those who wish to develop communication skills or just overcome shyness and gain a little spontaneity in their lives. There’s something for everyone.”

The first step is an introductory acting class, Fundamentals: Act I. Because of continuing interest in this basic class, two sessions are now available, taught by Tom Shelton, who recently appeared on the Segerstrom Stage in A Christmas Carol, and award-winning actor-playwright Kristina Leach.

For graduates of Act I, and those who have completed any beginning acting class, the Adult Program offers two more levels: Fundamentals: Act II, scene study and Fundamentals: Act III, advanced scene study and characterization. Both levels are taught by Greg Ungar, whose most recent acting credit was in Super Size Me! SCR continues its classes in improvisation with Improvisation I for beginners, taught by veteran performer and improv teacher Chris Best.

SCR Founding Artist Hal Landon Jr. teaches the popular Acting for the Camera. Playwriting I, for those interested in writing material specifically for the stage, is taught by renowed theatre dramaturg Scott Horstein.

THEATRE CONSERVATORY CLASS SCHEDULE
JANUARY 7 – MARCH 4, 2008

Tuition $305 per nine-week class ($10 discount for early registration through Dec. 28; $30 off 2nd class)

Fundamentals: Act I, Basic Skills   Kristina Leach, instructor
Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 7 – Mar 3
Fundamentals: Act I, Basic Skills   Tom Shelton, instructor
Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 8 – Mar 4
Fundamentals: Act II, Scene Study   Greg Ungar, instructor
Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 8 – Mar 4
Fundamentals: Act III, Advanced Scene Study & Characterization
Greg Ungar, instructor
Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 7 – Mar 3
Improvisation I  Chris Best, instructor
Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 8 – Mar 4
Acting for the Camera   Hal Landon Jr., instructor
Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 7 – Mar 3
Playwriting I   Scott Horstein, instructor
Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 7 – Mar 3
Actors Workshop   Karen Hensel, instructor
Mondays, 7-10 p.m., Jan 7 – Mar 3

TO ENROLL, CALL SCR’S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT (714) 708-5577