Bucks County Playhouse has announced its lineup of education programs being offered this fall. Classes take place in Lambertville Hall, 57 Bridge Street, Lambertville, with the exception of the Acting for Adults: Online Class, which will be held via Zoom. Visit www.buckscountyplayhouse.org for more information and to register.
Acting For Adults: Online Class. Mondays, October 7 through November 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages 17 and up. Through assigned scenes and monologues this class teaches the basic techniques towards reaching truthful behavior in acting. The class is for a multi- generational group of students of varying experience. Using improvisation, assigned scenes and monologues the actor will identify the intersection of their own authentic self to the fictional character. This validating class is fun and encourages compassion and understanding of yourself and those you will be working with. This class will meet virtually via Zoom. Students of varying levels are welcome.
Instructor June Ballinger has performed on Broadway and numerous off-Broadway theatres in New York committed to new work including Ensemble Studio Theatre, Primary Stages, New Federal Theatre. The Working Theatre, Playwrights Realm. Regional experiences include the Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, New Harmony Theatre, The Great Lakes Theatre Festival and The Kennedy Center. Ballinger was Artistic Director of Trenton’s Passage Theatre for 22 years.
Acting For The Camera: Intro Level. Tuesdays, October 8 through 29, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages 15 and up. Through assisted scene work from screenplays, this class teaches techniques for acting on camera for television and film. Using copy from television and film scenes, students will learn the process from the audition in the TV casting director’s office, to script analysis, preparing self-tapes, lighting and technology, and tips on how to find an agent. This validating class gives students the tools to start their acting for the camera journey. Students of varying levels are welcome.
Acting For The Camera: Intermediate Level. Tuesdays, November 5 through December 3, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages 15 and up. This intensive intermediate class will equip the student with the advanced skills and techniques to elevate the craft and ace those auditions. The class covers: in-depth character breakdown, scene and monologue work, self-tape mastery, connection to material, audition selection, online presence, mindfulness techniques and on-the-spot scene analysis. This class is only open to students who completed the intro level class or have professional experience.
Instructor Johanna Tolentino got her first big break at the age of 16 on the feature film “Lean On Me” with Morgan Freeman. She’s booked co-starring roles on network television such as (Comedy Central) pilot “Alternatino,” “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix), “Do No Harm,” Guest star role on ( NBC), “Law & Order SVU,” co star role on “The Blacklist” and “GOTHAM” (FOX).
Beginner Adult Tap. Wednesdays, October 16 through November 20, 4 to 5 p.m. Ages 15 and up. Led by professional dancer Julie Johnson Thick, in this six-week class students will learn basic tap steps, fun combinations and further explore this great American dance tradition.
Thick, choreographer, is an adjunct with priority status, teaching Rider’s Musical Theatre majors tap dance since 2013. Julie and her husband Bob founded the Off-Broadstreet Theatre in Hopewell where she functioned as Managing Producer and Choreographer. Together they produced more than 300 shows in 32 years.
Breaking Into the Voiceover World – Intro Level. Thursdays, October 10 through November 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. There’s never been a better time to break into the voice over world. Almost all voiceover work can now be done remotely from home. In this introductory class, students will receive individual coaching on proper voice over technique for TV and radio commercials and promos, how to approach and personalize copy, how to make a demo and get an agent, and how to work from the comfort of home.
Instructor Pete DeMeo is the voice of The Today Show on NBC. As an Emmy-nominated voice over artist, he has voiced hundreds of commercial, promo and political spots for national TV and radio, in addition to narrating more than 400 documentaries.
Breaking Into the Voiceover World – Intermediate Level. Thursdays, November 14 through December 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Ages 18 and up. The intermediate voiceover class is a workshop focused to encourage active participation and coaching. Teaching artist Pete DeMeo will take participants deeper into various reads (commercial, promo and long form). Core elements of this class include: live reads, personalized coaching, interpreting direction in session, developing voice technique and storytelling. This class is only open to students who completed the intro level class or have professional experience.
Improv. Wednesdays, October 16 through November 13, 7 to 9 p.m. Ages 15 and up. This class offers two hours of collaborative acting games, improv techniques and opportunities to nurture creativity. No experience necessary. Instructor Will Dennis is a local professional actor, teacher and owner/operator of improv studio, UnScripted Productions in Newtown, Pennsylvania.
Making a Musical: New Theater Workshop for Teens. Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ages 13 to 18. Composer and lyricist Kate Brennan and playwright and director David Lee White, creators of “ALiEN8” (Bucks County Playhouse’s Youth Company 2023 production) return to the Playhouse this fall for a special two-day developmental workshop on their latest musical, “Book of Wonder.” Through vocal, acting, and improvisation exercises participants become a part of the musical development process, bringing scenes and songs to life as this new theater piece takes shape.
