MFA Acting Week 3

Monday 9/12

Improv

Today marked our first improv session and I can tell I am going to love it. This course will serve more as an opportunity to become acquainted with our own unique individual creative processes than to 'teach improv'. We discussed some of the personal obstacles we as actors encounter- doubting and denying impulses and fearing that we aren't enough (original enough, funny enough, clever enough, giving enough...). We often forget to stop and realize how much more energy we expend when we restrain ourselves and restrict our impulses, rather than allowing ourselves to be without judgement. Our professor used a beautiful analogy that resonated deeply with me- if we think of ourselves as houses, our experiences and emotions are stored in different rooms, some of which we allow free access to, others of which are locked and guarded. It's important that we know what is in each room of our house so that we can access and call upon the things that our work demands from us. 

Tuesday 9/13

Speech

We continued working on the production of consonant sounds and had a mini-group quiz. Everyone passed!

Wednesday 9/14

Movement

Our readings for this course gave us background information on the Alexander Technique, including how Alexander himself discovered the principles he would go on to teach. We discussed the startle response- the body's physiological and neurological pre-choreographed response to danger, and how this physically manifests in a species that is constantly living under stress. The righting reflex, which the body naturally does when the danger is removed, manifests in the head and neck leading the spine into length. We also began to discuss the cycle of awareness, inhibition and direction.

Acting
We did a facial mirroring exercise today where we sat across from a partner and conversed with them while taking on any facial manipulations we observed in them- raised eyebrows, wrinkled foreheads, etc. More than imitating, it required a release into our partner which necessitated working with ease. This allowed us to be more open when observing and being observed. We did some more improv work and discussed the impact that place has on our behavior.

Thursday 9/15


Speech
We had a double speech session today as our voice teacher is away working with the RSC. We continued work on our consonant sounds and then played with the power that different sounds have in different words.

Kinetics
Today we discussed the elements of the theatre auditory- sound, tempo, pitch, volume, stress and phrasing. We expiremented with this and then recapped all of the elements- kinetic, auditory and visual, through which we will analyze scenes and characters in the future. We finished up our abstract art/ movement exercise as we began to think of ourselves not only intellectually but also as physical entities with lines, forms, shapes, etc. As actors we are both the sculptor and the sculpture. 

Cheap Improv Classes!

CHEAP IMPROV!
Mind The Art Entertainment proudly offers some of the cheapest and most HIGH QUALITY improv training in the city! Sign up with a friend and you both get 20% off! Only $93 for 5 sessions, Tuesdays starting 10/11, including an open performance on the 6th week. -Are you somebody that has seen some improv and thought “Hey, I would like to try some of that there stuff right there.”? -Are you an acting type person who wants to expand their repertoire of things you’re good at and want to be able to bring to the table to make you more marketable and successful in this the hardest of professions? -Are you a non-actor who wants to beef-up your confidence level, learn how to relax and just have fun and play with other people? -Have you wanted to do improv but were scared away by the high sticker price of some of the improv training in the city? -Are you scared of improv? Then perhaps these classes are for you.  LEVEL 1: For the beginner and those with no formal training. Learn the basics of how to free yourself up and think like an improviser.  Runs: 5 weeks, culminating in a class show on the sixth week. Tuesday nights starting October 11th Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm on the aforementioned Tuesdays.  Class show to be at 7pm on November 15th LEVEL 2: For the improviser who wants to rise to the next level. Improve your level of play, listening and understanding. Focus on long-form improv and creating real, believable characters in hilarious circumstances. Runs: 5 weeks, culminating in a class show on the sixth week. Tuesday nights starting October 11th Time: 8:00pm-10:00pm on the aforementioned Tuesdays.  Class show to be at 9pm on November 15th Register at www.mindtheartentertainment.com YOUR TEACHER IS JOE KURTZ: Joe is a founding board member of Mind The Art Entertainment and is the director of their Acting Division. He studied improv at iO (formerly Improv Olympic) in Chicago, IL and is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Some of Joe’s teachers include T.J. Jagodowski (T.J. and Dave), Peter Gwinn (writer for The Colbert Report and author of Group Improvisation) and Charna Halpern (author of Truth in Comedy and Art by Committee). Joe has been teaching improv for the past couple of years while appearing in numerous productions through the city. His play, Die, premiered last year at LaMaMa E.T.C. Testimonials from previous students: "Joe is such a pleasure to have as an improv coach. He really lets us explore at our own pace, but at the same time, really helps us get away from our usual habits, to explore it in a different way. He makes it such a fun space to work in, and I’m so glad to have him once a week to help me not think and just go crazy and let go. It really helps me with my everyday auditions as well!" – Ashley C. Williams (star of the “The Human Centipede”) "Joe is a wonderfully creative flexible and patient instructor. He makes his classroom a completely safe space to explore your craft and get back to the basics of acting. His improv workshops are a rare jewel and asset for anyone interested in building theatrical flexibility and confidence."- Ariana Paganetti (Off-Broadway producer)