WORKSHOPS

Using Michael Shurtleff’s book Audition as a map of sorts, Ryan uses a variety of the Guideposts to elevate an Actors process which can include: Relationship, Conflict, Moment Before, Game and Roleplaying, The Importance of Importance, Discovering Discovery, Finding your Voice & Raising the Stakes. This workshop can use either text from Monologues or from Dialogue scenes.

Using theories from Meisner, Uta Hagen, Viewpoints and Improvisation students explore a vast variety of ways in to gaining comfort enough on stage to take risks and devise new theatre.

Students will be challenged through a variety of improv circle games, techniques and activities to practice the Actor’s ability to make choices, think on the spot and activate their impulses. This workshop can focus on a variety of themes including, impulse, status, character, humour, commitment, energy, voice and the physical body.

Where do you start with a monologue? What is the key to finding the emotional journey? How do I make my audition stand out as unique? All these questions and more will be examined as students are coached on their monologue material and audit other student's journeys to find a deeper level of performance. This workshop can also include memorization techniques.

How do we take what’s on the page and put it on the stage? How do we find inspiration in the script? How do we bring our own uniqueness to the story? Students work in pairs with an approved scene and using technique and imagination get it ready for presentation. Can include memorization techniques.

Students are offered the opportunity to work in a commercial or tv/film mock audition scenario or focus on the art of the Self Tape. The workshop offers guidance in Slating, Breakdowns, Scene Study and even preparing your own auditions at home.

Students are given a strong physical warm up and then work with Ryan on learning choreography to music sourced from your favourite Musicals. Vibe and theme is up to you or your group. Golden age or Contemporary, Fosse or Fred Astaire, put on your Dancing Shoes and sweat to your ultimate Broadway tunes.

Students get the opportunity to work one on one with Ryan as they present their strongest solo speeches or solo party pieces. Ryan will encourage the student to deepen their performance, elevate their impact on the audience, and find connection through text or lyric, melody and music. As the piece is developed Ryan will also offer any industry or performance knowledge to the class while answering any questions from the auditing audience (other students, perhaps parents). Music Theatre workshops require that either an accompanist or tracks and a working sound system be provided.

By considering Consent, Trust, Listening and Movement the group is challenged to breathe, move, explore and create in solo, partner and group opportunities. Music will play strongly in this workshop, as inspiration for connection.