Civic Theatre Classes

Classes for All Ages

Acting

Technical Theatre

Write a Play

August 15 – A Living Graphic Novel

  • Workshop leaders – Steven Koehler and Craig Martin

  • FREE

ArtCart is collaborating with Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette to present “A Living Graphic Novel” - as part of the One Great Read project, we’ll help design, paint, install and present a graphic novel with several comic frames, live actors and painted backdrops and props!

The One Great Read book title this year is Persepolis, a graphic novel about a young girls journey through revolution and war in Iran.

 

Acting and Directing

Sept. 5 – Audition Workshop

  • Instructors – Melanie R. Buchanan, Laurie Russell, and Kate Walker

  • Cost - $20

This is audition workshop covers basic topics, such as what an actor should wear to auditions, as well as advanced, such choosing appropriate monologues and songs, and doing a cold reading.

Dec. 12 – Breaking Down the Script

  • Instructors – Larry Sommers and Steve Martin

  • Cost - $20, plus $5 material fee

This workshop covers script analysis – techniques used to determine a play's course of action, conflict, characters and more. Actors, directors, designers and audience members will learn valuable information in this workshop.

Jan. 30 – All You Ever Wanted to Know about Shakespeare, But Were Afraid to Ask

  • Instructor - Arliss Jeffries

  • Cost - $20

A basic rundown of acting for Shakespeare.  Designed to take away the mystique and fear of The Bard, this class will focus on speaking the verse, and some basic methods that separate (or not) acting in a classic vs. a contemporary play.

Feb. 13 – Who Are You – Character Development

  • Instructor – Melanie R. Buchanan, Julia Colby

  • Cost - $20

Although playwrights and directors help shape a play and its characters, actors know the character they play better than anyone, not only physically but emotionally. Participants will learn techniques to develop fully formed characters that will grab an audience's attention.

May 15 – A Career on the Stage

  • Instructor - Melanie Buchanan, with special guest Ward Billeisen

  • COST - Free with paid admission to any other workshop (If no previous classes, cost is $20)

Special guest and Broadway veteran Ward Billeisen will give a presentation on a life in the professional theatre. Get a glimpse at the "glamorous life" through the eyes of this veteran performer.

 

Technical and Design

Sept. 12 – Visual Composition Workshop

  • Instructors – John David Collier, Steven Koehler, and Larry Sommers

  • Cost - $20

In this workshop participants will help experienced and new directors and designers develop a vocabulary and methodology for visual composition.

Dec. 5 – Building the Show

  • Instructors – Dan Becker Dave Lahr and Tom Moran

  • Cost - $20

This workshop covers the basics of building a show, brought to you by "the boys," who have built many sets for Civic Theatre.  Tour the construction shop, receive a rundown of basic techniques and acquire some hands-on experience in building a set from the Civic masters.

Mar. 13 – Lighting the Subject - Basic Lighting Design

  • Instructor - Steven Koehler

  • Cost - $20

This workshop includes a rundown of the lighting equipment at Civic Theatre, and what makes it work.  Attendees also will learn some basic theories on color, timing and sculpting from a lighting perspective.

May 22 – Stage Management 101

  • Instructor - Steven Koehler, with special guest Valerie A. Peterson

  • COST - Free with paid admission to any other workshop (If no previous classes, cost is $20)

Valerie Peterson is a professional Equity Stage Manager, with Broadway credits. She will provide a basic introduction to the life of a professional stage manager including stories of triumph and despair. See how stage managing a professional show is different and similar to stage managing a Civic Theatre show.

Write a Play

Sept. 19 – Writing a Play – Part 1

  • Instructors – Arliss Jeffries, Steve Gooch and Steve Martin

  • Cost - $20 (Total for all 5 writing workshops: $75)

This will be the jumping off point in which class participants will develop their own plays over the course of the theatrical season. The class features a supportive and creative process that will result in a final script, suitable for submission to Civic Theatre’s Readers Theatre series. 

Dec. 19 – Writing a Play – Part 2

  • Instructors - Arliss Jeffries, Steve Gooch, and Steve Martin

  • Cost - $20

Class participants will develop their own play over the course of the theatrical season. Classes feature a supportive and creative process that will result in a final script, suitable for submission to Civic Theatre’s Staged Reading series.

Feb. 6 – Writing a Play – Part 3

  • Instructors - Arliss Jeffries, Steve Gooch, and Steve Martin

  • Cost - $20

Class participants will develop their own play over the course of the theatrical season. Classes feature a supportive and creative process that will result in a final script, suitable for submission to Civic Theatre’s Staged Reading series.

Mar. 20 – Writing a Play – Part 4

  • Instructors - Arliss Jeffries, Steve Gooch, and Steve Martin

  • Cost - $20

Class participants will develop their own play over the course of the theatrical season. Classes feature a supportive and creative process that will result in a final script, suitable for submission to Civic Theatre’s Staged Reading series.

May 8 – Writing a Play – Part 5

  • Instructors - Arliss Jeffries, Steve Gooch, and Steve Martin, with special guest Charles Pogue.

  • COST - Free with paid admission to any other workshop (If no previous classes, cost is $20)

Charles Pogue has had an extensive writing career that includes film (D.O.A., The Hound of the Baskerville, The Fly and Dragonheart), and published several plays, including a new translation of Moliere’s Tartuffe. Charles will lead a discussion of writing as a profession, including several stories of his time in Hollywood.

 

     THE DETAILS

  • Space is limited, and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Register early to assure your space

  • You are not considered registered until full payment is received. Please contact Civic if payment arrangements are needed.

  • Refunds are given only for medical reasons.

  • Civic Theatre reserves the right to cancel any class due to low reservations.

  • Paid registration in any class entitles you to attend all three "Master Classes" in May.

  • Classes are taught by seasoned Civic veterans and professionals.

  • All classes will be held in the Historic Monon Depot Theatre.

Click here for Registration Form

Click here for complete Brochure

 




Civic Theatre

313 North 5th Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
Phone:
(765)423-PLAY * Fax: (765)742-7247
e-mail:
info@civictheatreofgreaterlafayette

Last Revised July 30, 2009