Shakespeare summer workshop seeking student actors | Press Releases

Shakespeare Ventures, a professional theatre company on the Fairfield University campus, is registering participants for its Summer Acting Workshop, an exciting month-long program for student actors ages 9 through 19. The workshop will run weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 5, through Saturday, July 29, at the University's PepsiCo Theatre. A final "informance" showcasing the students' new skills will take place Saturday, July 29, at 10 a.m. In addition to the summer workshop, Shakespeare Ventures will present its second professional production, Shakespeare's greatest comedy "Twelfth Night," this summer at the PepsiCo Theatre.

Now in its fourth year, Shakespeare Ventures' four-week workshop provides a welcoming environment for creative thinkers who wish to explore all that theatre has to offer. The program, open to young actors of all skill levels, emphasizes ensemble work and encourages self-expression. Workshop activities include movement, improvisation, stage combat and scene work, all with an eye to finding the modern-day relevance of Shakespeare's text.

The fun workshop culminates with a final "informance." Unlike other summer theatre opportunities, where the primary daily activity is rehearsing for the final production, Shakespeare Ventures focuses on building acting skills, and the informance allows the actors to share their favorite exercises and newfound skills with the audience.

Workshop staff members are all working theater artists, each with a different specialty. Doug Durlacher will bring his skills in acting and stage combat. Danielle Liccardo is a stage movement specialist and Kathleen Mooney focuses on ensemble building and improvisation. They will be joined by other professional actors from the company's production of "Twelfth Night." Artistic Director Lynne Porter is the director of the Theatre Program at Fairfield University.

Space is limited for this summer session. For information and registration, contact Porter at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3406, or ShakespeareVentures@mail.fairfield.edu . Interested students whose schedules make them unavailable to commit to all four weeks should call, as the workshop can sometimes work around arranged absences.