Workshops are brief, rigorous courses, often an hour or two in duration, designed for a small group or single class that focus on one particular aspect of theatrical study. Workshops can occur either at a theatrical venue or in residency at a school.

Intensives are immersion programs offered in association with alternative, charter and private schools. With these projects a given group of students spend entire school days with an artist or artists for a predetermined period of time (typically two weeks). In the case of acting intensives students are exposed to a rigorous curriculum involving all of the skills of the actor. For a technical theatre intensive students are exposed to a variety of elements of technical theatre with an emphasis on set construction and scene painting. The optimum circumstance is to teach a technical intensive in conjunction with an acting intensive. At the end of the intensive program students generally present a play or other evening of performance developed during their period of study. Staging a production requires a minimum of 40 and a maximum 75 total hours.

A residency is a series of in school workshops, which take place a few hours a day over the course of several weeks. Residencies can be geared to offer one particular subject matter or element of the performing arts to various classes or groups of students or to offer a potpourri of subjects to a single class or group.

Special workshops can be arranged with local theatrical venues to offer guided tours of their facilities in order to acquaint students with physical aspects of theatre, such as rigging systems, actor accommodation facilities and light and sound systems that they may not have exposure to in their school.

The following courses could be suitably adapted to workshop, residency, or intensive formats.

• Acting - An introduction to the basic tools of the actor. Includes basic character development, awareness of the body in space, vocal control and tapping into the creative impulse. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Ballooning - A fun course in the techniques of creating animals, sculptures, and puppets with Qualatex balloons. Participants will also be introduced to the rudiments of variety performance patter and comedy improvisation. Recommended for grades 3-12.
• Combat for the Stage - A basic introduction to falls, punches, roles, and pulls to teach participants safe staged violence techniques. Can be adapted age groups K-12.
• Improvisation - Participants will be introduced to both comedy improvisation techniques such as those made popular in the television show whose Line Is It Anyway as well as serious improvisation techniques for the stage such as outlined in Viola Spolin's books. Recommended for grades 3-12.
• Juggling - Designed to teach physical dexterity as well as spatial relationships between objects participants will leave this course with at least rudimentary variety performance skills. Recommended for grades 5-12.
• Lighting Design - A beginning level course that will teach lighting terminology, an awareness of mixing colors, and give a hands on opportunity to hang, focus and gel theatrical lighting instruments. Recommended for grades 6-12.
• Make-Up for the Stage - A brief examination of the uses of theatrical make-up. Participants will be introduced to the use of various brush and sponge techniques, blending and cleaning and maintaining make-up materials. A $15 lab fee would apply. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Movement - An examination of the body as a tool of the actor. In older age groups some emphasis will be placed on period movement and how movement has evolved through time. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Physical Comedy - An introduction to clowning and vaudeville techniques. Participants would learn such basics as prat falls, trip lines, double takes, and spit takes as well as be introduced to classic comedy routines. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Play Writing - A focused introduction to the craft of writing for the stage with the intension of entering completed works into national competitions for young writers, Participants would learn standard formatting techniques, as well as techniques for generating ideas, over coming writers block, and how to effectively self edit. Recommended for grades 4-12.
• Prop Building - An exciting hands on experience where participants learn how to manufacture low cost effective stage properties using papier-mâché, Styrofoam, paint, glue guns, fabric and other simple easily found tools and supplies. A$15 lab fee may apply. Recommended for grades 4-12.
• Scene Paining - Participants will learn painting terminology and tools as well as basic texturing techniques, the color spectrum, and blending. This will be a fun hands-on experience. A $15 lab fee may apply. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Shakespeare's World - A brief examination of society, art, and life in Shakespeare's time. Participants will learn the history of the globe, an introduction to period movement and perform scenes and/or sonnets from Shakespeare's works. Recommended for grades 9-12.
• Singing as Acting - An introduction to the concepts of voice for the musical theatre. Participants will be introduced to vocal techniques including warm-up, projection, and breath support and making active choices in terms of performance. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.
• Sound Design - A beginners approach to finding sound effects and musical scores, operation of soundboards, and a hands-on approach to cabling, use of microphones, and use of monitors in a theatrical setting. Recommended for grades 6-12.
• Story Telling - An examination of the art of the oral tradition. Participants will have the opportunity to learn and relate traditional folk tales as well as adapt family history into a format that entertains as it preserves cultural heritage. Recommended for grades 3-12.
• Theater Games - A fun examination of theatrical techniques and exercises, which entertain as they unlock dramatic potential in even the most bashful participants. Can be adapted to age groups K-12.

The following is a sample of what our education department can offer teachers interested in expanding their knowledge of theatrical production for young people.

• Joint Publicity Seminar
• Script Selection Resources
• Adapting the Classics
• Operating Your Thespian Club
• Alternate Staging
• Technical Resources
• Shoestring Productions
• Creative Dramatics in the Classroom