Master The Art of Acting  Workshop (3 DAYS)

Please call to reserve your spot! 573-581-5592 -

You may mail your payment to : Presser Performing Arts Center PO Box 845  Mexico, Mo 65265  or you may pay at the door.  $50.00 per person,  16 yrs and up

Workshop March 9-11

Master The Art of Acting is a workshop designed for actors whose professional acting training and experience is limited. In this intensive three-part workshop, actors move through a plethora of learning experiences encompassing all aspects of the professional acting world from auditioning to headshots to landing an agent to performing on camera as well as on stage. “Acting” is a term that might hold more relevance if it were referred to instead as “Being”. It is an organic process that is viscerally born and emergent from one’s soul. It is the art of accurately and truthfully portraying the moment-to-moment, beat-by-beat life that unfolds in any given scene. It simply cannot be faked. A common teaching and directorial prompt used in Hollywood to help unproven actors understand the process is “think the thought and the audience or camera reads it.” Truthful acting is not about memorizing lines. It is not about indicating emotion. It is about listening, feeling and reacting. During the workshop actors perform individually, in pairs, and in small groups in short performances from a variety of genres and formats working in scenes from actual scripts from motion pictures, television programs, short films and plays. Training encompasses working both on camera and on stage including auditioning, blocking & movement, voice, scene analysis, character development, sense-memory-recall, connecting, timing, and physical “business”. Get ready to “roll up your sleeves” and get down to what real “Acting” is about!

Sam Dalton

The workshop is conducted by Hollywood veteran actor/writer/director Sam Dalton (SAG/AFTRA/AEA). Mr. Dalton’s acting credits include the role of Mr. Gurntz in the original Paramount motion picture Footloose and a recurring role on the NBC daytime series Santa Barbara. Other credits include co-starring parts in numerous network and cable movies-of-the-week, prime-time dramas and situation comedies. When he’s not acting in motion pictures and television programs, Mr. Dalton serves as an Adjunct Professor of Film at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film in Nashville, Tennessee.

$50.00 per person

AGES: 16 years and up

FRIDAY – 6:30-9:00 pm

Headshot, Agents & Demo

Auditioning, Cold Reading & Choices

 SATURDAY – 9:00AM-4:00PM

Scene Analysis

Blocking, Movement & Business ,Sense Memory & Moment-To-Moment

SUNDAY – 10:00 AM – NOON

Character Development  Voice & Timing

Questions & Answers

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE LINES

It’s About Listening, Feeling & Reacting  It’s Emotional Truth & Vulnerability It’s BEING!

Dec 12 & 13, 17    Man of LaMancha @ Southside Christian Church

March 19 & 20  2 Summer Camps:   101 Dalmations & Willy Wonka @ PPAC

April 23 & 24   The Sound of Music @ PPAC

Open Call audition:  means anybody can come  watch, listen, and enjoy the party!! They are usually on multiple evenings to accommodate differing schedules. It is not necessary to attend all the audition dates, just one.

We usually ask you to fill out an audition form, then Sandy will take your picture holding a number.  That number is put on your audition form.

The director will call your name and you will go onstage and the director may ask you to sing, or read.  You do not have to prepare anything.

If you WANT to prepare something to act, it should be about 1 minute and show off your range of abilities.

If you WANT to prepare something to sing, it should show off your vocal range, and ability to stay in key.

1 minute time limit, acapella

There will be cuttings from the script laid out on stage and the director will choose which cutting you will read  according to how you filled out your audition form. The form will ask you what parts you would like to audition for, and those will be the parts you will read for first, but the director may ask you to read for other parts as well.

The important thing to remember is to relax and enjoy yourself.  Our theatre people are FUN.  We like to PLAY.

Shakespeare said “the play is the thing”.  So play!!!!

Audition Tips

• Project! If you speak softly, it indicates to the director that he/she must train your voice, as well as direct you.
• Try new ways of delivering the lines if asked to read more than once.
• WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING!! You may be asked to do something that would “muss up” finer clothing.
• Be willing to read any part the director asks you to read. He/She may be looking for something in your abilities or attitude.
• From the minute you walk through the door your audition begins.  While seated, you can be heard and your attitude can be seen.  The assistant director and stage manager are always watching.
• For young actors it’s good to remember that if you can’t control yourself, the director won’t be able to direct you.  A director gives direction.  If you can’t take direction you will not fit into a play.  The play is a collaborative effort of artists.
• Have FUN! Try to relax and relate to the other actors present.  This endeavor involves other people.  You will be spending time with these other people and it is important to get along.
• Please indicate on your audition form if you are willing to help with the production behind the scenes.  There are usually 3 people behind the scenes for every 1 person on stage.  If you are an actor willing to help in other capacities it increases your chances for landing a part, because you are versatile!!!
• Make sure you have read the audition form carefully and are able to comply to the rehearsal schedule.  Sometimes the director is flexible with the rehearsal schedule and willing to work with individuals on a flexible schedule, just indicate your schedule on the audition form.