MFA 1 Acting Studio

This acting studio focuses on using the mythic imagination approach to acting. The mythic is that which is tied to the collective human story, that which inspires and grounds us as individuals but also connects us to what is age old. Myths speak to our deepest dreams, fears, and soul. In this class the actors will mine the mythic in order to connect to deep purpose in our work, finding imagination and authenticity as performers.
We will explore the use of formal gesture and sensory work in order to access interior landscape, storytelling through the body, the relationship between text and music, and the performer's transformational powers of themselves and the space around them. Archetypes are investigated in order to imaginatively create multi-dimensional characters and range. During the course of the year, we will emphasize for specific periods on each of the five great actor Archetypes; The Storyteller, The Lover, The Trickster, The Shape Shifter and The Fool.
This semester we will begin with ensemble building exercises, improv, character work, and fundamental skill building. A good part of the semester will be focused on physicality and discovering and deepening a body poetic. Later in the semester we will move into monologue and scene work. Students will be introduced to writing a mission/manifesto statement and begin the process of personal artistic visioning and goal setting.