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 "Our son's acting ability has improved DRAMATICALLY since he's been attending Columbia Gorge School of Theatre!" says John Schneider, star of "Smallville," "The Dukes of Hazzard" and co-founder of the Children's Miracle Network. |
Professional Training CurriculumClasses include Acting, Music, Singing, Dance, Voice, TV/Film Acting, Theatre Potpourri, Body Awareness, Wild Card, and The Biz. Below are some brief descriptions of courses: ACTING: Jesse Merz teaches the acting classes for the other sessions. His classes are based on the Sanford Meisner Technique, and David Mamet and William H. Macy's Practical Aesthetics Technique of Acting. Both techniques use improvisation to liberate the student to be a free, expressive, specific actor. Students get an introduction to these solid techniques of acting. Merz believes that actors learn by doing, and the students will have many opportunities to practice their new skills. MUSIC: This class, as led by the Music Director covers various areas of music training including reading music, sight singing, and music history. SINGING: Technique, blend, harmony, tone, and interpretation are explored in the singing portion of the Music class. DANCE: All students study dance 4 to 5 days a week, including jazz, ballet, tap, choreography, and musical theatre dance. Stretching, strengthening, balance, technique, and combinations are all important parts of these classes. VOICE: Based on the techniques developed by Kristin Linklater, yoga, massage, breath work, and reflexology are used to release a natural, relaxed, resonate, full speaking voice. TV/FILM ACTING: Camera and audition techniques, cold reading, and other tips of the trade are covered in this class. THEATRE POTPOURRI: This class is led by the camp counselors and offers a variety of theatre topics. Areas covered may include: stage combat, Suzuki, masks, tai chi, mime, improvisation, stand up comedy, Alexander, Grotowski, martial arts, acrobatics, theatre history, directing, speech, playwriting, Shakespeare, tech theatre, puppetry, etc. THE BIZ: This class focuses on the nuts and bolts of the business of theatre. Areas to be explored include television and film acting, auditioning, what to look for in collegiate actor training, getting into the acting conservatory of your choice, head shots and resumes, getting an agent, theatre history, networking, starting a theatre company, how to get your first acting job, and how to balance an acting career with a 'real life.' The entire staff contributes to these discussions. BODY AWARENESS: This class teaches students to listen to, care for, challenge and appreciate their body as an instrument. Through creative movement and body awareness students tune their bodies to work for them on the stage and off. By strengthening the body / mind connection and increasing strength and flexibility through yoga and students broaden range of movement and expression. Below is some information on the folks who developed the acting techniques taught at the Columbia Gorge School of Theatre! The Meisner Technique was developed by the recently deceased Sanford Meisner, a founding member of the groundbreaking Group Theatre of the 1930's. Mr. Meisner trained Broadway/Film Actress Lauri Peters (Jesse's teacher), Oscar-winners Jon Voight, Robert Duvall, Joanne Woodward, Diane Keaton, Michael Douglas, as well as John Goodman, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Goldblum, James Caan, and many others. Lauri Peters trained Merz and Rent's Idina Menzel. Writer/Director David Mamet (The Untouchables, Hannibal, Ronin, The Spanish Prisoner, Oscar nominee for The Postman Always Rings Twice & Wag the Dog, and a Pulitzer-Prize winner for Glengarry Glen Ross) and Actor/Director William H. Macy (Seabiscuit, Magnolia, Jurassic Park III, Pleasantville, Boogie Nights, Emmy Winner for "Door to Door", Emmy nominee for 'ER', and an Oscar nominee for Fargo) developed the Practical Aesthetics Technique of Acting at NYU in 1983, and trained Merz, Skeet Ulrich (Chill Factor, Scream, The Craft, and As Good As it Gets), Matthew Fox ('Party of Five'), Peter Facinelli (Foxfire, Can't Hardly Wait, and 'Fastlane'), Obie-Winner Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives", Cryptogram, ABC's 'Sports Night' and Reversal of Fortune), and Kristen Johnston (Emmy winner for 'Third Rock from the Sun'.) |
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