Something new and engaging is coming our way. A singular opportunity for area theatergoers who want to learn more about how theater is made: 1st Stage in Tysons is offering a Virtual Classroom.
The 1st Stage Virtual Classroom is a new series of online theater-education courses, taught by experts from the 1st Stage network of artists and educators.
In a conversation, Jack Wilbern, 1st Stage Board President, said that the new Virtual Classroom is “one great way” to connect to the community “while also supporting performing artists in the region. Making connections between audiences and artists and supporting the region’s most talented artists to do their very best work is literally written into our [1st Stage] mission.”
The six courses and the teachers are:
Introduction to Playwriting: Bob Bartlett
Beginning Scene Study: Deidra LaWan Starnes
A Director Prepares: Alex Levy
Beginning Voice Training: Jane Margulies Kalbfeld
Approaches to Script Analysis: Laura Esti Miller
Introduction to Improvisation: Heidi Fortune Picker
1st Stage Artistic Director Alex Levy provided details about the course he will teach for Virtual Classroom: “We’ll spend six weeks looking into the mind of a director. How one prepares for a process, how we makes choices, how we collaborate. While six Zoom classes won’t make anyone a director, it will help deepen the connection to the work and help theater lovers understand what goes into the creation of the work. These will be small, intimate classes with hands-on exercises, and the course is aimed at early-career directors or nonprofessionals who are interested in how theatermaking happens.”
Do hurry. Registration extended to July 12, 2020. 1st Stage Virtual Classroom details including teacher bios and registration information are here. Virtual Classroom begins July 13. There are different starting dates and times for each of the six courses.
