The future of Shakespeare scene study is here.
The Working Actor’s Shakespeare
Sharpen your skills in this 4-week accelerated online workshop with professionals from theatre, TV, and film!
Be an actor in the scenes or attend and sit in on everything! All through Zoom.
Registrations are now closed.
Join the ONLY Shakespeare Scene Study where professionals and lifelong veterans of the industry are your scene partners!
You don’t normally get this kind of time to explore and discuss—it’s a luxury even for professionals, and they LOVE to do it!
What happens in The Working Actor’s Shakespeare?
Take a peak at what our actors discussed in the weekly rehearsals and in the final performance as they tackled “Clarence’s Dream and Murder” from Shakespeare’s Richard III Act I, scene iv.
Featuring industry veterans Geoffrey Wade (director), Peter Van Norden (Clarence), professional actress Aubrey Saverino (1st Murderer), workshop actor Daniel Cordova (2nd Murderer) and dramaturg Gideon Rappaport.
Work and learn like a professional—even if you’re just starting out!
The Working Actor’s Shakespeare is a GREAT FIT for you IF…
You want to be an exceptional actor who stands out from the crowd at auditions and who has a reputation for professional and exciting work!
Being an actor like this can help you:
• book more jobs, which leads to more $$$
• be seen by more agents and casting directors
• have your choice of projects
• save time by learning these skills now
• gain confidence onstage and off
• avoid frustration, stress, and confusion by not knowing what to do with these texts
What would it mean to learn all of this NOW instead of years from now?
How do you want to spend this time—especially during a “shutdown” pandemic? Be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else!
Even if you’re sitting in as an attendee, you can learn just as much from observing an acting class—and imagine what you’ll understand by watching professionals rehearse! This is a CRUCIAL workshop for you to witness – don’t miss your chance!
Though, this isn’t a great fit for you IF…
• You don’t want to BOOK MORE roles and work more
• You don’t want to BE KNOWN for your talents and sought after by directors and casting offices
• You don’t want to SAVE TIME by learning these skills now
• You don’t want to LEARN from those who have been working professionally for decades
• You’d rather KEEP GUESSING at what to do and hoping that you’ll figure all this out on your own.
You’re OK knowing that you could be wasting your time and money by not taking advantage of this workshop, these teachers, or these resources NOW!
Sign up now for The Working Actor’s Shakespeare!
October 6 – 29, 2020
Work with lifelong and professional actors, directors, and dramaturgs on some of the greatest words ever written.
Open to actors with a degree in Theatre OR who have an equivalent amount of time in scene study and classes. We want to ensure this is as fruitful as possible for everyone involved.
Weekly Rehearsals
Each group will have 1-2 professional actors and 1-2 workshop actors so PLENTY of personal attention and lots to do! (No bit part or “spear carrier” roles!)
Text Work Sessions
Work 1:1 with a professional dramaturg on your scene, covering scansion, operatives, antithesis, clarity, and meaning—ALL the tools a great actor needs!
Final performances
Perform the scene for a virtual audience—it’s what you’ve been preparing for! Re-work sections in an “open rehearsal” and take questions from the audience.
And as an ATTENDEE or ACTOR, you get to access to EVERYTHING! Sit in on up to 4 rehearsals each week, plus text sessions, Q&A’s (see more below) and the final performances!
Kandace Crystal
workshop actor
If you’re looking to challenge yourself, this is a wonderful opportunity!
Truly taking the time to focus on a specific piece of text while actively working with professionals is not something we are all afforded. Sign up for the chance of a lifetime!
Also part of the The Working Actor’s Shakespeare: Live “AMAs” about the biz
Available to all attendees and actors!
Industry veterans and invited guests will share their knowledge about the biz in a wide-ranging and open “Ask Me Anything” discussion taking YOUR questions, from auditions to social media! Tentative guests scheduled:
DAKIN MATTHEWS: Shakespeare scholar, teacher, director, dramaturg and professional actor for decades! Member of the original The Acting Company, and former artistic director.
BEN WHITEHAIR: co-founder of Working.Actor, co-founder of The Social Media Advantage (TSMA), and SAG-AFTRA NextGen Performers Committee Chair.
NEW ADD-ON: Shakespeare Monologue Coaching!
Available to both Attendees and Actors
Work with our professional monologue coaches Gigi Bermingham, Elizabeth Dennehy, Aubrey Saverino, or Geoffrey Wade on your audition pieces for college and shows. Not sure where to start? They’ll help you pick a great piece (that’s not over-done) and coach you through it in two private sessions over the course of the month!
Let’s break down each week…
Here’s a sample of what you may be working on with your director and group—all while having FUN!
Week 1
- Ensure you know what your character is saying and what all the other characters are saying
- Explore different editions of the plays for clues and choices
Week 2
- Continuing to explore the text to create connection with the other actors
- Discussions of motivation and context of the play
Week 3
- Refine the scene by working on subtler details, while still focusing on meaning and stress
- Explore pacing, irony, and speed of thought for your character
Week 4
- Final performance of the scene for friends, family, and all registered attendees and other workshop actors.
- Re-work sections and take questions from the audience!
To create the best experience possible, and to ensure you learn and grow as much as you can in this short time, we ask that workshop actors meet and work their scenes with other workshop actors at least once between rehearsals.
FOUR workshop sessions to choose from…
All happening at 5 – 7 pm PDT / 8 -10 pm EDT via Zoom.
Tuesdays w/ James Newcomb
October 6, 13, 20, 27
Wednesdays w/ Geoffrey Wade
October 7, 14, 21, 28
Thursdays w/ Geoffrey Wade
October 8, 15, 22, 29
Thursdays w/
Gigi Bermingham
October 8, 15, 22, 29
Russell Clements
workshop actor
Working with and watching more experienced artists was incredibly valuable.
The back of my script is absolutely covered in notes. And in a time where it is difficult to perform due to the quarantine, it is an absolute godsend to be able to practice my craft over Zoom! I feel it has slowed the atrophy of my skills, and has reignited my drive to work towards goals in my artistic endeavors despite the uncertain nature of the world at this time.
Meet our amazing team of directors, coaches, and actors.
Decades of experience across theatre, TV, and film, many of whom have worked on leading roles in Shakespeare in major regional theatres across the country.
James Newcomb, director
TUESDAYS @ 5 – 7 pm PDT
14 Seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, a founding member of Shakespeare & Company, an Instructor for the UCSD Graduate Theatre Program, and has worked at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare, and Shakespeare Santa Cruz.
Geoffrey Wade, director
WEDNESDAYS or THURSDAYS @ 5 – 7 pm PDT
He has performed on Broadway and off-, and continues to work extensively in regional theater. National tours include The Curious Incident, and he recently directed critically acclaimed productions of A Walk in the Woods and The Crucible.
Gigi Bermingham, director
THURSDAYS @ 5 – 7 pm PDT
Over 30 credits on IMDb and has worked in theatres around Southern California, including The Old Globe, La Mirada, International City Theatre, the Pasadena Playhouse, the Rubicon, and the Antaeus Company.
Elizabeth Dennehy, coach/actor
LAMDA graduate
Works with actors on TV, film, and theatre auditions, including for conservatories and universities. Can help select a monologue, especially for Shakespeare. She is also the daughter of legendary actor Brian Dennehy!
Aubrey Saverino, coach/actor
Old Globe/USD graduate
Aubrey has taught in both LA and NY. As an actor, she has performed on screen and in critically acclaimed classical, contemporary and world premiere productions Off-Broadway and around the country.
Gideon Rappaport, dramaturg/author
Ph.D. in English and American Literature
He has taught Shakespeare at Hamilton College and Concordia University. He has also been dramaturg for the Old Globe Theatre, the California Shakespeare Festival, and San Diego Repertory Theatre.
Tony Amendola
Berkeley Rep for 10+ years
120+ film/tv credits: series regular on Continuum and recurring work on Stargate SG-1, CSI, Dexter, and Once Upon a Time. He’s appeared as King Lear and as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice. He’s worked at the Oregon, California and Utah Shakespeare Festivals.
Anne Gee Byrd
Multiple theatre awards
She’s worked at South Coast Repertory, The Old Globe, Seattle Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, American Conservatory Theatre, The American Shakespeare Festival, the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, and the McCarter in Princeton.
Peter Van Norden
Over 45 years as an actor
He’s worked on Broadway and appeared in two star-studded productions of Hamlet at the NY Shakespeare Festival. He has over 60 credits on IMDB and film/tv work includes the award-winning film The Accused with Jodie Foster and Stephen King’s The Stand.
Marcelo Tubert
Ovation Award winner
An accomplished voiceover and theatre actor, he is a founding member of the Antaeus Company, and has worked at Yale Rep and Milwaukee Rep.
Robert Pine
Over 200 film/tv credits
He’s been working for the past 50+ years, appearing on almost every iconic show from the ’60s to today, from Bonanza to CHiPs to Veep, and in the films Independence Day and Frozen.
Ross Hellwig
Old Globe/USD graduate
He has worked on leading roles in numerous Shakespeare productions in San Diego and Los Angeles, including Kingsmen Shakespeare.
Michael Kirby
Old Globe/USD and LAMDA
An actor, producer, and voice-over artist, he Trained at the Old Globe/USD Program and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts Shakespeare Program.
Specific actors in scenes will be subject to their availability—they are *working* actors for a reason!
Peter Van Norden
lifelong actor
Hear from Peter about *his* experience in the workshop…
What would all this cost on its own?
This kind of work can save you YEARS of spinning your wheels and DOZENS of frustrating auditions.
How many MORE classes will you take, hoping you learn what you need to know that will set you apart?
You could easily spend $500-$1000 on multiple classes (plus time researching and finding them!) to learn everything we’re sharing: how to work on the text, how to rehearse a scene, how to deliver an exceptional monologue in an audition.
And no one is giving you ALL of this in the SAME place in ONE month! Accelerate your growth as an actor today!
Don’t waste more of your time and money.
Book your spot now!
We know it’s an uncertain time and we value your investment.
Here’s our no-questions-asked refund policy:
- Request a refund by 9/26 and receive a full refund, minus 5% processing fees
- Request a refund by 10/5 and we will hold your funds on account for a future workshop
- After 10/5, there will be no refunds.
BONUS FOR ACTORS!
Sign up as an ACTOR and get even more! Take what you’re learning here and BOOK ROLES while you’re at home!
Actors will save 40% off the online course “What’s My Frame?” to learn the basic frames used in filmmaking and how to incorporate them to create dynamic and engaging self-tape auditions!
Anna La Madrid has helped dozens of actors with their self-tapes and now she’s created a course for you to learn how to put your best self forward! Learn all this from someone who has BOOKED from self-tapes, and helps other actors do the same!
Sign up now for The Working Actor’s Shakespeare!
October 6 – 29, 2020
Save with early bird registration pricing:
Through Friday, September 25th: save up to 20%!
(Discounts will be calculated on the final checkout.)
Saturday, September 26 – Monday, October 12th: FULL price
Registration closes for Actors at 11:59 pm on 9/30/20; for Attendees at 11:59 pm on 10/12/20.
- Sit in on EVERYTHING: all rehearsals (up to 4/week), text sessions (up to 8), industry Q&A’s (at least 2) and all final performances (up to 4)
- Sit in on EVERYTHING: all rehearsals, text sessions, Q&A’s and all final performances
- Two private monologue sessions with a professional coach
- Act in weekly rehearsals and sit in on ALL other rehearsals
- 1:1 Text Session with Dramaturg and sit in on ALL other text sessions
- Final performance and attend ALL other final performances
- Attend Q&A sessions w/ industry professionals
- BONUS discount on Self-Tape course
Registration is now closed!
- Act in weekly rehearsals and sit in on ALL other rehearsals
- 1:1 Text Session with Dramaturg and sit in on ALL other text sessions
- Final performance and attend ALL other final performances
- Attend Q&A sessions w/ industry professionals
- BONUS discount on online Self-Tape course
- Two private monologue sessions with a professional coach
Registration is now closed!
Do you have any questions?
PS: Don’t miss out on becoming a GREAT actor that people take notice of! Increase your skills, confidence, and network while working at a PROFESSIONAL level!
Learn more about the affiliate program.